Dissolves

Just a quick question I've often wondered the answer to.
In news studios, does the red tally light on the camera dissolve on or off when a dissolve is used between it and another source?

Often wondered, especially with BBC News where a comparitively long 2.5/3 second dissolve is used at the start between the opening wide and the MCU of presenter. Or on any other occasion such as a long dissolve after a picturesque final shot in a report etc.

Does the newsreader just rely on their own judgement and experience as to when the dissolve is fully phased out and they can start speaking, or does the red light do it for them - or are other methods used like just watching the monitor in the corner of their eye off-camera, or the director cueing in their earpiece?

Considering how important such precision is in news presentation, I've often wondered what method is used.

Thanks.

The tally light will come on when any part of the picture from that camera is put to line. So if you were to do a slow mix between two cameras in the same studio, tally lights on both cameras would be on during the course of the mix. If mixing out of a VT, the tally on the presenter's camera would come on the moment the mix was started. Generally, presenters work far more from their floor monitors and director's cue than from tally lights. Tallies are more of a confirmation as to which camera has been selected to line.

I seem to recall this being the reason why you the regions can't soft-opt on digital and do a hard cut at the opt point. The digital opt happens when the tally light for the network feed goes out from the local mixer. Therefore you can't do any transitions without it looking crap on digital.

Is it true that news broadcasts are timed to the second? If so, why?

Depends which ones.

Main domestic news can overrun.
Regional News ia always timed to the second as each reigon has to opt back to London at the same time.

News24 only has to hit specific opts at certain points of the day, such as when BBC1 join.

BBC World has most of it's programmes timed to the second as various stations opt in or out at fixed points. This is often done automatically so if the opt is not hit the presenter will get cut off.

So are they told how much time to spend on each story, like 5 minutes on the top story or do they just spend as much time as it takes?

They will plan to spend specific ammounts of time on each story. IF a story overruns then they will drop items further down the running order. Like wise if a stroy doesn't make or underruns than they will add items

Yes, as Marcus says, it's not so much that the newsreader is told, but rather how long their script is. Computer programmes count the words and time the length of the script accordingly. Added to the times of the reports etc it all adds up to the final prog duration.
I still don't know how the regions manage to get it so accurate though - amazing really. It's the final five-second wrapping up blab that covers any under/overruns I suppose, but even so...

Thanks for the info about the dissolves - I suspected the tally lights were always on when in line. From what limited studio experience I have, this was always the case, and of course with good reason.
Just wondered about newsrooms though cause it is so important there.
Huw Edwards tends mucks it up a bit at the start on the odd occasion by cutting in too early - you feel like calling to him 'hang on a second, we can't see you yet!

Presumably it's the monitors they rely on for dissolves.

Well at the top they should wait for the directors cue, but sometimes they are just so keen to get on air

At the end they will be getting the director counting down in their ear. They will adjust their final chat or look at the headlines so that they stop talking when the director gets to zero.

What do newsreaders talk about at the top and end of a bulletin when the lights are fading and the mics are cut?

All the mistakes they've made during the bulletin, I would imagine!

Well on RTÉ News once Eileen Dunne was 'chatting' to the other newsreader during the opening wide and the sound was faded up too early and all she was saying was 'blah blah blah blah'