Not sure if it will be as disruptive as the BBC News strikes over a year ago, but a lack of such technical staff is probably going to be noticeable for viewers.
Yes - though it isn't a strike amongst all technical staff in BBC News, as it wil not be all BECTU members in BBC News AIUI.
The News Production Facilities division of News provide Studio, Editing, Graphics and IT engineering support (but are not "operational" in these area - i.e. they install and fix kit but don't drive it), and they also operate the main comms area for BBC News (a KEY job) - ensuring feeds of recorded material and live contributions from regional studios, satellite trucks and other sources are correctly set-up for studios.
Both are key areas - but I suspect running the comms areas will be fun if they don't have many regular staff working and have to rely on managers.
"We are targeting coverage of the state opening of Parliament and we are hoping to cause problems," said Bectu spokesman, Luke Crawley.
I thought the live parliament coverage was contracted to Granada? Or was that just BBC Parliament pres.
The core feed of Parliament is provided by a company owned by ITV Plc (the Granada bit I think) - which was once an independent company called Walshys I believe? (Bowtie have had the contract at one time as well)
However this is just the core feed of the remote cameras within the chamber.
The staff who are likely to strike are the people who run the main communications area for News at TV Centre - the people who line up live outside sources for studios (say a reporter on college green, a guest in the Westminster Newsroom, live trucks around the UK, feeds from Washington or Moscow etc.)
Also involved are the engineering staff who support the studio and IT operations (and I suspect the new desktop editing system)
Given that the State Opening usually involves more than just the core feeds - then the reduction in staffing in the areas involved may be tricky.
I don't know what the percentage of union membership is in these areas, nor whether all members will strike, whether all non-members will cross picket lines, nor do I know who well qualified managers are in these areas to operate equipment...
Managers, and people who are happy to cross a picket-line (whether they are union members or not) I guess. I don't know what the union membership levels are like in these areas.
I thought the live parliament coverage was contracted to Granada? Or was that just BBC Parliament pres.
The core feed of Parliament is provided by a company owned by ITV Plc (the Granada bit I think) - which was once an independent company called Walshys I believe? (Bowtie have had the contract at one time as well). However this is just the core feed of the remote cameras within the chamber.
Not quite correct, noggin. The core vision and audio feed of Parliament is still supplied by Bowtie and has never been contracted to Granada, ITV Plc or Walshys. You may be thinking of presentation contracts to either BBC Parliament or the old incarnation, The Parliamentary Channel.
You are correct, though, that the coverage of the State Opening of Parliament relies on a large BBC Events OB in addition to the core coverage cameras within the chambers, so the planned strike could well affect this as intended by the unions.