BBC switching

Back in 1997, during a clsoedown on both BBC1 and 2, the BBC ran a switching test. At 03:29, TCF, which was being broadcast on both BBC1 and 2, was reaplced by a modified TCG on BBC1, and a computer generated test image on BBC2. At 03:44, both reverted back to TCF.

The two cards were thoguht to have only been seen from Crystal Palace. The two cards were broadcast as part of a switching test. If there were ever an incident at TV centre, BBC network would evacuate to Birmingham (at the time), with a switch being thrown, putting Brum in control of the network.

The cards were broadcast to prove the facility worked. This situation arose for real during the euro 2000 soccer tournament.

Since this happened, the BBC in Birmngham has moved (and I believe is due to move again), and we're now switching to digital broadcasting. So, does a switching facility like this exist, and if so, whre do they switch control to? And, why is the place they switch to chosen?

The new DR site is closer to London, but is a 'secret' within Red Bee, Birmingham's DR role was played down post Mailbox move.

'In control' is probably the wrong term, 'being fed from' is more accurate. That's all it was - just changing the source of the video and audio from one place to another. Despite what people believe there was never a setup in Pebble Mill sitting ready to go, it relied on converting edit suites and galleries and staff bombing it up the A/M40


I've not heard anything about them moving


There would never have been a specific 'switching facility' just for that purpose it would have been done by one of the existing control rooms that the network would pass through anyway (or somewhere that could remotely control it).

These days there is a facility that the channels can come from should the need arise - all the big channels have DR sites, either at another location or by paying/having a deal with someone else.

I recall a late-90s (?) edition of the 9 O'Clock News coming from Birmingham for some reason. They used a purple set.

Yes

Not telling you.

Because it's in a secure location!

Tests still go on to make sure that broadcasting can continue if, say, the playout facility should fail, or there's a fire in the building that does coding & multiplexing. They're somewhat less exciting than the used to be, and you can generally only spot them happening by cue dots appearing on screen, and switching cuts.

Don't remember that. Was Studio B (The Midlands Today studio at the time) used? How did that affect the late MT bulletin?

erm Pebble Mill to the Mailbox?

I think the purple background you're thinking of was this one
http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/news/bbcnews/images/bulletins/1999/bbcnews_power_cut_2000a-small.jpg
(TV-Ark pic)
which was BBC Westminster (aka BBC Millbank) used for a bulletin when N6 was unavailable due to a power cut (the one that took the Six off the air)

Ahhhh Millbank, not Pebble Mill! That's definitely it.

And that's the time during Euro 2000 where control had to be taken over by Birmingham.

Switched to.


Inspector Sands: According to a website there was, at one time, a standby network control area at the mill, near then TAR and Gallery C. This was all shut down in 1998/9 and shifted to the new TAR in front of Studio B I believe.

Anyway, after 1998 plans were simplified and the sources of the network moved from this facility to replugged edit suites in the spur link. Pebble Mill was ready to take over when the standby programming library in London ran out or London couldn't handle a live broadcast.

Domestic News decamped to Studio B and Midlands Today's set
News 24 and World merged and went from Studio A
and I believe the weather came from the CSO area at Pebble Mill with announcers housed in Studio 9 Pebble Mill.

The other tests to see if this was working was BM appearing in corners of the screen (Only on News 24, One and Two)

er yeah, re-read the original quote.

It's not moving again

Or anytime soon, although one day they'll realise their mistake!