Yay! In the 8.00 junction on network BBC TWO, we got a couple of seconds of a VT clock into the start of "5 Things I Hate About You", then after about 30 seconds the programme suddenly stopped and we got a trailer and THEN an ident into the programme as normal, as if nothing had gone wrong.
And what better place to drop in this random fact?
Seemingly the computer which controls the playout on BBC Three is (or at least, was until recently) an Acorn Archimedes. For the simple reason that you can reboot one in about 5 seconds. Try doing
that
with yer Windows box.
That seems quite funny. I have one of those Acorn thingies in my room (I got it from school as they were going to chuck it otherwise) and I don't think it can barely do anything by today's standards- I'm suprised to learn that BBC3 was using one for playout.
And what better place to drop in this random fact?
Seemingly the computer which controls the playout on BBC Three is (or at least, was until recently) an Acorn Archimedes. For the simple reason that you can reboot one in about 5 seconds. Try doing
that
with yer Windows box.
In a sense yes, the software is made by a company called Omnibus which span out of what was left of Acorn. The systems are all RISC based and essentially archimides machines (when you reboot them you get 'Acorn DFS' which brings back some memories!)
It's not just the newer channels that use Omnibus, News 24, World, LDN and South East Today do as well. The new playout BBC facilities will all be Omnibus when they open next year.
BBC 3 is, I think, one of the channels run from the MSA using Omnibus 'Collosus' automation. Omnibus used to run on Acorn RISC machines - which were extremely reliable and seldom needed a re-boot. Indeed Omnibus had the rights to manufacture the Acorn machines and were the last people to use them.
The current generation of Omnibus automation runs on Microsoft Windows.
I still use RISC OS for loads of stuff - writing webpages at the moment, mainly. When Acorn disappeared, a few other companies got the rights to continue to make RISC OS machines - Castle Technology amongst them. See http://www.iyonix.com/ for a rather nice machine I want, which launched about a year ago.The platform is still and kicking - just a lot smaller than it was.
I'd love to know more about Omnibus mind you, and see one in action - all the broadcast stuff isn't really linked to the enthusiasts market that I'm part of.