Well, I can answer one of those questions, yes there are hardly any people running the gallery. When I was there, there were possibly 4 or 5 people milling around, one on each workstation area. The reason there is so few people is becuase of the automation system they use, unlike a traditional gallery like Breakfast's. In fact the correct term for News 24's is actually an 'output suite'.
Yes Gary, I happened to see that lastnight too. The longest countdown on News 24 they've ever done I think.
When I saw my video recorder clock saying 22:59 and the big italic 75 on the countdown, I thought 'Uh-oh, they're gonna cock this up big time and go straight into the headline bed at about 63 seconds.' But I soon realised my video recorder clock was wrong, and the real time was 22:58 and about 45 seconds. I realised it was wrong because I then witnessed the clock flick over to 22:59 at '60' on the countdown. For a moment during all this I thought the purple clock had stopped!
How many people would you normally have working in the gallery during a typing morning/afternoon on a Monday or Friday? I've obviously read the stuff on the News 24 website, but I still find it difficult to believe that you can do everything with 3 people, one of whom directs, operates the cameras and plays in all the reports.
Is the weather + the minute or so up to the hour the busiest time, or is the half hour summary the most complicated? Reason I ask is during the news summary the stories are obviously flowing a lot quicker, you don't have 'recovery time' during individual reports.
Also, how many people are involved in producing the new interactive service?
I noticed on Thu+Fri that the 1300 bulletin was signed, haven't been watching BBC1/News 24 at 0800 so wasn't sure why it was signed, the last time it happened was when News 24 was taking the morning press conferences during the election campaign.
William
During a normal day, it takes 4 people to run N24...
TDV
(The Director who also controls the automation, cameras, vision mixer & lighting where necessary)
TDS
(The sound mixer)
TDC
(The communications person. Deals with live events, plays manual clips & trouble-shoots the automation system for the TDV)
Output Editor
(Person who has editorial control over the programme)
Overnight & during Breakfast it takes 3 people - there is no TDC overnight, the TDS assuming that role along with their own.
During Specials it takes 5. An extra TD is drafted in to assist the TDC setting up the live events and communications, as well as playing in floats.
There is a new addition to the output suite, namely a 'Text Producer'. They type into ENPS all the scrolling & zipping Astons you see on screen.
There is no particular 'busy' time, it depends on what's happening in the News & if reports are available & if all the systems are working correctly or not. You certainly need a cool head working in the output suite, no matter what role you are performing.
Signing at 1300 has been happening for about a week now. This is because the BBC and all other UK broadcasters have an obligation to sign a percentage of their output.