SU
Could that apply to Ireland at all? I remember the "emergency announcement" from IRN on 7/7 was broadcast over here on East Coast Radio.
SP
Yep IRN's obit alarm does still exist, known now as Major Story Alarm. It was quite controvercial when somebody at IRN "pressed the wrong button" when the QM died, and various stations went into the news as normal, under automation, to be greeted by the national anthem mashed up with their news bed
MH
Where is that thread? That was one of the funniest threads i've ever read. I'd never seen tvf so busy before.
Nick Harvey posted:
What a complete and utter load of old claptrap is being talked in this thread.
We all know exactly how the major alert system works in this country.
Somebody at News 24 puts a black tie on and all the members of TV Forum tell all their friends.
We all know exactly how the major alert system works in this country.
Somebody at News 24 puts a black tie on and all the members of TV Forum tell all their friends.
Where is that thread? That was one of the funniest threads i've ever read. I'd never seen tvf so busy before.
OV
I know a lot of pirate stations constantly broadcast the Traffic Announcement flag, but I have never known one to use the Alert programme type. The problem with the Alert ID is that it is simply a programme type identifier, in the same way as Pop M, so many radios probably don't have the functionality you describe. I think it is quite simply an unused ID nowadays.
As far as I understand, many stations are unable to control the programme type from the studios, making it difficult to use it as it would require an engineer call out, which defeats the purpose of it. This is especially the case for stations that use DTMF tones to activate the traffic flag, as that obviously means they have no control of the RDS at the studio at all.
As said, it still exists, now called the Major Story Alarm. I think it's more automated nowadays however, rather than flashing lights and a buzzer. I wouldn't be surprised if many stations have a setup where the playout system would automatically switch to IRN if it is broadcast.
Inspector Sands posted:
I'm not so sure, I remember hearing a story about a pirate station that was TXing the alert flag because they discovered that when a radio found an alert flag it would lock onto the frequncey and not let you change stations
I know a lot of pirate stations constantly broadcast the Traffic Announcement flag, but I have never known one to use the Alert programme type. The problem with the Alert ID is that it is simply a programme type identifier, in the same way as Pop M, so many radios probably don't have the functionality you describe. I think it is quite simply an unused ID nowadays.
Spencer For Hire posted:
Having worked in numerous radio studios over the years, both commercial and BBC, I've never seen any function to activate an Alert message on RDS. As you say Orry, it's possible the BBC may activate the system centrally across its network. As for ILR stations, I wonder if the operators of the transmitters such as Arqiva and Radica have control of the function, on the say-so of the government.
Or could it be that it's just one of those possible functions on RDS like the 'News' flag which is completely unused in this country? After all, not everyone listening to the radio is going to have RDS.
Or could it be that it's just one of those possible functions on RDS like the 'News' flag which is completely unused in this country? After all, not everyone listening to the radio is going to have RDS.
As far as I understand, many stations are unable to control the programme type from the studios, making it difficult to use it as it would require an engineer call out, which defeats the purpose of it. This is especially the case for stations that use DTMF tones to activate the traffic flag, as that obviously means they have no control of the RDS at the studio at all.
TROGGLES posted:
I seem to remember ILR (circa 90's) had an obit alarm (obituary alarm) built into the console which would buzz and flash. When it went off you were supposed to switch to IRN to find out who had died or what emergency had taken place. The only time I remember it going off was when Margaret Thatcher resigned. I Don't know if that still exists as this was in the days when we had the Radio Authority and not the piddly poor excuse for a regulator we have now 
As said, it still exists, now called the Major Story Alarm. I think it's more automated nowadays however, rather than flashing lights and a buzzer. I wouldn't be surprised if many stations have a setup where the playout system would automatically switch to IRN if it is broadcast.
PC
As far as I remember coverage of the Queen Mother's death was a farce because:
A) it was over a bank holiday period, therefore major people responsible were not on duty;
B) there was some concern over how seriously to take the official regulations, as they were - as pointed out - farcical.
C) Peter Sissons was involved.
I'm not sure how strictly it was applied in this case. However I'm sure it wasn't applied this strictly, and until at least midweek (the death taking place at the weekend) things were relatively normal. I remember things going chaotic midweek, as if the broadcasters had been told to change things.
I think the only thing that would result in this sort of coverage would be an equivalent of Diana's death (dare we say it, Prince Harry's capture or death in Iraq).
Incidentally, 7/7 was particularly creepy due to a combination of circumstances. If you listen to the Radio 5 Live morning show that night it starts with triumphalism over the fact London's won the Olympic bid, then switches to "There's something going on in the underground", and then moves into major obituary mode. Partially due to misinformation from the government (for understandable reasons) but also because the major networks were underresourced due to coverage of the olympic bid results.
A) it was over a bank holiday period, therefore major people responsible were not on duty;
B) there was some concern over how seriously to take the official regulations, as they were - as pointed out - farcical.
C) Peter Sissons was involved.
I'm not sure how strictly it was applied in this case. However I'm sure it wasn't applied this strictly, and until at least midweek (the death taking place at the weekend) things were relatively normal. I remember things going chaotic midweek, as if the broadcasters had been told to change things.
I think the only thing that would result in this sort of coverage would be an equivalent of Diana's death (dare we say it, Prince Harry's capture or death in Iraq).
Incidentally, 7/7 was particularly creepy due to a combination of circumstances. If you listen to the Radio 5 Live morning show that night it starts with triumphalism over the fact London's won the Olympic bid, then switches to "There's something going on in the underground", and then moves into major obituary mode. Partially due to misinformation from the government (for understandable reasons) but also because the major networks were underresourced due to coverage of the olympic bid results.
SP
Diana's death was a strange on in terms of the coverage, because she wasn't on the list of people who trigger the obit procedures so stations were effectively winging it.
Whether the Obit alarm was actually used on that occasion I don't know. MHP has the audio that was sent to stations explaining how the special bulletins would operate http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/continuity/diana.html
p_c_u_k posted:
I think the only thing that would result in this sort of coverage would be an equivalent of Diana's death (dare we say it, Prince Harry's capture or death in Iraq).
Diana's death was a strange on in terms of the coverage, because she wasn't on the list of people who trigger the obit procedures so stations were effectively winging it.
Whether the Obit alarm was actually used on that occasion I don't know. MHP has the audio that was sent to stations explaining how the special bulletins would operate http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/continuity/diana.html
JR
Or burgundy if it's Peter Sissons.
Nick Harvey posted:
What a complete and utter load of old claptrap is being talked in this thread.[...]
Somebody at News 24 puts a black tie on and all the members of TV Forum tell all their friends.
Somebody at News 24 puts a black tie on and all the members of TV Forum tell all their friends.
Or burgundy if it's Peter Sissons.
GE
TV's backup plan for TV Centre being unavailable was for Pebble Mill to take control of the network, as per that night when the six fell off air due to a power cut.
The bunker you refer to is probably Wood Norton, which was radio only as a backup centre - http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/features/sfs/file_16.htm
I think Mailbox can still control some routers in TVC to control what goes to air; if the Broadcast Centre is evacuated then Red Bee have a Disaster Recovery centre they can decamp to.
Wood Norton's got an interesting history - it was an emergency broadcasting centre as far back as 1939, then an engineering training centre, and even a BBC-owned hotel for a time. There's a little bit of information at http://www.bbc.co.uk/heritage/in_depth/buildings/wood_norton.shtml
The BBC still own a fair chunk of the site as a training centre, and lecturers still tease about the seven floors of sub-basement...
thegeek
Founding member
Steve in Pudsey posted:
r2ro posted:
I'm sure I heard that the BBC have a hidden nuclear bunker somewhere to be used in the event of major incidents to broadcast the BBC ouput across both radio and television. Is this actually true?
TV's backup plan for TV Centre being unavailable was for Pebble Mill to take control of the network, as per that night when the six fell off air due to a power cut.
The bunker you refer to is probably Wood Norton, which was radio only as a backup centre - http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/features/sfs/file_16.htm
Wood Norton's got an interesting history - it was an emergency broadcasting centre as far back as 1939, then an engineering training centre, and even a BBC-owned hotel for a time. There's a little bit of information at http://www.bbc.co.uk/heritage/in_depth/buildings/wood_norton.shtml
The BBC still own a fair chunk of the site as a training centre, and lecturers still tease about the seven floors of sub-basement...
IS
TV's backup plan for TV Centre being unavailable was for Pebble Mill to take control of the network, as per that night when the six fell off air due to a power cut.
There were various plans, but in the latter days the plan was to keep everything running using the automation as much as possible, while the staff went up the A40 to Pebble Mill. There wasn't much in-situ in Brum to just take over.
That evening of the power cut was a bit of a cock up as it was still possible to keep the main channels on air from London. Whether running a standby programme from Brum was accidental or done as a precaution is lost in the midst of time.
Steve in Pudsey posted:
TV's backup plan for TV Centre being unavailable was for Pebble Mill to take control of the network, as per that night when the six fell off air due to a power cut.
There were various plans, but in the latter days the plan was to keep everything running using the automation as much as possible, while the staff went up the A40 to Pebble Mill. There wasn't much in-situ in Brum to just take over.
That evening of the power cut was a bit of a cock up as it was still possible to keep the main channels on air from London. Whether running a standby programme from Brum was accidental or done as a precaution is lost in the midst of time.
WE
TV's backup plan for TV Centre being unavailable was for Pebble Mill to take control of the network, as per that night when the six fell off air due to a power cut.
There were various plans, but in the latter days the plan was to keep everything running using the automation as much as possible, while the staff went up the A40 to Pebble Mill. There wasn't much in-situ in Brum to just take over.
That evening of the power cut was a bit of a cock up as it was still possible to keep the main channels on air from London. Whether running a standby programme from Brum was accidental or done as a precaution is lost in the midst of time.
There was 2 sets of continuity suites at the time though, wasn't there?
BBC 1 & BBC2 Analogue & BBC 1 & BBC2 Digital.
BBC 1 Digital, as it was pre English regionalisation ISTR, broadcast UK Direct(whatever that was?), while BBC 1 Analogue managed to get regional news going early in all regions, apart from London/South East, where an episode of Dad's Army was shown, I gather TX'd from Brum(I guess Pebble Mill was able to feed Crystal Palace somehow!)
In some regions however around 655pm, it went a bit Pete Tong, as the last few minutes of Dad's Army got transmitted after the regional news, when the circuit normally falls back to London, & seeing that's what got transmitted in London that night etc etc, then they swopped to the football.
I'm sure someone can provide a better explanation than me though!
Re ITV, worst case scenario, what happens if both London & Leeds go down?
Nothing I suppose, as UTV & STV take their network feeds from ITV anyway!
Inspector Sands posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:
TV's backup plan for TV Centre being unavailable was for Pebble Mill to take control of the network, as per that night when the six fell off air due to a power cut.
There were various plans, but in the latter days the plan was to keep everything running using the automation as much as possible, while the staff went up the A40 to Pebble Mill. There wasn't much in-situ in Brum to just take over.
That evening of the power cut was a bit of a cock up as it was still possible to keep the main channels on air from London. Whether running a standby programme from Brum was accidental or done as a precaution is lost in the midst of time.
There was 2 sets of continuity suites at the time though, wasn't there?
BBC 1 & BBC2 Analogue & BBC 1 & BBC2 Digital.
BBC 1 Digital, as it was pre English regionalisation ISTR, broadcast UK Direct(whatever that was?), while BBC 1 Analogue managed to get regional news going early in all regions, apart from London/South East, where an episode of Dad's Army was shown, I gather TX'd from Brum(I guess Pebble Mill was able to feed Crystal Palace somehow!)
In some regions however around 655pm, it went a bit Pete Tong, as the last few minutes of Dad's Army got transmitted after the regional news, when the circuit normally falls back to London, & seeing that's what got transmitted in London that night etc etc, then they swopped to the football.
I'm sure someone can provide a better explanation than me though!
Re ITV, worst case scenario, what happens if both London & Leeds go down?
Nothing I suppose, as UTV & STV take their network feeds from ITV anyway!