New BBC News studio

BBC's studios at Millbank are being revamped from July 28, during the summer recess. They have been using the studios for 10 years & I understand that political staff will be moved to Bush House while the work is completed.

I wonder what they're planning at Westminster?

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[b] NY

(Edited by SkyNews at 7:18 pm on July 14, 2001)

It's more a technical re-vamp ... new digital equipment etc

Anyone care to explain how many studios the BBC has at Westminster - is it all at 4 Millbank, and is it purely TV, or is there any provision for radio there too? I walked past the outside recently and all I could make out were some red coloured walls on the second floor - was trying to see if I could spot the roof position they sometimes use.

Are the BBC planning to put widescreen cameras in the House of Commons as well, I hope they do, it will stop BBC News 24 zooming in to the politicians!

Whilst the BBC broadcast BBC Parliament - I believe the pool coverage of the House of Commons and House of Lords is provided by an independent company, not the BBC. I would expect they may upgrade to widescreen when the equipment requires replacement. Though as the BBC is currently the only UK broadcaster producing News in 16:9 this is not guaranteed I wouldn't think?

(I believe BBC Wales has the contract to cover the Welsh Assembly, and this is done in 16:9 )

I'm afraid I don't know much about radio facilities - though I am sure there are some at Millbank !

As for TV :

There is a multi-camera studio and gallery (used for programmes like Despatch Box on BBC Two, and Straight Talk on BBC News 24) and the studio cameras can also be used in the newsroom (for Westminster Live) working to the same gallery.

There is a single camera studio with CSO capabilities (as well as a wood panel background) which is often used with the Big Ben backdrop for interviews on BBC One / Two News.

There is a single camera in the newsroom - used mainly by News 24 and Breakfast, as well as BBC World.

There used to be a remote camera in a studio in College Mews but this is no longer used, and may no longer exist!

The Millbank newsroom camera was recently upgraded to 16:9 widescreen. The current re-vamp maywell see all of the cameras and VT editing upgraded to 16:9 widescreen...

Yep, the BBC has by far the biggest operation there hasn't it? When I was at 4 Millbank I went round the newsrooms.

ITN is in the basement, Sky is near the top of the building and the BBC has the prime postion in the middle!