Overview of the Coverage
The BBC, in collaboration with TVU Networks, delivered an innovative, engaging, and environmentally conscious remote production for the 2024 UK General Election. Utilizing TVU’s cloud platform, the BBC remotely managed 369 live feeds from vote-counting locations across the UK, all captured using the TVU Anywhere mobile app. These feeds were streamed on BBC iPlayer, the BBC News website, and displayed on a giant virtual mosaic screen at the BBC’s London Broadcasting House, reaching a peak audience of 4.6 million viewers in the UK.
Custom Tripod and Smartphone Kit
The Setup
To achieve this, the BBC developed a custom tripod and smartphone kit equipped with the TVU Anywhere app for cellular bonded live transmissions. This user-friendly setup, designed to be easily configurable by non-technical staff, was sent in a long tube case to every counting location.
Connectivity
The smartphones were equipped with data-only SIM cards, and the app was capable of bonding the SIM signal to WiFi, ensuring faster speeds. This kit enabled BBC News to capture real-time video feeds regardless of local cellular network pressures, eliminating the need for broadcast vehicles and allowing for environmentally friendly live content generation.
Rapid Deployment and Environmental Benefits
In a matter of weeks, the BBC managed to develop and deploy this innovative kit, a process that would typically take months. This rapid deployment allowed BBC representatives already attending the counts to assemble the kit, ensuring real-time video feeds and reducing environmental impact.
Cloud-Based Production
Real-Time Ingestion and Display
Hundreds of live feeds, which would usually require extensive server setups, were ingested and recorded in real time on the TVU Search cloud platform. These feeds were displayed in a large mosaic view using TVU Partyline, enabling viewers to see all voting locations across the UK simultaneously and customize mosaics for their local regions.
Technological and Editorial Innovation
“This approach not only upheld the BBC’s highest quality standards but also pioneered a new method of election broadcasting that would have been near impossible using traditional methods. The TVU cloud platform allowed us to scale up a vast number of feeds and handle peak traffic seamlessly without investing in additional hardware. This was both an editorial and technological innovation that transformed the viewing experience, bringing the vote-counting process closer to our audience, setting a new benchmark in election coverage,” said BBC News’ Geraint Thomas.
Regional Workflows and Comprehensive Coverage
The BBC managed 21 regional workflows through TVU Partyline, offering tailored coverage for different areas of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The ability to select from any of the 369 counts during the night allowed the BBC to always be where the story was unfolding. Augmented by traditional broadcast live Satellite News Gathering (SNG) and bonded connectivity, the BBC provided comprehensive coverage across digital platforms, TV, and radio throughout the night.
Enhanced Viewer Experience
Interactive and Visually Engaging Coverage
Viewers could tune into live feeds via the BBC News website’s constituency pages. The BBC’s London studio featured a massive virtual LED wall connected to all live feeds, providing an immersive viewing experience. National programs in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland also had access to the live content. Political commentators offered real-time updates and analysis in a split-screen format, making the coverage interactive and engaging for the audience.
Seamless Integration
The TVU platform was capable of outputting IP for Over-the-Top (OTT) services, as well as SDI for TV and radio programs, seamlessly integrating into the existing broadcast infrastructure. This allowed the BBC to maintain high-quality standards while innovatively broadcasting the election coverage.
Conclusion
The collaboration between the BBC and TVU Networks for the 2024 UK General Election coverage showcased a significant leap in remote production capabilities. By leveraging cloud technology and innovative equipment, the BBC was able to deliver high-quality, comprehensive, and engaging election coverage. This approach not only met but exceeded traditional broadcasting standards, setting a new benchmark for election coverage and demonstrating the potential of cloud-based production workflows.
