Going Live

The Outside Broadcast Department went from strength to strength, earning a reputation as being the BBC's "Panzer Division", broadcasting from places where no sane people would even go, let along think about making a TV programme. Programmes such as Saturday Night Out pushed equipment to the very edge of what was possible - and sometimes over that edge. Programmes were broadcast from across the English Channel, from on board a submarine, from inside an airplace... you name it, they tried it.

Of course, Outside Broadcasts really came into their own with sports events - but the sporting world was less than trusting of what was later to become its major source of funding. At first, cameras were only allowed to show the crowds on the terraces while a commentator explained what was happening on the pitch. Gradually, trust grew, and sport became a TV fixture. Events such as the F A Cup and Wimbledon became national institutions, along with the BBC's regular Saturday afternoon programme Grandstand which could only exist with the help and cooperation of the Outside Broadcast department.

Ken Moir - who worked on the early broadcasts from the Wimbledon Tennis championship - says conditions were so primitive in the vision and sound control areas for the outside broadcast that engineers would frequently strip down to the bare minimum - and beyond - in order to continue working in the heat. More than one production secretary got more than she bargained for....

Wimbledon has now become one of the largest regular outside broadcasts in the world, with the BBC providing pictures for nearly fifty other broadcasters who are covering the tournament as well.Ken Moir says it's really six outside broadcasts happening at once.

In the next article: Outside Broadcasts break new ground into the 21st century with high definition TV, high profile music programme and high stress sporting events.

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