BBC Outside Broadcasts plans to invest several million pounds in a mobile HD control room and a fourth HD OB truck following increased demand for HD content from its biggest client, BBC sport.
BBC Outside Broadcasts plans to invest several million pounds in a mobile HD control room and a fourth HD OB truck following increased demand for HD content from its biggest client, BBC sport.

BBC OBs is currently covering the Six Nations rugby tournament for BBC sport, which plans to show all eight home games featuring England, Wales or Scotland in HD.

The Outside Broadcasts division of BBC Resources has secured several deals over the past two years to provide HD coverage of live sporting and other events.

The company already owns three HD trucks, costing £2m each, and the new truck and HD control hub will enable it to meet fast-rising demand for live HD content.

BBC OBs' engineering manager for rugby, Alan Wright, said: 'HD is still a young market and OB facilities providers only have a certain amount of equipment to go around. So it's commanding quite a premium.'

Wright predicted that broadcasters such as BBC sport will soon switch to all-HD coverage. 'We're making serious investments,' he said. 'We'll be able to use the mobile HD hub for the big royal events and things like the Open Golf and I think it's inevitable the main channels will switch to all HD eventually.'

Wright wouldn't be pressed on when he thinks the BBC will get a permanent HD platform, but said: 'I suspect that, a year down the line, asking any director whether he wants SD or
HD will be like asking him whether he wants colour or black and white.'

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