Cutting edge technology to provide modern ways of storytelling

SB_01 (c) Jeff Overs, BBC

The BBC has refurbished the studio it uses for the BBC News at Six and Ten, as well as BBC London’s regional bulletins.

It’s the first major revamp of the BBC News studio for 10 years and the organisation says it is using “cutting edge technology to provide more modern ways of storytelling and improve the experience of viewers at home.”

With the refreshed setup there are now distinct areas to enhance the presentation, including a new giant curved catwalk, which will be used to navigate viewers through complex stories, with a link to the BBC’s regional programmes.

The set will also be easily reconfigurable so can be adapted to suit special occasions, such as elections.

SB_03 (c) Jeff Overs, BBC

Furthermore, a new central tower will be used to show viewers how to get the most of BBC News on digital platforms and provide the news team with flexible ways of presenting information.

An increase in the number of interactive screens on set enables BBC News to tell stories in a multitude of ways and choose between different types of content. The weather map will be bigger and better and make it possible for the weather presenters to be “free to dynamically tell the weather story of the day,” says the BBC.

A new state of the art robotic camera system with embedded tracks in the floor allows the presenter to safely move around the space.

SB_02 (c) Jeff Overs, BBC

Huw Edwards said: “This is going to be our home for daily news, big events and everything in between. It gives us a platform which allows us to tell stories in a much more vibrant, creative and impactful way that will make a real difference to our audience. We’re really proud of it and I can’t wait to share it with our viewers.”

Jonathan Munro, interim director of news, added: “Bringing greater value to our audiences has been at the core of this project and we’re so excited to finally bring the newly refurbished studio to viewers at home.  It really puts them at the heart of our reporting while also highlighting the great variety of what BBC News has got to offer.

“As the first major refurbishment our news studios have seen in a decade, it is a real blueprint for how we move forward in future-proofing our news output.”

The studios will be unveiled during the BBC News at Ten tonight (Monday 13 June).