The site comprises two state of the art electronic, multi camera TV Studios, (Studio A and Studio B) equipped to exceed industry standard as well as various Video Editing and Sound suites.
Studio A is approx. 250 sq.m. 7.5M working height and has a fully motorised lighting grid with a saturated lighting capability. The infrastructure is designed to accommodate both Multi camera
Television and also Digital single camera feature productions. The studio will have both blue and green screen capability.
Studio B is smaller at approx. 74 sq.m. and will have both blue and green screen capability. It also has a saturated overhead lighting rig on a barrel grid. Studio B can also be used as an Audio studio when linked to one of the two audio control rooms.
Both studios are accessible, via a scene dock, through full height dock doors. There is parking for an OB truck outside and access through the walls for all necessary cabling including power provision.
There are also 9 xHD and 4K capable Edit suites and large Shared Area Network (SAN). The edit suites offer various edit applications such as Premier, FCP, Avid and Light works and the Picture Finishing suites offer Davinci Resolve for Colour grading.
The two dubbing theatres offer 5.1 Monitoring and run Protools 11 with an automated Avid S6 control surface. Commentary and Foley studios also support the audio areas. The Protools suits can be used for radio productions if required.
There is a Features grade Digital Cinema offer viewing for 2D and 3D 4k and HD presentations.
The Studio gallery is High Definition capable and in future will be able to access remotely hosted IP based cameras for external events if needed. All Galleries and Production suites can be fully interconnected through comprehensive data and comms cabling allowing single or multi gallery operation.
BBC1’s The Big Questions, presented by Nicky Campbell broadcast live from Bath Spa University on Sunday 17 April 2016. Quite possibly one of the most beautiful locations we’ve ever visited – set on the outskirts of the city surrounded by a lake, nature reserve, woodlands and arable farmlands. Nicky mentioned to Dr Mahinda Deegalle, a university lecturer and contributor on that weekend’s show that if he had known what the location was like, he would have brought his dog to which university staff then replied they’ll throw in a dog sitter next time!!!
Bath Spa University’s experienced and dedicated staff were keen to go that extra mile to ensure that the production team was well looked after prior to arriving on location and throughout the live broadcast. Due to the staff’s attention to detail and being on-hand each step of the way, the production team were able to focus all their attentions on the live broadcast from the Uni’s purpose-built television studio – an enviable facility that the University clearly takes great pride in.
Some of the University’s excellent television and film students joined our production team for some work experience, and the production team have received positive feedback. Students have stated that they found the experience educational, allowing them to have a real life and hands on approach to a production, and from there they were able to affirm that they were on the correct career path. Our experienced crew took them through the live broadcast step-by-step as the students got to grips with camera operation, had an in-depth technical tour and were an integral part of the team during the show. As a production, we found the students at Bath Spa University particularly capable, keen and observant.
A big thanks from all The Big Questions team to Rob Armstrong-Haworth, Nick Parish and Jonathan Barden for all their support during the show and we very much look forward to a return visit in 2017.
Maggie Mutch, Production Manager
Mentorn Scotland