Host Broadcasting

What is Host Broadcasting?

The three objectives of the host broadcast coverage are to provide TV coverage and radio sound to broadcasters in a timely manner, of excellent quality and clearly identified. The coverage should also reflect the best attributes of the event and be free of any bias or undue emphasis on one item or issue. It is then up to broadcasters to select the material they require and it is the Host Broadcaster's job to make sure that this material is available to them.

The concept behind Host Broadcasting is that by providing a central supply of pictures the number of crews "on the ground" is minimised and the pictures obtained are of better quality than would otherwise be available. To make this work to everyone's satisfaction it is important that every effort is made to put the "Host Broadcast" crews in the most advantageous positions and give them the best possible access to the coverage that everyone will be after. This requires considerable planning and co-operation.

Feltech have considerable experience in providing Host Broadcaster Services for major news events. We have previously been Host Broadcaster for such events as the Channel Tunnel Opening (for Eurotunnel) and the European Union Presidency Meetings in London and Cardiff (for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in 1998.

The EU President’s Meeting Room Cardiff 1998

Feltech employ experienced crews and use the latest equipment, including our very own Master Control Room (MCR) which we designed and built, and which forms the heart of a Host Broadcast set-up. The MCR is capable of handling multiple sources and is able to route these to microwave, satellite and fibre optic links to allow simultaneous broadcast of signals around the world.

In addition we have flight cased signal distribution facilities and over 25Km of ready-made audio and video signal cabling. This enables large distribution systems to be very rapidly installed. Typically over one hundred edit booths can be supplied with broadcast quality video and audio feeds. A complete RF system can also be provided to allow TV monitoring of both terrestrial and satellite broadcasts and messaging and information services.

Feltech and Host Broadcasting

Feltech have been chosen as Host Broadcasters at some of the most important events of the last few years. In 2005 Feltech were chosen as host broadcaster at the G8 summit at Gleneagles and the European Informal Summit at Hampton Court. The G8 Summit is a meeting of the 8 leaders from Canada, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, Russia, The UK and The USA to discuss global economic and political challenges.

At the Gleneagles event, in partnership with Jack Morton Worldwide, Feltech provided facilities for 2500 journalists. Gleneagles was taken over and transformed for a 3 week period, the stable block area was converted into the Media centre for the duration of the event, providing 120 edit suites, 2000 phone lines and net connectivity. At the EU informal meeting

The layout: showing the media centre and main hotel at the G8 Summit, Gleneagles 2005.

Prior to Gleneagles and Hampton Court, Feltech also provided Host Broadcasting Facilities at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the Eurotunnel opening, and in 1998 were contracted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to provide Host Broadcaster coverage for all of the meetings associated with the UK’s Presidency of The European Union between January and June 1998. This involved Television coverage of The Cardiff European Council, The European Conference and other informal meetings during the Presidency and distribution of this coverage to members of the European Press.

In Cardiff, in addition to this coverage we created a Media Centre for the 3000 members of the Television, Radio and Written Press who covered the European Council Meeting providing them with Broadcast quality pictures and audio coverage, 152 editing booths, playout facilities, master control room co-ordination, ISDN facilities and satellite links to points all across Europe. Coverage was provided to and from locations scattered all over Cardiff including Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Airport, City Hall (Conference Venue) and Cardiff Bay.

At both the G8 Summit and EU Presidency Feltech had over 250 accredited staff on site whose roles varied from cameraman to runner and from MCR engineer to aerial rigger. In providing these facilities we liaised closely with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the BBC, ITN, HTV, Sky News, and the other European and International broadcasters and agencies to ensure that the Host Broadcast Coverage and facilities met the expectations of these highly demanding organisations.

For more information please contact Peter Fell on 0870 7774678 peter.fell@feltech.co.uk

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