TallyTec Wireless Lights Up BBC In Somaliland

As part of a project to enhance the democratic process in Somaliland, the UK Foreign Office is funding a series of question and answer format programmes to be recorded and broadcast in the country.

The programme is a joint venture between BBC Somalia and Horn Cable TV and was filmed in a secure hotel in the capital of Hargeisa.

Travel to Hargeisa is not easy and the crew and the equipment had the arduous task of loading everything into a small plane for the final leg of the journey from Addis Aduba. With only the cameras and monitors available locally, all other equipment was loaned to the project.

NewTek, Inc. provided a TriCaster® Mini portable production system, Datavideo supplied talk back and a hard disc recording system, Global Distribution provided the TallyTec 8 channel wireless tally light set with integrated timecode, and Highway Audio Visual Kenya provided additional AV equipment.

Although Horn Cable TV had no experience with the technical set up they found the system straight forward to connect and operate and that it provided an efficient and professional broadcast recording solution.

TallyTec provided the visual indications via green or red LEDs for program and preview to both talent and operator.

The programme was a debate on the water supply in the country which has been experiencing severe droughts due to the limited rainfall, distribution problems and the pipe infrastructure. Three local stakeholders discussed the issues and answered questions from an audience of about 80 local people from a varied demographic.

This is hoped to be the first in a series involving the BBC working alongside local TV stations.

www.tallytec.net

This article is also available to read in the Novermber edition of Broadcast Film & Video.

(JP/LM)