Broadcast Facilities

@dutymainttech amazing save of history there, thanks again for sharing.

Any TVQ 0 contour maps?

Control A which controls programmes for the Sky News Australia main channel in Sydney.

7 Likes

It’s well publicised that ABC is shifting some content creators across TV, Radio and Digital from Ultimo to Parramatta.

Before that happens, I was wondering if anyone has a list of studios and what they’re used for at Ultimo? And maybe some photos? Would be nice to get a little collection documented before things get shuffled and moved.

E.g.

4 Likes

Studio 21 and 22 are production studios

Studio 23 is the NSW Studio
Studio 24 is the 7.30 Studio
Studio 27 is the news channel studio

Studio 25 and 26 were used at Gore Hill but have been sold off in order to pay for the new studios

4 Likes

Thanks @Expensive_Horse5538. Do you know which shifts come out of 27?

Also on the radio side of things - do News Radio and Radio National have much content from Ultimo?

2 Likes

News Radio I think is mainly done out of Sydney. Most of RN I believe is done from Sydney as well, although Patricia Karvelas does RN Breakfast out of Melbourne, and Amanda Vanstone did Counterpoint from Adelaide (with production staff in Sydney) before it was axed at the end of last year. Many national programs on local radio (Nightlife, Weekend Overnights, Weekend Evenings, Songs and Stories, PM, The World Today) are done out of Sydney, along with Triple J, ABC Jazz, Double J, and some shifts for ABC Classic (I think that some of Melbourne does it, and at least one presenter is based in Adelaide).

As for what shifts are done from Studio 27, weekdays it is 9am-8pm, except 4pm-5pm which is Afternoon Briefing from Canberra. On Weekends it’s 6am till 12am, except 9-10 on Sundays which is Insiders from Canberra

4 Likes

Weekdays it’s 9-12pm then 3-8pm. 12-3 is done from 23.

3 Likes

AO set up as ween on Weekend Today


9 Likes

I’m curious where in the building Studio 23 is? I’ve walked past 24 and 27 before but not 23.

1 Like

It’s upstairs IIRC

1 Like

Yvonne Yong at ABC Melbourne seen on Grand Designs Transformations

8 Likes

Clearly setup shots but do they normally put the camera shot on the other screens in the studio, 1984-style? :joy:

Seems as though this was filmed during COVID case number releases according to the autocue, although could have been randomly pulled up script as it was 1pm and also showed “The World” autocue…

AM from Hobart, Double J Afternoons, Blueprint for Living, Life Matters, What the Duck and Screen Sounds all from Melbourne.

3 Likes

Thanks, I also know that PM and The World Today are also done from Melbourne when Samantha Donovan is filling in, and from Brisbane when Rachel Mealey is filling in. Sally Sara has also done some editions of The World Today from Adelaide. Beccy Cole also does Saturday Night Country out of Adelaide, as well is ABC Classic Drive whenever Russell Torrance is presenting.

National Grandstand I believe sometimes comes from Brisbane when Quentin Hull presents, and Karen Tighe hosts from Perth. Aaron Bryans also does it from Adelaide when he fills in.

1 Like

This is a pic of the old Seven Sydney studios at Martin Place now that it’s empty.

Very reminiscent of Ten at Pyrmont in that it has that “shopping centre” look about it.

The 7 sign is still on the outside of the building and there is a “For Lease” sign on some of the windows. I did also see some workstations being installed on the Phillip St side of the building.

16 Likes

This is a snapshot of Studio 2 at Flower Street (the headquarters of Three/Newshub/Warner Bros. Discovery NZ) in Eden Terrace, Auckland.


Photo courtesy of Three/Warner Bros. Discovery NZ; no copyright infringement intended.

Studio 2, according to @TV4, has a floor area of about 84m² (approximately 12m x 7m) and is progressively small while Studio 1 is about 210m² (approximately 15m x 14m).

Whereas Studio 1 plays host to Three’s news and current affairs programmes through Newshub, Studio 2 is now equipped with a green screen and serves as a virtual studio. Over the years Studio 2 played host to such notable programmes as the Early Bird Show, Melody Rules (see below), Ice TV and Paul Henry/The AM Show.

Melody Rules

Melody Rules was ‘the worst sitcom ever made’ that revolved around the life of Melody Robbins, played by well-known radio and TV personality Belinda Todd. Melody, a responsible and reserved travel agent, finds herself trying to control her unruly siblings while her mother is away on an archaeological dig in Malaysia. She receives assistance from her flight attendant best friend Fiona (Susan Brady), her clumsy co-worker Brendan (Alan Brough) and her nosy and unkempt neighbour Neville (Alistair Douglas), who is known for his catchphrase ‘Ya decent?’.

At the time, Todd was most recognised for her role as co-host of TV3’s (now Three) late night news programme, Nightline. Despite her lack of acting experience, she was known for her seductive and bold on-screen persona.

Melody Rules was the first sitcom from TV3 with hopes that it would become one of the network’s flagship programmes. The production received $1,262,990 in funding from NZ On Air.

To ensure the sitcom’s success, TV3 hired American television writer John Vorhaus to conduct workshops in New Zealand, teaching aspiring writers how to create an American-style sitcom. This heavily influenced the style of Melody Rules, which was created by Geoff Houtman and Mihera Paterson and produced by Ross Jennings Productions with funding from NZ On Air.

According to director Michael Robinson, the recording of Melody Rules took place in a small Studio 2 at TV3’s headquarters in Auckland. The scenes were shot with three cameras and the footage was vision switched (compiled at the time of recording from the three camera shots provided) from an outside broadcast unit in the loading bay. Due to the studio’s size, there was no live audience so the laughter tracks had to be added during post production.

5 Likes

New Zealand Today promo shoot in TV3 Studio 2

7 Likes

Control C at Sky News Australia. Used for switching Sky News Breakfast and pre-recorded shows and segments.

6 Likes

Old WIN studio up for grabs…
51 JOHN WATSON DRIVE, Mount Gambier, SA 5290 - House for Sale - realestate.com.au

5 Likes

Shame they didn’t post any photos of the studio space!

3 Likes