Global Broadcast TV OB Vision Engineer Dec 1995 to Apr 1997


Global Widescreen was a trading name of 3 on 4 Ltd which was the company created from the merger of the outside broadcast facilities from Thames TV, Yorkshire TV (Pro-vision) and Anglia TV.

The equipment was old and required a huge amount of care and maintenance.

The Global fleet of trucks consisted of:

Unit
Type
History
1

BBC type 5 scanner,
3 axle fixed body

Built by Thames TV in 1980 first used on the Rugby World Cup. Worked on Channel 4 racing. Now parked up on blocks at St Thomas's hospital for 'City Hospital'
2
Large 2 axle fixed chassis Built by Anglia TV in 1977. Used for Anglia TV's horse racing input for World Of Sport. Last used on ITV's 'Morning Worship' in 1996. Scrapped. Sound desk removed and fitted into Unit 8
3
Large 2 axle fixed chassis with trailer Built by Yorkshire TV. Production, Vision and Sound in main front half. VT in trailer. Converted from analogue component to composite video and Used for Sky Scottish Football with a new VT truck (converted from an old Thames Caption Truck.
4
two Medium 2 axle fixed chassis Built by Yorkshire TV. Consisted of two separate trucks. Production/Vision and VT/sound.
5
Small Built by Anglia, used for 3 to 5 camera football matches
6
Medium Fixed chassis Built by Thames TV. Last used for Question Time in 1996.
7
Small VW Van Built by Thames TV. used for 'The Bill' and This is your life.
8
Articulated trailer Built by Global TV for use on Channel 4 racing. Currently still in use by Visions

Taken on with very little television experience but a good engineering background, I was sent to the BBC for training and taught by one of the most experienced vision engineers in the business.

Initially based at Teddington Studios, Global Widescreen became Global Broadcast Television and moved to an industrial unit near Farnborough.

Just some of the productions I worked on as Vision Engineer.


Channel Four Racing
Sky Scottish Football
Question Time - BBC

Morning Worship - ITV
Anglia Football - ITV
Motor Racing - Eurosport

Martin Guerre
- West End Show
TFI Friday - Channel 4


I left in 1997 having been seduced but a new TV studio facility in the centre of London.

Shortly after leaving, Global Broadcast TV was bought by Visions OB Ltd.