BBC Nine O'clock news 13/04/1993

BBC Nine o'clock news openining from the first day of the BBC's new virtual look

[@frazzleface753]

The best one. The earlier 'transmitter' intro with similar music used to give me goosebumps, but this one is actually better. The music and visuals complement each other beautifully. The spinning globe cementing the BBC's corporate identity and the way the camera pans out just as the British Isles reach the centre of the frame is simply divine. Wouldn't be allowed now. Too ostentatious.

[@sporkfindus4777]

Well-put. Superb description. I also get goosebumps with both versions. The deep bass is impressive with this one.

[@ajs41]

I think this is slightly inferior to the previous one, and the 1985-1988 version is best. 1981 to 1985 is also good.

[@carlosbarton763]

The best news intro and theme, bar none.

[@ajs41]

The 80s versions were better IMO.

[@frazzleface753]

A lost era I'm afraid. The bland pips bore me to tears.

[@johnking5174]

"Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation" is what is on the BBC coat of arms here.

[@joshuakerr5702]

Thanks to the aphorisms, this has come to me almost exactly 30 years to the day since this was broadcast!

[@15hl]

29 years ago now!

[@jacksugden8190]

Lewis up in N2 on the 6th floor at TVC.

[@rogerdarthwell5393]

30 years ago this very day

[@ICryOverSpiltMilk]

I love the coat of arms bit, shame I can't read the motto

[@johnking5174]

"Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation"

[@jessicamy]

Do you have the whole of this news broadcast?

[@ejcmoorhouse]

doesn't he look like Huw Edwards?

[@TDKiller415]

The Business Breakfast and the very first Breakfast news on this day are on tv ark as well. Can you get those please?

[@TDKiller415]

Can you also get the business breakfast, breakfast news, one o clock news and ending and the six o clock news and ending from this day please?

[@satinsaid]

@MrPerson542 Have you not seen the 1990 intro?....

[@TDKiller415]

Thanks! And your message came at 2.27am. Do you go to bed very late?

[@MrMoorkey]

I don't know. Why are you watching it?

[@Bloodybunny]

@ICryOverSpiltMilk: "Nation shall speak peace unto Nation".

[@johnking5174]

Not really a virtual look as you would compare it with today's virtual look for ITV News. The presenter sat at a normal desk and was simply cut out and pasted into the computer generated studio set. There was no green screen elements, not even blue screen. ITV News is a real virtual studio I would say with their news coming from a green screen set.

[@thetelegothika5327]

No, actually this was genuinely revolutionary, considering the time of 1993, despite not being anywhere near as sophisticated as what we have now. 90% of that BBC studio you see there is completely fake. So it is definitely a virtual studio, save for a bit of desk below the presenter and the backlit background screens (which had a different colour glow at different times of the day). Doesn't matter if there's a green or blue screen, or nothing at all to key on to - if the studio is virtual, then its virtual. The glass coat-of-arms, the floor, 90% of that curved desk and the entire lighting gantry was all computer generated. Granted, it wasn't rendered on the fly like current augmented-reality virtual sets can be, but the amazing thing about this virtual newsroom was that it did have to seamlessly blend with a tiny live-action desk and surroundings. The lighting had to be flawlessly integrated so the join wouldn't be seen. Colour correction could be achieved on-the-fly, but that in itself was a major achievement in age before TV shows had colourists and lots of effects works. Not only that, but the cameras themselves were automated, effectively motion control TV cameras, which would allow them to replicate the same zoom out and track back move as the animation did, together with other movements which needed to synchronise with the CG visuals. And this had to be repeated at least three times a day, 7 days a week, live and had to look flawless... in an age of faxes, Windows 3.1, old trains and over-sized suits. Pretty incredible. I saw it go wrong quite a few times over the 5-6 years they had this studio, it was quite weird and mind-bending when the camera moves didn't match the CG, but a few times in many years certainly wasn't bad going.

[@johnking5174]

0:35 - This part of the opening titles is just a splendour to watch, for the other bulletins, the fake glass coat of arms blocked part of the virtual set, here it is like the BBC saying "Take a look at this HUGE studio, hey ITN, we can do better than your atrium view for your news bulletins". The music at this point reaches a climax, which we do not get in this modern age of news presentation do we?

[@peterwilliamskelhorn6675]

@@johnking5174 the only real parts of the set were the curved desk the panels which can change to every bulletin's colour scheme. And Martyn Lewis himself

[@johnking5174]

@@peterwilliamskelhorn6675 Yes, I know.

[@betacamsx-dallevhsallehdv11601]

​@@thetelegothika5327 made for real BBC News climax

[@19GirlBad]

@ejcmoorhouse Nah

[@eIucidate]

"truth", not peace :)

[@theebloxinator]

its peace dawg

[@jackdubz4247]

Thatcher so woke.