BBC - Supply of an LCD panel system for integration into the set of The BBC Review Show (shown below). The panels provided a cost effective scalable solution without the need for expensive processing equipment. Please read on for more detail on the job including the clients comments on our service.



5 Samsung 460 UX2 46" lcd panels
1 Kramer HDSDI - HDMI convertor
1 Kramer 8 way HDMI DA
1 Mains distribution / Hdmi Cables as required

Just as we were closing up for the new year, the phone rang with an enquiry about supply of 2 Panasonic 65" plasmas and in the course of the conversation I asked what they we to be used for. The screens turned out to be for a video display around 5m wide by 750mm high to display content in the back of the new set that was being built for BBCs arts magazine programme "The Review Show". Not only was the strip to be fed with a single source, it had to have a bend in the middle. As it was they had resigned themselves to using multiple 65" plasmas as the already BBC had a pair although this wasn't an ideal solution

With some thought to the application it seemed that a better option was to use a Samsung LCD system and use the built in wall controller which allows a single input to span five panels. By assigning it as a 5/5 wall with only the middle strip used, all the content was rendered standard HD 16/9 and did not need any predistortion, we simply converted the Hdsdi feed to HDMI and used a HDMI DA to feed the screens. This meant that the graphics guys could quickly create content as a single stream and know what it was going to look like before display.

Even though the pilot show was in the first week of January, we arranged for a demo of equipment and were able to deliver everything on schedule and under budget. Tthe total cost of the system was less than the original request for two 65" plasmas and in the end a far more suitable solution all round.

For those that wish to see it, the Review show is on BBC around 11pm on Fridays.

I called War-Pro on the 30th of December and spoke to Alastair. I'd been looking into various types of screen, including LED, plasma, and LCD, for the background of the BBC's re-branded Newsnight Review show to be called The Review Show.

The pilot was to be on the 8th of January. We had run out of time and options and I was resigned to the fact that we were going to have to go with four 65" plasmas which would look messy and a large part of their screens wouldn't be seen. Alastair suggested a new Samsung product which would suit our job perfectly as it had a tiny bezel.

I had thought that these monitors were too pricey but he assured me that these new ones were developed to be affordable and also didn't need all the expensive extras that you used to need.

We had to work fast to get approval for the monitors and order the five we needed on spec as they were the last ones in stock in the UK at the time.

Alastair even ordered the Plasmas as back up, if something went wrong during the pilot.

I was also concerned they would not work with the very specific vision mixers and feeds that the BBC studios us.

Alastair assured me once again that they would work well and offered to come into the BBC with a sample screen to test it in the studio.

He brought in all the kit we may possibly have needed and got the whole system off the ground.

Alastair worked with the Vision mixers, the studio managers, the electricians and the construction crew to see that the monitors went in to the set properly.

It's not often you get a genuine expert to help you out!

I am very grateful for the chance call I made to War-Pro in amongst all the chaos of the snow and ice, just to get a price.

I never asked about other options and so if Alastair hadn't cared so much about getting me the right product rather than just taking the order as others might the set would be a lot worse off and our Friday nights viewing wouldn't be the same!

Moley Campbell, Set Designer, The BBC Review Show.