The broadcaster has occupied the Millbank Media Centre (No. 4 Millbank) since 1993, since when it has carried out systematic technology upgrades. In addition to presenting down-the-line interviews to its main studio in Osterley, the studio houses a weekly PMQs show and covers breaking news from around Westminster.
Sky has an open policy when it comes to third party vendors, but during a visit to last year's PLASA Show at Earl's Court, Mark Fowler, who manages Sky TV's lighting department, saw the LED strips on the stand of LED. Ltd. He knew it would fulfil the visual idea -jointly conceived by concept designer Toby Kalitowski and Jon Bennett, Sky News' head of studio output - to establish continuity with Sky News' main studio in Osterley.
"In addition to the products I was impressed by LED Ltd's track record in the broadcast studio world," said Fowler. "We needed the assurance that we would be buying fixtures that would operate 24/7 - 365 days of the year - and that we would have reliable back-up.
"We also needed a solution that would draw minimal power - unlike the decommissioned system. This certainly reduces the loading problem we had with the old set-up."
The company ordered 21 x 1m RGB strips butted together, and three TV-rated drivers (with a local DMX control). With the studio fully operational throughout, these were installed by builders Scott Fleary over a weekend - in time for the resumption of Parliament in the New Year. The diffused strips front a graphic perspex backdrop, backlit with neons, which covers the entire back wall of the studio.
The RGB light box enables Sky News to carry out a full colour mix, and while they mainly run blue, the station will switch to red for Breaking News.
(Jim Evans)
