December 2013 www.tvbeurope.com


TVBEurope 13 News & Analysis Supporting TV


Vinten tripods and camera support have been a permanent fixture at ITV’s London Studios for 40 years. Elsie Cramptontakes a look at this long relationship


AS THE UK’s biggest production company, distributing and selling more than 40,000 hours of television around the globe, ITV Studios needs no introduction. Based on London’s South Bank, ITV London Studios is renowned for creating a huge range of entertainment shows, not just for ITV, but for other channels including BBC, Channel 4 and Sky. The complex has six studios


which transmit more than seven hours of live programming each day in addition to several more hours of shows across all UK broadcasters. The schedule means the equipment used on these live and pre- recorded productions is pushed to its limits. Camera support company


Vinten has had a strong working relationship with ITV Studios spanning more than 40 years, and today thousands of television productions are filmed every year using cameras supported by Vinten pan and tilt heads, pedestals and tripods. Chris Owen, head of


cameras and sound for The London Studios, is only too


aware of the importance of selecting the right equipment, working and supervising camera operators across all of ITV’s daytime programmes. “When it comes to the


products we use, reliability is my core requirement because the equipment is in constant use and much of it is being used for live work,” says Owen. “It is essential that it is well engineered, there is a good availability of spares, and crucially, it is easy to maintain.” ITV Studios UK uses a


range of Vinten pedestals and tripods, dating back to the first HP 7 pedestals. The entire facility currently employs around 35 of the larger studio pedestals, including Quattros and Fulmers, as well as a range of Vector heads such as the Vector 750. Owen explains: “Some of the oldest equipment, such as the earliest pedestals, are so solid we have been able to make


The London Studios’ South Bank complex features six studios


“Some of the oldest equipment, such as the earliest pedestals, are so solid we have been able to make modifications and use them as a stable tracking base” Chris Owen, The London Studios


The studios currently has 15 Autoscript prompting solutions


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