Take Two BBC Power Problems
Wednesday December 03 2003
For the second time inside a week, output on BBC television and radio was affected by electrical problems at BBC Television Centre in London.

BBC Radio 5 Live went off air at around 8pm, disrupting its coverage of the Carling Cup football match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion. Digital radio service 5 Live Sports Extra, was also affected.

BBC Radio 4's frequencies also went silent for a few minutes and there was disruption to the BBC World Service.

The first signs of trouble on television were evident on BBC Four and BBC World at 8pm: a recorded BBC World news programme was broadcast.

BBC News 24 managed to keep things going until just after 9pm. At 9.15pm, the screen went black and the station was forced to revert to a pre-recorded programme. At 9.30pm, BBC News 24 joined forces with BBC World for the remainder of the evening.
Above: BBC News 24 sting and Mishal Husain in the BBC World news studio.
Just after 9.15pm, BBC News 24 went black, with Louise Minchin and Jon Sopel continuing in sound only. They continued to read through the main news stories. However, after a couple of minutes, the decision was taken to switch to an edition of 'Hardtalk'. Our video clip picks up events just seconds after the screen went black. Notice how the picture does not return until the 'Hardtalk' titles end.

At around 9.30pm, BBC News 24 crossed to the BBC World news studio and joined Mishal Husain [above]. After a summary of the main stories we had 'Business Today' from the BBC World set. Further headline update at c. 9.45pm, followed by 'Asia Today'.
Above: 61 second countdown runs on BBC News 24 just before 10pm [left] and Huw Edwards presents BBC One's 'Ten O'Clock News' from a temporary studio [right].
At the top of the hour we were treated to a 61 second countdown on News 24. At 10pm (until 10.30pm) we joined BBC World viewers and presenter Mishal Hussein.

Meanwhile over on BBC One, Huw Edwards was presenting the 'Ten O'Clock News' from the temporary CSO set used by BBC News 24 over the last number of weeks ahead of its much hyped relaunch.
Above: Mishal Husain welcomes viewers to BBC News 24 at 10.30pm.
12.35am Still no DOG or clock on BBC News 24. Reverting to a pre-recorded programme: 'Children Of The Epidemic'. The midmight - 12.30am news came from BBC World.

1.06am A few minutes into the usual overnight joint BBC World/BBC News 24 broadcast, BBC World astons are replaced with BBC News 24 style astons.

1.32am An edition of 'Hardtalk' - presented by Sarah Montague - replaces 'World News Tonight' on BBC News 24.

4am - 5am All television services from Television Centre are affected by scheduled engineering work, with the Testcard being shown on BBC One and BBC Two.

5am BBC News 24 clock and DOG return.

LINKS  BBC International Presentation  •  Five Presentation  •  Sky Presentation

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