Big Cat Live - Supporting multiplatform working in Kenya

October 2008: BBC Post Production is supporting Big Cat Live, described by Neil Nightingale, Head of the BBC Natural History Unit, as “the BBC’s most ambitious ever live international wildlife event”, which will go out on BBC One, bbc.co.uk and CBeebies this autumn.

The series is set to explore the hidden side of Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve. With cutting-edge filming techniques and live communications, Big Cat Live will bring all the danger and exhilaration of being out on the African plains 24/7. It is a one-week live TV event, but the whole production will span three weeks on bbc.co.uk.

By day the teams follow the life-and-death fortunes of the lion, cheetah and leopard families. Then nightly transmissions bring the latest news from the previous 24 hours, as well as live images of the nocturnal life in the reserve, using specially designed remote cameras capable of broadcasting live action as it happens in the dark. The interactive website contains live multiple streaming webcams, delivering updates on the cat stars and bringing the African wildlife at night to viewers’ desktops.

BBC Post Production Birmingham is supporting production in their 24 hour surveillance operation and output to a number of platforms. It is providing a tapeless workflow solution which enables TV editors and web producers to prepare and transmit content simultaneously, whilst on location. To do this, it is using well developed Avid-based tapeless workflows, similar to those used successfully on Springwatch earlier this year. The system is supplied, integrated and supported by Hiring Post and will be installed at Governor’s Camp in Kenya.

The system is based around an Avid Unity server with 8TB storage with Avid Interplay asset management system. Two Avid Airspeeds and Avid Command are controlling transmission output. Three Media Composer Adrenaline systems and four laptops running Avid Media Composer are being used to bring to life the stories of the big cats in the Masai Mara. Ingest from the specialist remote cameras, which capture up close and personal behaviour of the wildlife, are being handled by a further two Avid Airspeeds and ingest is being controlled on laptops running Avid Interplay Assist.

In addition, BBC Post Production Bristol carried out the finishing and the sound work for the inserts, ready for transmission from the Masai Mara Reserve and is also providing the editing crew out on location.

Big Cat Live is being made by BBC Vision Productions and was commissioned by Emma Swain, Head of In-house Commissioning, Knowledge. The Series Producer is Nigel Pope and the Producer is Colin Jackson. BBC Multiplatform Comissioner is Lisa Sargood. CBeebies’ Little Big Cat was commissioned by Michael Carrington and the Executive Producer is Wendy Darke.

Big Cat Live will transmit over 8 days from 5 October 2008.

About BBC Post Production

BBC Post Production, a division of BBC Resources Ltd, is located in London, Bristol and Birmingham and offers award-winning creative solutions using the latest technology. Working in partnership with a variety of broadcasters and production companies, BBC Post Production’s extensive range of services include SD and HD editing across all platforms, 5.1 audio and telecine, as well as Media Solutions, its new consultancy service. The BBC Post Production team brings talent and experience to a vast range of productions, across all genres. Credits include: BAFTA Craft Award nominated Seven Ages of Rock, Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders, Match of the Day, Ski Sunday, Gardeners World and the award winning Planet Earth.

For more information visit www.bbcresources.com/postproduction

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