OB VANS: IMPERATIVE?

We discover how OB vans are essential to a foolproof outside broadcast setup

- ANISHA GAKHAR

Outside Broadcasting (OB) is the electronic field production (EFP) of TV or radio programme: usually covering news, sports and other events, from a mobile remote broadcast television studio or van. The camera and microphone signals are fed to the van/truck equipped with a production control room (OB van), to process it and further transmit it. In today’s time, many events happen outdoors/ outside the confines of a studio and thus, cannot be shot inside a studio. This is where OB is summoned. OB vans are a central element in outside broadcast events such as sports events, music concerts, performing arts and cultural functions. This type of production forms the basis of the majority of locally-produced airtime. Government broadcaster, Doordarshan, actively uses OB vans stationed across the country, to gather and broadcast news in India.