Hello everyone! Every wondered where it is that your morning news anchor is actually sitting? News programs often use different kinds of back drops or green screens while on TV to create the illusion that they are in a different location or high tech studio. Well now you'll be able to see how all that is possible and what an actual studio looks like. Granted, a college TV station is much less equipped than a professional one. Professional studios also have much more up to date equipment than a small liberal arts university. However, I think this will give you a basic sneak peek of what a TV studio looks like. Enjoy!
1. THE DESK
This is a picture of the one item that you see all news anchors with...a desk. For our TV station (DCTV) this is where our two anchors sit and talk during the broadcast. Behind the chairs are pictures of Cassel Outdoor Theatre at Doane, giving the audience a sense of location for us. Across the floors run the microphone cords to the microphones that the anchors clip to their lapels.
2. CAMERAS
These three cameras are the ones that are used for each DCTV broadcast. They are set on tripods with wheels so that the cameramen can easily move the cameras if need be. Two of the cameras are used to get shots of the lead anchors and sports anchor. The third is used to film the weather anchor. Atop of each camera is a small TV that faces the anchors. The TVs are where the teleprompter is ran through, displaying the script to all of the anchors to read off of during the broadcast.
3. LIGHTS
Lights are very important during a DCTV broadcast. If they are too bright, the show will be way too white and shiny, but if they're too dark, the audience will not be able to see any of the anchors. There are multiple lights hanging the DCTV studio. Some are old and are not used anymore but the light that is on in the picture is one of the newer lights that we frequently use. They can be situated differently and put on several settings to give the studio different lighting if need be.
4. THE GREEN SCREEN
You've seen special effects or graphics behind or next to anchors when you've watched the news. This is how that happens! The green screen allows us to put almost anything behind the anchor that is using it, whether that be weather graphics, pictures, or different locations. For DCTV, we use this mainly for the weather anchor, posting graphics that they anchor uses during the broadcast.
5. THE CONTROL ROOM
This is where the magic of DCTV happens. This room is where the rest of the staff, including the program director, sits during the broadcast. Graphics are run from here, switching between cameras is controlled through here, sound and microphones are controlled in here, even the teleprompter is controlled from one of these computers. Without the control room and the people that work in it, DCTV would not happen.
Well, there you have it! A short tour of a small college TV station. While our studio is nothing advanced or top of the line, it works for the needs that we have. I hope this gave you an educational glimpse into what a TV studio actually looks like.
Thank you!
