An outside broadcast (OB) is a live or recorded television production made away from a studio, usually at an event or venue, where several cameras are switched together on site and sent out as one programme feed. A 4K OB delivers that feed in 3840 × 2160 for big screens, broadcasters and online streams.
What does OB mean?
OB stands for outside broadcast, also called outside broadcasting. It describes any production made outside a studio: a conference hall, a stage, a ceremony, a stadium. Television has used OB production since its early days. The idea is to bring the studio to the event, with cameras, a control room and a way to send the picture out.
OB van or flyaway kit
The control room of an OB can be built in two ways.
| Setup | What it is | Best when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OB van | A vehicle that works as a studio on wheels, with the vision mixing, audio, replay and recording equipment inside | The venue has road access and parking and the show needs a full control room | Space for the vehicle and the cable runs to the cameras |
| Flyaway kit | Portable equipment carried into the venue and rigged there, with no vehicle | Access is restricted, the venue is small or temporary, or the budget is tight | Rigging time in the venue and a smaller scale than a large van |
Vans range from small units with four cameras to large mobile units with thirty or more. Flyaway kits are built around compact switchers and cameras and can scale from a three-camera show to a large event. Many modern vans are built around IP technology instead of coaxial cable.
What is inside an OB control room
- Vision mixing. Switching between cameras, graphics and other sources to build the programme
- Audio. Mixing microphones, music and remote audio into the feed
- Replay. Recording and replaying moments during the show
- Graphics. Names, logos, scores and sponsor slides added live
- Recording. A copy of the programme and, where needed, of each camera
- Communications. A talkback line between the director and the camera operators
Who is on an OB crew
The size depends on the show, but the roles are consistent: a director, a vision mixer (sometimes the director), camera operators, an audio engineer, a graphics operator, a replay operator where needed, an engineer for the signal path and a producer. On small jobs one person may cover two roles.
Where the OB feed goes
The feed is traditionally sent back to a broadcast centre, often by satellite or fibre. Today it can also be encoded and sent online over a wired line or bonded cellular, shown on LED screens at the venue, or delivered to a client's own player. The same feed can go to all of these at once.
OB or a simple live stream?
These are typical differences, not fixed rules.
| Simple live stream | OB production | |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | One or a few, often with a small switcher | Several, switched in a control room |
| Crew | A small team | A full crew with separate roles |
| Output | One stream to a platform | A programme feed that can go to screens, broadcasters and online at once |
| Best for | Talks, webinars and small hybrid events | Large events, ceremonies, performances and shows with many moving parts |
Planning a 4K OB in Dubai
- Venue access. Check road access and parking if a van is needed, and load-in times for the crew and equipment.
- Power and cabling. Agree power, cable routes and rigging time with the venue's technical team.
- Camera positions. Decide where the cameras go and what each one covers.
- Destination. Decide where the feed goes: screens at the venue, a broadcaster, YouTube or your own player.
- Connection. If the feed goes online, plan a dedicated line, a second route and a bandwidth test at the venue.
- Permits. Dubai requires a Dubai Film and TV Commission permit for essentially any professional production, and venues and organisers set their own filming rules.
- Rehearsal. Rehearse the vision mix and audio with the presenters before the doors open.
Where to go next
For what we offer, see 4K outside broadcast in Dubai. For a lighter setup, see 4K live streaming and the planning guide. For event coverage without a live feed, see event video and photography.
Streaming or broadcasting an event in the UAE?
Send us the event, the venue, the date and where the stream should go. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.