Case Studies

ACC Liverpool’s production team provided bespoke technical support to BBC Studios for its annual Showcase.  

Hundreds of the world’s leading TV executives viewed new content as well as attending masterclasses, co-production forums and specially curated sessions.  On and off screen talent, independent British producers and top BBC executives presented a wide and diverse range of top quality content at the event, which has taken place at ACC Liverpool for eight years running.

The auditorium and halls 1B and 1C in ACC Liverpool were utilised as Premiere Theatres with the auditorium transformed into a widescreen 4K cinematic experience with a 12m super wide 3:1 screen taking centre stage. An enhanced lighting package complimented the minimal stage set creating interest and depth.  In addition, lighting was designed and installed by ACC Liverpool’s in-house designer Nathan Harrison for the third year running.  Meanwhile halls 1B and 1C housed the smaller showcase events with enhanced screen and projection elements.

A strong focus of this year’s event was content, with video and graphic requiring specialist treatment by the ACC Liverpool team of 14 technicians. ACC Liverpool head of vision Mark Anderson organised for a Barco E2 switcher to manage the system and to ensure content was displayed and captured correctly.

The production team also supported BBC Studios and its design agency BJA Design in Hall 2 by providing a complete rigging solution and bespoke ‘mother grid’ with service partner UK Rigging, to suspend the digi booths, lighting and decorative graphic panels.

Nicky Norman, ACC Liverpool head of production and technical services, said: “We were pleased to be able to provide a bespoke package of support to the team for this year’s BBC Studios Showcase.

“As well as providing screens and lighting for the premiere theatres in three of our halls in the convention centre, we supported outside broadcasts and live links to Amsterdam and Los Angeles, enabling the audience to watch real time content across the world.

“Our team of technicians also provided auto cue, stage management and live recordings.  It was a pleasure to work with the BBC team and support their other AV suppliers.”

BBC Studios once again utilised the event campus - Exhibition Centre Liverpool was used as a testing site ahead of Showcase while hundreds of digi booths for delegates to view content, in addition to break-out meeting rooms and pods, were specially constructed in ACC Liverpool.  M&S Bank Arena, also part of the site, was transformed for two separate dinners for guests – the first highlighted a number of new shows such as The Planets and Good Omens.  The venue was converted overnight for the second dinner which focused on the new series of One Planet: Seven Worlds where some of the accompanying music, composed by Hans Zimmer and his team at Bleeding Fingers Music, was performed for the first time.  The team supported production agency Hawthorn with the rigging elements of the high specification full production service for the dinners.

In its 43^rd year and the first under the Studios banner, BBC Studios Showcase flies the flag for British creativity and brings together an unrivalled programme for the global TV industry.  BBC Studios is the largest distributor of TV content outside of the US and sells programmes as well as secures financing on behalf of the BBC and UK independent producers.