/77-5_files/77-500001im.jpg" width="694" height="1047" useMap="#Map">

Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

LESSON 05

OUTDOOR BROADCASTING II

Regular Public Events

The outdoor broadcasting is a huge area, perhaps as much spread out as the indoor. One

major aspect of outdoor broadcast is covering the regular public events.

Horse and Cattle Show

This weeklong show is held as part of spring festivals in Lahore. From day one to the

concluding day the venue is visited by local and foreign dignitaries with a large number of

people coming from all over the country. Not only the day time; have the events continued to

take place till midnight.

The Sibbi Mela in Balochistan

It is a similar event as Horse and cattle show in Lahore. From day one to the concluding day

the venue is visited by local and foreign dignitaries with a large number of people coming from

all over the country.

Pakistan Day March Past

It is held in front of the Parliament House on March 23 every year, with a lot of other activities

going on at different capital city's spots and which have to be covered by the broadcasting

houses.

These are but few examples of events which are held regularly. Some times events take place

at far flung areas like the Shandhoor polo matches in northern areas, Thar Mela, or Urs of

Hazrat Data Gunj Bukhsh or Shah Abdul Latif. A broadcasting house simply cannot miss these

events. They have to send OB teams to cover these events.

General Elections

The days when general elections are held are the real field days for the broadcasting houses.

Since the activity is spread over all around the country, broadcasting houses run short of OB

teams to cover the event. Usually, missings are noticed and a notice of negligence is served

on some producer.

Sports

One very major area of outdoor broadcast is the coverage given to sporting events.

Pakistan is a leading nation in cricket, hockey and squash and features very prominently

whenever these sports are held in any part of the world.

The OB teams not only manage coverage of these events when they are held within the

country, but at times they go abroad to arrange live commentary on these games.

Floods

Rainy season in Pakistan usually brings floods as rivers overflow and rainfall intensified in the

catchment areas in the north. The OB teams are assigned to go and bring first hand

information about the damage caused by the downpour and the deluge.

/77-5_files/77-500002im.jpg" width="694" height="1047" useMap="#Map">

Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

It is a tough task as some of the sophisticated equipment may not turn friendly in the moist

conditions. Special care is done to keep the instruments and leads dry and in working order,

even in the worst weather conditions.

Authorities' visits

In the flooded parts, and for that matter, in any other emergency like rail accidents,

earthquakes etc., president, prime minister, governors or chief ministers along with senior

officials of departments meant to do the rehabilitation work, visit the calamity hit areas.

Normally OB teams go along with them to cover these visits.