Live Broadcast Production at the Royal Institution

Taking a live conversation from one room to an international audience requires more than simply recording the stage. Viewers need clear sound, varied camera angles and a programme that moves naturally between speakers, graphics and videos.

WaveFX provided the complete live broadcast production for a two-hour climate event at the Royal Institution in London.

The client brief

Produced by 5×15, the event brought together speakers from politics, entertainment, business and civil society to discuss climate action.

The programme featured actor Ralph Fiennes alongside Ellie Goulding and political leaders from New Zealand and Fiji. It formed part of the Talanoa Dialogue, an international initiative encouraging people to exchange ideas and practical approaches ahead of this years COP meeting.

WaveFX was asked to film the complete event, mix the programme live and distribute it across several established Facebook pages.

“WaveFX understood the pace and importance of the event from the outset. They captured every speaker clearly, handled the live graphics and online broadcasts, and gave our international audience a reliable way to follow the conversation. We were delighted with the production.” 5×15 Production Team

Audience size and locations

Approximately 400 people watched from inside the Royal Institution, with several thousand additional viewers joining online.

The Facebook broadcasts connected the event with audiences across the UK, Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Platforms used

The live programme was distributed across several Facebook pages, including a COP climate page connected with the UNFCCC conversation.

Viewers could watch, comment and share the event as it happened. A complete recording was also created for continued online viewing.

Production setup

WaveFX supplied the cameras, crew and broadcast equipment required to produce the programme on location.

The setup included:

  • Several 4K cameras
  • Live vision mixing
  • Speaker names and event graphics
  • Playback of pre-recorded videos
  • Integration with the venue sound system
  • Encoding to multiple Facebook destinations
  • Live monitoring and programme recording

The camera positions provided close coverage of individual speakers alongside wider views of the stage and Royal Institution theatre.

Production challenges and how we addressed them

The Royal Institution is an important and distinctive venue, so the equipment needed to fit around the room and its audience. Camera positions were agreed in advance to preserve sightlines while still providing useful angles for the broadcast.

The programme moved between speeches, discussions, graphics and video content. A detailed running order helped the director and vision mixer prepare every transition before it appeared on screen.

Broadcasting to several Facebook pages required each destination to be configured and tested. The outgoing feeds were monitored throughout the event so any platform-specific issue could be identified quickly.

Measurable outcome

WaveFX delivered:

  • Two hours of continuous live coverage
  • Several 4K camera feeds
  • Live graphics and video playback
  • An audience of approximately 400 inside the venue
  • Several thousand international online viewers
  • Distribution across multiple Facebook pages
  • A complete recording for on-demand viewing

The production allowed a live conversation in London to reach viewers around the world while preserving the atmosphere of the Royal Institution.

Planning a live broadcast in London?

WaveFX provides live broadcast production in London for conferences, public talks, panels, launches and international events.

Call Jamie or Chris on 01223 505600 or email hello@wavefx.co.uk to discuss your production.

#eventfilming #eventstreaming #webcastproduction #livestreaming