When Wrightway Marketing first asked VSC to assist in planning the technical facilities for their new home shopping channel, Ideal World TV, the location was, quite literally, a green field site. VSC worked closely with architects, building contractors and consulting engineers as well as Ideal World’s own production team on all aspects of the project including space planning, power and air-conditioning as well as formulating the technical specification for the television facilities.

Starting with a clean sheet and working with an organisation new to television broadcasting presented a unique challenge, especially as the target was to have the main studio live-to-air for at least 16 hours per day. From the isolated concrete foundation for the studio structure to the lighting grid and from the camera lenses to the logo inserters everything needed to be closely specified and kept within the Ideal World’s overall budget. Fast track construction With such a commercially focussed client, it was of the utmost importance to meet the proposed on-air date of 17 April. Contracts were signed in early January, giving just 14 weeks from start of construction to completion. Equipment suppliers worked wonders and sub-systems were preassembled and commissioned off site as far as possible.