IDS Powers a Flexible Control System for the BBC

Revolutionising Broadcast Infrastructure at Broadcasting House

When the BBC World Service made the landmark move from its historic home at Bush House to the state-of-the-art Broadcasting House in central London, it wasn't just a change of address—it was an opportunity to reimagine and future-proof their broadcast operations.

As part of this ambitious transformation, the BBC chose to install a completely new and flexible studio infrastructure. Central to this was Densitron’s IDS Control System - an advanced control and display system that now plays a vital role in the day-to-day functionality of the broadcaster’s radio and television output.

Today, nearly 800 IDS-enabled displays power operations across the BBC's TV facilities and Central Areas, offering unparalleled control, configurability, and clarity.

From Bush House to Broadcasting House

The former setup at Bush House featured a unique and flexible arrangement of studios: glass-walled cubicles in clusters of three, used either independently or in various combinations. Recreating this operational versatility in the new space meant finding a control system agile enough to handle complex studio configurations on demand.

IDS proved more than capable.

From controlling cue lights and studio displays to managing microphone live status and coloured LED indicators on glass partitions, IDS seamlessly adapted to each studio’s needs—whether they were operating solo or as part of a linked setup.

Adapting to Changing Needs in Real Time

One of the key requirements in the move was a replacement for the traditional hard-wired multi-timezone clocks. The BBC needed a more flexible system—and IDS delivered.

Now, digital time displays throughout Broadcasting House can be instantly reconfigured to show different time zones, display live schedules of incoming content, and stream breaking headlines via a BBC RSS feed—all thanks to IDS’s dynamic display capability.

Introducing Smarter Pre-Transmission Checks

During the installation phase, another critical function emerged: improving the pre-transmission test (PTT). Traditionally performed via a separate desktop app, the process needed streamlining.

Thanks to IDS’s integration flexibility, engineers added a dedicated PTT tab directly into the touchscreen interface. Now, presenters simply tap a confirmation button on their touchscreen panel, automatically alerting the control room that the studio is ready to go live. The action also triggers a flashing alert on wall-mounted IDS screens—ensuring no signal is missed.

This function, while not in the original brief, quickly became a core part of the studio’s workflow. It required custom integration with the BBC’s Pharos control system—something IDS handled effortlessly, underscoring its ability to evolve and expand as operational needs change.

A Future-Proof, User-Friendly Solution

One of the standout benefits of IDS is its intuitiveness. With touchscreens now a part of everyday life, staff at the BBC needed very little training to get up to speed. And because the system is modular and fully networked, new features can be added with minimal disruption.

We’re still tweaking parts of the system, noted one of the engineers on the project, but that’s the beauty of it – with IDS it’s easy to reconfigure and add functions as new ideas crop up.

Conclusion

The successful installation of IDS at Broadcasting House demonstrates how a modern control and display system can transform legacy workflows and introduce smarter, more flexible operations across an entire broadcast environment.

From lighting control and audio status to dynamic scheduling and presenter-ready checks, IDS has empowered the BBC World Service with the tools to deliver their global programming with confidence and precision—today and well into the future.