The Story of London 23

By the late 1980s a lot of changes had already taken place in TV technology, and more were on the way. Advances in miniaturisation of components and the introduction of microprocessors was making cameras smaller and lighter. Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) had superseded tubes for image pickup, and multi-core camera cables had been replaced by much cheaper and more reliable Triax. Videotape recorders had reduced in size enormously following the change from open reel to Beta SP format cassettes. An OB vehicle with full programme making including recording and editing was now possible, and in a smaller vehicle than the previous generation. The BBC decided that a smaller vehicle would be useful for regional programmes or those with venues all over the UK such as Antiques Roadshow, Songs of Praise etc, and of course sports. 

In 1990 Sony UK at Basingstoke were commissioned to build 5 Type 7 scanners, which were to go to Wales, Scotland/N.I., West and North. One was to be retained in London, as it was realised that a vehicle that could access the difficult parking conditions around London venues would be very useful. Lo23 was the first of the units to enter service arriving at Kendal Avenue in January 1991, remaining there until the BBC sold the entire OB operation to SIS. 

This photo shows two of the Type 7s under construction at he coachbuilders Smiths (Great Bentley) Ltd. - It is not possible to say which they are of the five. They were fitted with Sony BVP70 cameras, GVG100 vision mixer and Sony Beta SP BVW75 VTRs, and a Calrec 'M' Series 24 channel sound desk. Construction and testing took place during 1990 and 91. Critical BBC acceptance tests required returns for modifications for various problems. Lo23 did its first OB for 'The Clothes Show' in January 1991. Not sure of the location.

It had many interesting adventures, including going to Moscow, Tbilisi in Georgia, and the Winter Olympics in Austria. 

It was used for the live broadcast of the ordination of the first female priests in the Anglican church at Bristol Cathedral in 1994, and many other religious, sports, and current affairs programmes.

In 1999 it was given a complete re-fit as one of the first digital wide-screen production vehicles in the BBC. The cost of this was around £750,000- excluding labour, which was supplied by BBC staff in Manchester. It was used that year at Windsor castle for the wedding of Prince Edward. In 1992 it was at Glastonbury for the Festival, as well as covering the Boat Race, Badminton Horse Trials, The London marathon and The Culture Show. In later years it spent a while on the set of Eastenders, at Elstree.

Lo23 was illustrated in the IBA exhibition catalogue 1990, shown at Sony in Basingstoke while being fitted out.

Lo23 at Wimbledon 1992. Wimbledon was always a big outside broadcast job with more than one scanner linked together. Here it looks small next to one of the huge expanding side units.