SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Ian Dormer reports from IBC in Amsterdam: IBC
delegates
were offered the thrilling opportunity over the weekend to step back into the past and
walk through RTP’s 1957 fully functional outside broadcast (OB) van on the BTS stand
in
the outdoor exhibit area. This is the oldest working van in Europe.
Built in 1957 for Portuguese public broadcaster RTP, the OB van was operational right
up
to 1980 when it was retired from service. In 2006, the Mercedes-based van underwent a
year-long restoration process and is now a highlight at RTP’s Museum in Lisbon.
The interior of the van has been restored as closely as possible to its original state with
much of the original television equipment revamped and reinstalled. Mercedes rebuilt the
six cylinder 110-horse power diesel engine, which is capable of maximum speeds of
78km/h.
Its first outside broadcast was in 1958 for a football match between Sporting Lisbon
and
FC Austria.
