Big Blue OB Van
Your event's mobile broadcast studio
Television.ee’s Big Blue is a Volvo coach that had travelled more than one million kilometres before we rebuilt it into a full-scale mobile event production facility.
Inside are 35 square metres of production space, four dedicated production workstations and a rooftop platform for camera operators. Everything travels in one vehicle, ready to produce professional live broadcasts in places conventional production facilities cannot reach.
From the conference hall to a bog. From the stadium to the field. If your event is taking place in a location with no ready-made stage or power outlet, the Big Blue will have you covered. And where the bus itself won't fit, we'll proceed with 2+ kilometers of cables.
Off-grid: we don't ask where the power comes from
Big Blue's roof is covered with 4.2 kWp solar panels,backed up by a 10 kWh battery and Dual AC inverters (12 kW and 6 kW), which guarantee a good day of autonomous work without local electricity. When we arrive, the equipment is already on and running before anyone can even look for a plug socket.
Solar energy quietly does the main work without noise and emissions where people are. There is a generator in reserve for longer projects, which we run on Neste MY Renewable Diesel (HVO, or fuel produced from renewable raw materials, not fossil diesel). And if the bus itself needs to be moved, we won't be burning dinosaurs in its 12-litre engine, but the same renewable fuel.
If necessary, we will also connect to the local network (1x16A, 3×16A or 3×32A), but the idea is that we don't have to.
Want to see how it works? Read more on the blog: “Where can I put this extension?” — there you can follow eeal-time energy production and consumption directly from the bus system.
What is inside the Big Blue OB van?
Big Blue is equipped to be a glass-to-glass transmission studio: from camera to viewer's device, the entire chain is under one roof.
- Vision production: Blackmagic ATEM vision mixer, vMix Replay and DaVinci for replays
- Broadcast audio: Behringer Wing control surface + Dante Audio
- On-site PA: Speaker coverage for speech/commentary up to 20,000 m²
- Production workstations:dedicated positions for directing, replay, graphics and audio, plus an engineering workstation
- Commentator kit Yes, the bus has two free tables with four workstations for commentators or the event organising team.
- Roof terrace 6m x 2m, 3.5 m height for operators, speakers, performers or judges
- Four camera podiums (1.5 × 1.5 m, height adjustable up to 1 m), our own design so that the operator and camera do not rest on the same plate. The image remains stable
- Two beds for technicians on multi-day projects
And most importantly, OB Bus will come with it's own technical crew. You won't need to look for operators, a director, or a sound engineer. We will fill these roles and assemble the team size according to the event: a smaller broadcast will be handled by a small team, while a large project with multiple cameras and replays will be covered by a full team. You will focus on the event, while we will take care of live broadcast production.
However, should you wish to use your creative team, then of course you can do so.. Please let us know about this at the time of ordering.
Cameras
We are delivering cameras according to the project needs, but the typical setup is:
- 4× Panasonic CX350 tripod camera
- GH5 handheld or Sony shoulder camera (wireless, operating range ~150 m line of sight)
- DJI Mavic 3 Cine drone
- 2x remotely controlled robot cameras
Audio equipment
Let's divide the sound in two: what we broadcast, and what is heard on site
Broadcast audio: The Behringer WING mixing console and Dante audio network provide a clean multichannel mix for commentary, interviews, music and ambient sound.
Local sound. Our PA system can cover speech and commentary across an area of up to approximately 20,000 m². For concerts and music-focused events requiring powerful full-range sound, we recommend adding a dedicated concert PA provider.
And something else – internet radio straight into the listener's ear. Big Blue has the capability to create an ultra-low latency internet radio that transmits audio with controlled synchronicity over the internet to smart devices and computers. Anyone interested can then play it through their car speakers or a portable speaker. At a drift, drag racing, or rally event, where the audience is sitting in their cars or with a Bluetooth speaker in the woods, this provides a unique experience that a regular broadcast cannot offer.
How far do we reach into the forest or bog?
The Big Blue doesn't go into the bog itself, and there's no need for it to. But with cables, you we can go quite deep into the forest, bog, or underground. We'll park the bus on solid ground and then proceed with cables to where the event is actually taking place:
- Electrical power 1-phase to 1.2 km, 3-phase 100 m
- Signal 6× 12-core LC duplex single-mode 250 m · 2× 2-core LC duplex single-mode 200 m · 4× 50 m+ SDI · 10× 20 m SDI and several more
- 500+ various video and audio patch cables
This means in practice: a rally stage in the middle of a forest, a competition in a field, a stage by the lake – the “feed” runs to the bus and from there, the live broadcast or recording is transmitted directly to the viewer's screen.
Will you have connection to the internet?
Electrical power is one half of independence, an internet connection the other. To send an uninterrupted video we use LiveU video encoders, which combines all the mobile operators in Estonia to one Telia, Elisa and Tele2 mobile networks and Starlink satellite internet. Multiple channels mean that the transmission remains stable even if one connection fails. And if a good stable connection is available locally, we will naturally connect to it as well.
Even where there is only one bar of signal or none at all, live broadcasts are still possible. The Big Blue bus will still broadcast recordings from the cameras.
Technical specifications
| Electrical power | 4.2 kWp solar panels + 10 kWh battery + 12 kW inverter → a full shooting day of autonomous operation. For longer projects, a Neste MY renewable diesel (HVO) generator. External power 3x16A or 3x32A. Consumption ~6 kW. |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Length 14.7 m; width 2.55 m; height 3.5 m (travel position) / 4.7 m (raised panels) |
| Picture management | Blackmagic ATEM video switcher; vMix Replay; DaVinci replay |
| Mass | 17 t; tyre pressure ~4.6 kg/cm² |
| Audio equipment | Sound direction: Behringer Wing + Dante Audio; On-site sound: speech/commentary for up to ~20,000 m²; ultra-low latency to internet radio listeners' devices |
| Workplaces | 4 workstation-operator posts + 1 technician post; 4 additional posts at the front of the bus; 2 sleeping berths |
| Roof terrace | 6m x 2m at a height of 3.5m |
| Camera podiums | 4 pieces, 1.5x1.5m, height adjustable up to 1m, with separate camera/operator platform |
| Cameras | 4 x Panasonic CX350; GH5 / Sony shoulder cameras (wireless ~150 m); DJI Mavic 3 Cine drone; 2 x PTZ cameras |
| Cabling | AC power: 1-phase up to 1200 m, 3-phase 100 m; Signal: up to 250 m fibre + SDI; 500+ patch cables |
| Internet connection | LiveU video encoder; Telia + Elisa + Tele2 mobile networks + Starlink satellite simultaneously; also connects to local fixed connection |
Good to know before we arrive
A 17-tonne, 14.7m bus manoeuvres surprisingly well with a skilled driver, but still requires significantly more space than a car. When approaching and parking, consideration must be given to the height, length, and ground load-bearing capacity. We will discuss this with you on-site in advance. This is part of the planning process to avoid surprises on the shoot day.
What is the Big Blue OB van
- Sporting events in a complex and remote locatsions. or on a fully prepped venue
- Product presentations and summer days, where technical support is needed without ready infrastructure
- Conferences and Major Events, where do you want a reliable glass-to-glass partner
- Multi-day projects, where the team has to stay on site
- Events, where the organiser dares to think outside the box and typical venues
Price
Production day from €2400, the next day same set-up €1500. Transport/set-up day €1000. Vehicle kilometre €2/km (starting from Saue). Price includes responsible technician.
15 years of experience have shown that larger productions always require a larger team, so the final price will be project-dependent. Feel free to ask for a quote — we work so that you get the most reasonable solution.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Can you produce a live stream without local electricity?
Yes. 4.2 kWp solar panels, a 10 kWh battery, and a 12 kW inverter ensure a full day of autonomous operation. For longer projects, there is a generator running on Neste MY renewable diesel as a backup, and if necessary, we can connect to the local grid (3x16A or 3x32A).
How far can you go from the bus with the cameras?
Power and camera signal cables extend up to 1200 m from the bus. In practice, this means the bus can be on solid ground and the filming location deep in a forest, field or by the beach.
How many cameras are included?
A typical production uses up to four tripod mounted and manned cameras, supplemented by handheld/shoulder-mounted cameras, a drone and robotic cameras. We adapt the package according to the needs of each project.
Where can the Big Blue go?
The bus is 14.7m long, weighs 17 tonnes, and requires a hard surface and sufficient manoeuvring space. We won't be taking the bus itself into the mud, but we can reach where needed with a cable. We will review the suitability of the location for each project beforehand.
What affects the price of a live broadcast?
Primarily the number of working days, the size of the cameras and crew, location and travel distance, and additional solutions (LED screen, sound system, drone). Send us a description of the event, and we will prepare an accurate quote.
How can you stream from a place without internet?
We use a LiveU video encoder which combines Telia, Elisa and Tele2 mobile networks simultaneously along with Starlink satellite internet. Multiple channels at once keep the transmission going even in poor reception areas. We also connect via the existing dedicated connection.
Do we need to find the operators and crew ourselves?
It's not necessary, but you can. The bus will come with its technical team, and we'll assemble the team size based on the event. A smaller broadcast will be handled by a few people, while a larger multi-camera project will have a full team. The price includes a responsible technician, and we'll finalise the exact setup when making the offer.
But if you have the opportunity to put together your own creative team – director, cinematographers, etc.
Do you also offer only part of the solution?
Yes. We provide full solutions from concept to completion, but we can also assist with just a few stages. For example, if you have your own creative team, operators, directors, etc., then naturally, you can also use your own team.