20-04-2025
Southampton students livestream prestigious Royal Television Awards
A group of students from a Southampton university livestreamed a prestigious television awards night.
Some nine television production students from Southampton Solent University were tasked with delivering a professional broadcast for the 2025 Royal Television Society (RTS) Southern Awards on March 25.
The awards, which celebrate the best in local television, were attended by industry professionals from ITV Meridian, BBC South, and Woodcut Media.
The students were approached by RTS Chair, Stuart Ray, to provide the live stream for the annual event.
They were responsible for every aspect of the production, from liaising with RTS and conducting location recces to working with lighting and sound professionals.
READ MORE: Student team recognised for 'outstanding achievement' in live broadcast project
The team used the university's state-of-the-art equipment, including five Sony PMW-400 cameras, a Blackmagic Atem Vision Mixer, and streaming iMacs, to create a high-quality broadcast.
They used fixed tripod cameras for the main stage, wireless handhelds to capture live audience reactions and winners' walk-ups, and on-stage graphics monitors to help presenters stay in sync with the show flow.
Final-year student Alex Dobson, who was the unit manager for the broadcast, said: "The most challenging part was the last-minute switch in our room position.
"We had to rethink our whole setup, check for power availability, and completely change our streaming approach.
"It was a moment that really tested our teamwork and problem-solving under pressure."
Despite the challenges, the team was ready ahead of schedule, with enough time to fully test everything before going live.
READ MORE: Solent University takes home several awards from major student TV event
Senior lecturer Kate O'Driscoll said: "What makes Solent stand out is its emphasis on hands-on, real-world learning.
"These live projects are central to the curriculum, giving students the chance to work directly with real clients, build their CVs, and showcase their skills to professionals, before they graduate.
"Alex and the rest of the team did a great job and should be proud of the enthusiasm, creativity, and professionalism that they brought to the project."
Alex, who hopes to join an outside broadcast company as a camera operator and broadcast engineer after graduation, said: "These projects are essential.
"They let me prove that I can handle these jobs at a professional level.
"I feel confident stepping into the industry knowing I've already done it - with the support and guidance of my course."
