A television production truck or OB van is a small mobile production control room to allow filming of events and video production at locations outside a regular television studio. They are used for remote broadcasts, outside broadcasting (OB), and electronic field production (EFP). Some require a crew of as many as 30 people, with additional trucks for additional equipment as well as a satellite truck, which transmits video back to the studio by sending it up through a communications satellite using a satellite dish, which then transmits it back down to the studio. Alternatively, some production trucks include a satellite transmitter and satellite dish for this purpose in a single truck body to save space, time and cost.
Dutchview's DV3 at AVManifestatie in 2008
Dumont Telecruiser, an early production truck developed by the US DuMont Television Network in 1949
Television South (TVS) OB Unit 1, a Bedford VAL in 1991
Restored 1963 BBC scanner MCR21, with Pye Mk6 tv camera, at Broadcasting House, London, July 2022
Outside broadcasting (OB) is the electronic field production (EFP) of television or radio programmes from a mobile remote broadcast television studio. Professional video camera and microphone signals come into the production truck for processing, recording and possibly transmission.
Presenters and camera operator of Sky Sports F1 on an outside broadcast in 2014.
Television South (TVS) OB Unit 1 as seen in 1991
Outside broadcast vehicles at Raymond James Stadium in advance of Super Bowl LV
An ABS-CBN OB van transmitting a satellite feed
