‘Lates’ returned to the National Science and Media Museum on 18 October 2022 with a special broadcasting edition to celebrate the last 100 years of the BBC and the innovations that have shaped everyday life.
In collaboration with the BBC, Broadcasting Lates brought the changes in television and radio to life with the opportunity to travel through history and to explore today’s cutting-edge technology through fascinating talks, illuminating tours, hands-on workshops and free activities. Visitors explored new ways of consuming and experiencing media through an audio orchestrator experience along with demos of the latest tech for virtual production in broadcasting, special effects makeup, virtual reality and 3D cameras. Discover the latest technology and gadgets used in the recent Frozen Planet series or have a go at being a news presenter and keeping up with the autocue, while meeting current presenters from BBC Newsround.
Lates offers a unique experience to explore the museum’s galleries after dark and visitors to Broadcasting Lates had the opportunity explore the latest temporary exhibition, Switched On. Switched On celebrates the last 100 years of broadcast innovations through the pioneers who have forced the industry to adapt, change or make room for more voices. From the first radio microphones to colour TV, on-demand video and streaming, the new exhibition explores how and why the world of broadcasting has changed over the last 100 years.
Alongside Lates on 18 October, the museum hosted a live recording of Radio 4’s Inside Science in the Pictureville Cinema. Presenter Vic Gill was joined by Lewis Pollard, Curator of TV and Broadcast from the National Science and Media Museum and other guests, to discuss the future of broadcasting and in particular the science and technology shaping the medium. BBC Research and Development will demonstrate new technology, designed to change the way we access content, and participants considered what this means for the viewing and listening experience. The BBC’s Director-General Tim Davie, marked the BBC centenary moment setting out what the next 100 years may look like for public service broadcasting.
The Broadcast 100 programme is supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery.
About The National Science and Media Museum (NSMM)
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. It draws on more than three million objects from its national collection to explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies, and their impact on our lives.
The Museum creates special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults, and is home to three cinemas, including Europe’s first IMAX cinema screen and the world’s only remaining public Cinerama screen. Entry to the Museum is free. www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
About the Science Museum Group
The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading group of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon.
We share the stories of innovations and people that shaped our world and are transforming the future, constantly reinterpreting our astonishingly diverse collection of 7.3 million items spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Standout objects include the record-breaking locomotive Flying Scotsman, Richard Arkwright’s textile machinery, Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE computer and the earliest surviving recording of British television. Our mission is to inspire futures – igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, our museums attract more than 600,000 visits by education groups, while our touring exhibition programme brings our creativity and scholarship to audiences across the globe. More information can be found at www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
About People’s Postcode Lottery
People’s Postcode Lottery manages lotteries on behalf of 20 Postcode Trusts. People play with their chosen postcodes for a chance to win cash prizes. A minimum of 33% from each subscription goes directly to charities and good causes in Britain and internationally. Players have raised more than £800 million so far. For details of the charities and good causes which are promoting and benefitting from the lottery draws, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes/draw-calendar
It costs £10 a month to play and winning postcodes are announced every day. The maximum amount a single ticket can win is 10% of the draw proceeds. For details, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes