Where do those G20 cables lead? It's hush-hush

Nov 10, 2014 at 04:27 pm by Staff


Want to know more about the technology behind the G20 media centre? Well forget it.

After Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre showed media the facilities being provided for the more than 2500 journalists expected at the high-security event, GXpress presumed to ask for "more".

And got a brief note - headed in capitals, 'Unclassified' - for our pains.

"The requirements of the event mean that we are unfortunately unable to help with your request," the message says, signing off with "Regards, G20 Media".

There's been some coverage of the showing last Saturday, but it's mostly dumbed down to "two football fields" (the supposed size of the purpose-built centre), and "324 individual TV sets" (the constituents of the "giant screen" which hangs from the ceiling) and of course "more than 100 kilometres of cables".

And of federal Brisbane MP Teresa Gambaro, using words like "fantastic" and "wonderful" and "amazing". Pictures show the 960 individual work spaces, and we're told there are 110 broadcast offices and two press conference rooms with everything including pens and post-it notes.

And of course, the cables, apparently going nowhere.

All this opens on Wednesday and will run until noon the following Monday (November 17). After which hopefully, it may be less secret. Perhaps there'll even be some lightly-used broadcast kit looking for a home.

A pity therefore that, given BCEC staff "had taken personal pride in hosting the event", described as "a big opportunity for Brisbane and the BCEC" - they can't tell us anything about it.

Host broadcaster is Global Television, which provides a range of services to media. It announced this week that working directly to the G20 Taskforce, it appointed Globecast Australia as the satellite services provider.

Global won the tender to provide technical design, build and operational services a year ago, and said then it would use a combination of traditional and emerging broadcasting technologies, such as 4G web streaming services, to maximise the coverage.

A G20 Taskforce spokesperson told us on Tuesday that more than 900 journalists at any one time will be able to work out of the media centre with up to 200 photographers processing and filing images at any one time.

"Media are provided with desk space and internet connections, and broadcasters can purchase additional services including transmitting international signals around the world - editing services, a bookable live stand-up position for television journalists, a fully equipped studio, and camera facilities and services."

Peter Coleman

On our homepage: May be impressive: Part of the ABC's reportage of the (insert superlative) media centre


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