How the BBC covered the UK vote using the phone in hundreds of sites.

A BBC remote kit using the iPhone [Laura Garcia/TikTok]
The BBC used the iPhone to broadcast live from the UK general election in 2024. On July 4, UK citizens went to voting stations all over the country to vote in the general elections. As is customary for elections, broadcasters provided continuous coverage of the results and the declaration of the winning members. The BBC decided to stream live video from 370 locations in the country that were used to count votes. It relied on reporters and crews for interviews and declarations, but it also had a continuous feed from high vantages, observing the whole area. Laura Garcia demonstrated the “Count Cam”, a simple premade set with basic instructions, which anyone could follow and easily set up. The live broadcasting kit comes in a tube and includes a tripod, an iPhone, a smartphone mount, instructions, a warning label, and a battery pack. The iPhone was connected to the battery included, mounted on the tripod, then positioned to cover the count area. The iPhone in the video could be an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 depending on the rear camera configuration and the front notch. The BBC may use other models and devices from other vendors for its other kits. However, it may choose to use the same ones to maintain consistency in picture quality and device management. Each iPhone was configured to hide or remove unneeded apps. This was because the device was only intended to be used for capturing footage and delivering it over a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. At one point, the video only shows TVU Anywhere icons, Settings and Safari. TVU Anywhere, a live streaming application for iPhone and Android, can be used to send full HD live video via bonded cellular. Broadcasters can use it to capture video and also to transmit footage to iPhones, for example, if there is a remote interview. A broadcasting assistant This kit allows the BBC to set up observatory streamings virtually anywhere. The kits are easy to use and can be sent to anyone. They can create a broadcast quality live feed without the need for a news crew. The iPhone has become a broadcaster’s best friend as it has become increasingly popular. It is used to cover news when news crews cannot be present. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the iPhone was a key tool for on-air personalities who wanted to continue their work from home. In the case of NBC Today, a pair iPhones and an iPad was used by hosts to record themselves at home. The setup handled the rigors associated with remotely hosting a show.