| Our World | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Genre | TV special |
| Created by | Aubrey Singer |
| Written by | Antony Jay |
| Opening theme | "Our World theme" |
| Composer | Georges Delerue |
| Country of origin | Various |
| Original language | Various |
| Production | |
| Production location | Various |
| Cinematography | Monochrome |
| Running time | 2 hours |
| Original release | |
| Release | 25 June 1967 (1967-06-25) |
Our World was the first live multinational multi-satellite television production. National broadcasters from fourteen countries around the world, coordinated by theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU), participated in the program. The two-hour event, which was broadcast on Sunday 25 June 1967[a] in twenty-four countries, had an estimated audience of 400 to 700 million people, the largest television audience up to that date. Fourcommunications satellites were used to provide worldwide coverage. This broadcast was a technological milestone in television broadcasting.
Creative artists, including opera singerHeather Harper, film directorFranco Zeffirelli, conductorLeonard Bernstein, sculptorAlexander Calder and painterJoan Miró were invited to perform or appear in separate live segments, each of them produced by one of the participant broadcasters. The most famous segment is one from the United Kingdom starringthe Beatles performing their song "All You Need Is Love" for the first time.
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The project was conceived byBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) producerAubrey Singer. Due to the magnitude of the production, its coordination was transferred to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with Singer as the project's head.[1]
Four communications satellites were used to televise the show around the world. Thesegeosynchronous orbit satellites includedIntelsat I (known as "Early Bird") andIntelsat II F-3 ("Canary Bird"). Both satellites were positioned over different parts of the Atlantic Ocean.Intelsat II F-2 ("Lani Bird") andNASA'sATS-1 were positioned over different parts of the Pacific Ocean to complete global coverage.
Nineground stations were utilized to send and receive signals from the satellites.[b] The EBU'sEurovisionpoint-to-point communications network was used within that continent. These signals were monitored and manipulated by technical and production teams in 43 control rooms that linked North America, Europe, Tunisia, Japan and Australia in real time.[1]
Themaster control room for the broadcast was the TC1studio control room at theBBC Television Centre in London. Contributions from North America, Japan and Australia were routed to London by theCBS Switching Center in New York. It was rented because none of the big-three American networks was directly involved with the broadcast. Contributions from continental Europe and Tunisia were routed to London by the EBU Centre in Brussels.
These centres were also in charge of distributing the live master feed from London to the broadcasters in their assigned area. To illustrate the introductory segments, a large set was built at BBC's TC1 studio, which was operated by the TC2 studio control room. To solve language issues, each receiving broadcaster had its own narrator – such asCliff Michelmore at BBC, orJames Dibble atABC – reading in their own language the script written byAntony Jay. Since the contributions from the participating broadcasters were in their native language, a team of interpreters located at BBC's TC2 studio provided simultaneous translation into English, French and German to the receiving broadcasters, where local commentators voiced-over in their own language the original sound from other broadcasters when in another language.[2]
It took 10 months and 10,000 technicians, producers and performers to bring everything together. The ground rules included that no politicians or heads of state could participate in the broadcast. In addition, everything had to be live, so no use of videotape or film was permitted. All participants had to have full knowledge of what was going to be included and the sole reason for including an item would be program balance, not geographical or political concerns.[3][4]
In the dress rehearsal, conducted the day before broadcast, the head of the production noticed that in violation of one of the ground rules, the Mexican broadcaster had pre-recorded their main segment. They included singers, dancers and a flock of white doves taking off right on cue and attempted to pass it off as live. Replicating that scene for the actual broadcast was impossible. So, it was decided to show some of the performers watching their taped performance live on monitors.[1]
Fourteen national broadcasters participated in the program, which was transmitted live to 24 countries, with an estimated audience between 400 and 700 million people. Eighteen national broadcasters were intended to participate, but those of theEastern Bloc countries[c] –Czechoslovakia,East Germany,Hungary,Poland and theSoviet Union – pulled out four days before the broadcast in protest of the Western nations' response to theSix-Day War. Due to this withdrawal, a request was made to the Danish broadcaster, which was not originally a participant, for a contribution.[3][2]
Each broadcaster had an explanatory pre-transmission introduction from their studios to their viewers – such as the introduction by Cliff Michelmore at BBC's TC5 studio in London forBBC1, the one by James Dibble at ABC's studio 23 in Sydney forABC-TV and the interview to philosopherMarshall McLuhan at thetelevision control room in Toronto forCBC Television – just before connecting to the live master feed from London at 7:00 p.m. GMT.
The program was divided into six sections: the Opening, This Moment's World, The Crowded World, Aspiration to Physical Excellence, Aspiration to Artistic Excellence and The World Beyond. These sections were divided into live segments provided by the participating broadcasters. Just before The Crowded World section, another section was scheduled – The Hungry World. But, due to the withdrawal of the Eastern Bloc countries' segments, that section was eventually removed and its remaining segments were incorporated into The Crowded World section.[2]
The opening credits were accompanied by the "Our World theme" played by theVienna Philharmonic and sung in seventeen different languages by theVienna Boys' Choir.[e][8]
The program began with an introduction from the BBC's TC1 studio in London and went on attending the births of four children in the delivery rooms atHokkaido University Hospital inSapporo, Japan;[f] atAarhus University Hospital inAarhus, Denmark;[g] at Hospital de Obstetricia III inMexico City, Mexico –reported byPedro Ferriz–;[h] and, atCharles Camsell Hospital inEdmonton, Canada – reported by the CBC's Libbie Christensen.[i]
Back in BBC's TC1 studio in London, a journey around the world was begun by switching to Austria's national broadcasterÖsterreichischer Rundfunk-Fernsehen. They showed theUnited Austrian Iron and Steelworks inLinz. France was the next destination, aboard aProtection Civile helicopter flying over the returning weekend traffic at Porte de la Chapelle inParis. It was reported byOffice de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française's Joseph Pasteur. Next, it was off to the monuments inMedina,Tunis in Africa. This segment was provided by national broadcaster Radiodiffusion-télévision tunisienne (RTT). The program switched back to Europe aboard some fishing vessels sailing in theGulf of Cádiz, Spain.Televisión Española showed fishermen at work and praising thecountry's fishing industry.
At 7:17 p.m. GMT, the show switched toGlassboro, New Jersey, in the United States (3:17 p.m.EDT local time). This was the location for theGlassboro Summit Conference between American presidentLyndon Johnson andSoviet premierAlexei Kosygin. It was reported byNational Educational Television's Dick McCutcheon who ended up talking about the impact of the new television technology on a global scale. Since no politician could be shown, only the exterior of theHollybush Mansion – where the conference was being held – was televised.[3] At 7:18 p.m. GMT it switched back to Canada, to the Two Rivers Ranch inGhost Lake, Alberta, showing a rancher, and hiscutting horse, cutting out a herd ofcattle. It was reported by CBC's Bob Switzer. At 7:19 p.m. GMT it switched toKitsilano Beach, inVancouver'sPoint Grey area (12:19 p.m.PDT local time).[3]
At 7:20 p.m. GMT, the program shifted continents to Asia. It was already 4:20 a.m.JST local time, the next day, inTokyo, Japan. Japanese public broadcasterNHK showed workers building a section of theTokyo subway system.[3] The equator was crossed for the first time in the program when it switched to Australia at 5:22 a.m.AEST local time (7:22 p.m. GMT). This was the most technically complicated point in the broadcast, as both Japanese and Australian satellite ground stations had to reverse their actions: Kashima Ground Station in Japan had to go from transmit mode to receive mode, whileCooby Creek Tracking Station in Australia had to switch from receive to transmit mode.[1] The segment fromMelbourne dealt withtrams leaving theSouth Melbourne tram depot. This was reported byAustralian Broadcasting Corporation's Brian King as he explained that sunrise was many hours away since it was winter there.[3]
Back in BBC's TC1 studio in London, a section abouthuman overpopulation was introduced starting at the Controlled Environment Research Laboratory (CERES). Next, theCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)'sphytotron inCanberra, Australia, featured plant physiologistLloyd Evans. He was carrying out experiments to extend the frequency of cereal crop cycles and was reported by Eric Hunter.[9] Urban, maritime and rural scenes were shown from New York City; Ikushimashrimp farm inTakamatsu, Japan; a farm inWisconsin, United States;Habitat 67 housing complex atExpo 67 inMontreal; andCumbernauld, Scotland – as reported byMagnus Magnusson.
Back in BBC's TC1 studio in London, a section about people trying to achieve their best was introduced starting at Empire Pool inVancouver, Canada, featuring swimmerElaine Tanner trying to break the 110-yardbutterfly World Record –reported byTed Reynolds–,[i] and continuing at the Equestrian Circle in Castellazzo di Bollate, Italy, featuring ridersPiero D'Inzeo andRaimondo D'Inzeo –reported by Alberto Giubilo–;[j] atSöderfors, Sweden, featuring canoeistsGert Fredriksson,Gunnar Utterberg,Lars Andersson andRolf Pettersson;[k] and, finishing at Calanque de Callelongue inMarseille, France aboard the maiden voyage of the Téléscaphe, the very first underwatercable car.[l]
Back in BBC's TC1 studio in London, a section about people in pursuit of art was introduced starting atSan Pietro church inTuscania, Italy for the rehearsals of the filmRomeo and Juliet, featuring film directorFranco Zeffirelli and actorsMilo O'Shea,Leonard Whiting andOlivia Hussey[j] and continuing atBayreuth Festspielhaus inBayreuth, West Germany, for theBayreuth Festival rehearsals of the operaLohengrin featuring directorWolfgang Wagner, conductorRudolf Kempe and singersHeather Harper andGrace Hoffman;[m] atFondation Maeght inSaint-Paul-de-Vence, France featuring sculptorAlexander Calder and painterJoan Miró;[l] at Mexico City, Mexico featuring singersAntonio Aguilar singing "Allá en el Rancho Grande" on horseback andFlor Silvestre singing "Como México no hay dos" –reported by León Michel–;[h] at theLincoln Center in New York City featuring conductorLeonard Bernstein and pianistVan Cliburn rehearsingRachmaninoff'sPiano Concerto No. 3;[n] and, finishing atEMI Recording Studio 1 inAbbey Road, London, for the first recording session of "All You Need Is Love" bythe Beatles, introduced bySteve Race.[o]
Back in BBC's TC1 studio in London, a section aboutouter space was introduced starting atKennedy Space Center atCape Kennedy in the United States,[n] continuing atParkes Observatory inParkes, Australia, featuringJohn Gatenby Bolton trackingquasar 0237–23, the most distant known object in the universe at the time –reported by Kim Corcoran–[p][9] and finishing back in BBC's TC1 studio in London for a closing segment intercutting live footage from several of the locations already shown.
As the broadcast took place at the height of theVietnam War, the Beatles were asked to write a song with a positive message.[10] They topped the event with their debut performance of "All You Need Is Love". They invited many of their friends to the event to create a festive atmosphere and to join in on the song's chorus. Among the friends were members ofthe Rolling Stones,Eric Clapton,Marianne Faithfull,Keith Moon andGraham Nash.[10]
AlthoughOur World was originally recorded and transmitted inblack-and-white, for its use in the 1995 TV specialThe Beatles Anthology, theBeatles' performance on the program wascolourised, using colour photographs taken at the event as a reference.[11] The sequence opens in its original monochromatic format and rapidly morphs into full colour, conveying the brightly colouredflower power andpsychedelic-style clothing worn by the Beatles and their guests that was popular during what was subsequently dubbed the "Summer of Love".[11]
In the 2000 novelThe Light of Other Days byArthur C. Clarke andStephen Baxter, the global media empire run by Hiram Patterson is called OurWorld, the name chosen after the character saw the program as a child and was inspired to change the world.[12]
A permanent exhibition at London'sScience Museum opened in 2018, telling the story of the transmission using footage from the show itself and video interviews with surviving members of the production team, recalling the technical challenges involved and the legacy created by the broadcast.[13]
{{cite journal}}:|archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)Laserdisc 7, Side 1, Chapter 1
