Conservation & Heritage Issue 50 Winter 2025/Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 136
ambitious transformation. Through a highly collaborative
and consultative process, which involved several Abbey
departments, including the Clergy, Works, Vergers, Music,
Estates, Engagement and Institute teams, the project aligned
Whitwam’s technical work with internal needs at all stages
of the journey.
The project brief was exacting, with the aim of upgrading the
Abbey streaming system to a fully 4K streaming infrastructure
with broadcast-quality audio, whilst maintaining intuitive
operation for staff and vergers, and a higher level of control
for professional use.
Multiple Panasonic AW-UE160 4K PTZ cameras were
installed throughout the nave, quire, organ loft and
sacrarium. These cameras, supported by custom mounts
and levellers, allow operators to achieve professional framing
without intruding on the building’s protected architecture.
Placement of the cameras to obtain a cinematic view along
the centre line of the Abbey, from the nave to the quire, was
an important step in achieving the highest, broadcast-level
live stream content the Abbey team desired.
In 2023, the Abbey welcomed a new Head of Communications
and Digital, Adrian Harris to lead the Digital Abbey
programme, which aimed to reach and engage a wider global
online audience. In 2023, the Abbey team commissioned
extensive research in the UK and US to understand how to
reach and engage audiences and identify the kinds of content
viewers find most meaningful. The research revealed that
people want to learn more about the Abbey and its history, as
well as watch and actively engage with its services, especially
those who cannot visit the Abbey in person.
“
Whilst this coveted shot was once reserved for national
broadcasters, the Abbey now has access to this viewpoint
during their own live streams.
Our goal was to share the breadth of our regular and
special church services and our varied events with a
global audience,”
“
explains Harris.
“
This could only be achieved by making a significant
investment in cameras, audio and commissioning a new
broadcast control room.”
We also needed to accommodate visiting broadcasters,
so we installed custom bracketry, commissioned by
Gravity Media, in this spot for high-profile events,”
explains Pymm.
“
The development of robust video streaming capabilities to
bring this goal to fruition required significant improvements
to the Abbey’s technical infrastructure.
Through collaboration with Gravity Media and the
BBC, we’ve ensured that the equipment can be adjusted
or easily swapped out in case of visiting broadcasters
during the Abbey’s most prestigious services.”
Signal distribution demanded extensive work. Westminster
In early 2024, Westminster Abbey engaged Whitwam AVI
to provide consultancy on these improvements, beginning
with an assessment of the existing systems, a detailed gap
analysis and a roadmap for future upgrades. Working
alongside Matthew Dilley of About Sound, a specialist
in location recording and live sound and streaming, and
filmmaker David Hinitt, owner and recording engineer at
Classical Films, Whitwam’s Andrew Pymm led the project
team, leveraging his extensive experience of the Abbey’s AV
systems to present a clear case for the upgrades. Much of
2024 was spent refining this plan, and by August, the Abbey
committed to moving forward with the project, which would
run from September 2024 through to Easter 2025.
I
Conservation & Heritage Journal
134
I
