BTS to exhibit vintage 1957 OB van at IBC

With the support of RTP‘s museum in Lisbon, BTS broadcast technology solutions will bring to IBC a fully functional vintage OB van built in 1957 to demonstrate the historic roots of the company as well as of the industry itself.

The historic OB van shown in Amsterdam this year was ordered by RTP, the Portuguese public broadcaster, and built 56 years ago in Darmstadt, Germany. The Mercedes Benz Model LP-312/36, carrying the Portuguese license plate number GD-61-21 has a six cylinder Diesel engine with 110 horse powers, maximum speed amazing 76 km/hour! It was especially conceived and modified to allow TV coverage of outside events. Equipped with the most advanced technology of the time and being a truly mobile studio, it was the first vehicle of its kind in Portugal.

On 9 February 1958 the first exterior broadcast made from this vehicle entailed coverage of the football match between Sporting Lisbon and FC Austria at the José Alvalade Stadium. The van then went on to 23 years of distinguished service.

More recently, the van was renovated (in 2006) and is now on show at RTP’s Museum and Document Office. The restoration took more than a year to complete and involved a comprehensive mechanical, electrical and plate overhaul.