2- and 4-wires
If your studio has an outside broadcast it is usually impractical to run a cable with talkback to the production personnel at the location. The easy answer is to use cables that have already been laid throughout the country – which is where telephone companies come into the picture.
2-wires and 4-wires are, quite simply, telephone lines. For television communication a 2-wire normally sends talkback in one direction. If you want the person at the other end to be able to reply there needs to be a 2-wire running back. This combination of two 2-wires working as a pair is a 4-wire.
2-wires and 4-wires need to be booked. They are not instantly available, so make sure they have been arranged well in advance, normally at the same time as the main vision and audio circuits.
On some programmes the communications becomes the most complex part of the set-up. Sports programmes in particular tend to have lots of 2- and 4-wires. For example, if there is a live football match, there is a producer and a director back at the studio. There is also a director at the match, and a commentator. All need to be able to speak to each other.
Discipline
The more complex the communications, the more important it is for everyone to identify themselves on talkback circuits. There is no point in just saying ‘Are you there?’ down a microphone if the people receiving the question don’t know who you are, who you’re calling or where you’re calling from.
Think before you speak on any talkback circuit. Again, I know it’s obvious, but if you are under pressure to get something done quickly it’s easy to forget that the person at the other end may also be busy. There is no point in trying to speak to an OB director if they are in the middle of a complex opening titles sequence.
Be concise and polite whenever possible. There may be other people queuing up to talk, so don’t be too chatty, particularly when dealing with broadcasters who are providing ‘pool’ feeds (again, very common in sport, where a local company may provide pictures from an event which are being taken live by many territories).
Having said that, taking just a couple of seconds to be friendly and helpful does make television much more pleasant to work in, and you are then more likely to find people willing to help you out if you need a hand.
The recaiving end of ialkback circuits are often outside broadcast units. The chances are they will be working in much more cramped conditions than the main studio, they may have their own rehearsals to run through and it may be pouring with rain outside. Don’t be surprised if it takes them a few moments to respond to your talkback requests.