Inside the IDF's Wartime Broadcast Studio
The new IDF wartime broadcast studio is situated underground at IDF headquarters. From within this confined, sound proof "aquarium", whose dimensions are only two meters by two meters, no more than two people can broadcast. Most of the time, IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Ruth Yaron will, alone, convey up to date facts and messages to the public. Yet, if necessary, the Chief of General staff will also broadcast from the studio.
In addition to this new IDF studio, the Homefront Command maintains a studio located in the center of the country, from which they can interview experts and issue instructions to the public during times of emergency. These broadcasts will appear on channel 33.
According to the Commander of the IDF studio who is also Commander of the IDF Spokesperson's Movie Unit, Major Yochai, "the two studios must work in synergy. In essence, they provide support to one another." While the Homefront Command studio is operated by the employees of Channel 33, the IDF studio is operated solely by conscripted and reserve soldiers. According to Yochai, "many of these soldiers are among the most professional people in the country who were called for reserve duty."
The studio and its crew are prepared for operation 24 hours per day. Should a missile strike Israel, their role is absolutely essential. Within five minutes of such a strike, the IDF Spokesperson is supposed to broadcast on ten different television channels including Israel channels 1, 2, 10, and 33, and radio stations including Voice of Israel and Army radio.
"Imagine what the reaction would be if the IDF Spokesperson was supposed to appear on screen and instead it was black due to a technical difficulty. The public would think a disaster occurred," explains Maj. Yochai. Therefore, the studio is staffed by a fully competent and professional crew.
The IDF studio is also equipped with a computer that will feed the IDF Spokesperson real time situation assessments during a live broadcast. This will ensure that the public is hearing the most accurate and up-to-date information, whereby, reducing the spread of rumors.
At the conclusion of the Spokesperson's broadcast, the Homefront Command will continue televising the situation. Photographic teams will provide real time images from the scene via unmanned aircraft. "This is a dramatic improvement since 1991. Nahman Shai, then the IDF Spokesperson, broadcast via telephone while a still photograph graced the television screen," said Major Yochai.
The underground IDF studio has an additional advantage in that in the event of a non-conventional attack, the studio crew can continue to operate without donning gas masks and the IDF Spokesperson can broadcast without interruption.