Overview
The Off-Air Service allows institutions to request archive TV and radio programmes found on TRILT.
Once requested and approved, these programmes are uploaded to BoB, where they can be accessed by staff and students.
Quick answer
- Programmes listed on TRILT but not available on BoB can be requested through the Off-Air Service
- Requests must be approved by your institution’s Off-Air Representative
- Each institution can make up to 50 requests per year
- Programmes are usually available within up to 6 weeks
What is the Off-Air Service?
The Off-Air Service gives member institutions access to a large archive of recorded broadcasts.
- The archive includes thousands of hours of TV and radio content
- Programmes available through the Off-Air Service are marked with the BUFVC logo and can be found by filtering for “Recorded by BUFVC” in TRILT
- Once requested and approved, programmes are made available on BoB
How do I request a programme?
- In TRILT, use the filter “Recorded by BUFVC” to find programmes available through our Off-Air Service
- Open the programme page
- Click “Request this programme”
- Submit your request
Your request will then be sent to your institution’s Off-Air Representative for review.
What happens after I submit a request?
- Your institution’s Off-Air Representative reviews your request
- They will decide whether to:
- Approve (place the order)
- Decline the request
- Put the request on hold
- You will receive an email notification with their decision
If approved:
- The request is sent to Learning on Screen
- We retrieve the programme from our archive
- The programme is uploaded to BoB
How long does it take?
- Most programmes are available within up to 6 weeks
- Some may take longer if:
- The content needs to be retrieved from physical archives
- We need to locate an alternative recording due to issues with the original tape
Are there any limits?
- Each institution can make up to 50 off-air requests per membership year
- All requests must be approved by your Off-Air Representative
Can I request a programme myself?
You can submit a request, but it must be approved by your institution.
- Requests are always reviewed by your Off-Air Representative
- They may prioritise requests based on teaching needs or existing resources
- Some institutions only accept requests from teaching staff
If you’re a student, you may need to:
- Speak to your tutor or subject librarian before submitting a request
How will I know what’s happening with my request?
You will receive an email when your request is:
- Approved (ordered)
- Declined
- Put on hold
If your request is on hold, your Off-Air Representative may be:
- Checking if the programme is already available locally
- Deciding whether to use the institution’s remaining quota
If my request is approved, will the programme definitely be available?
Not always.
While we do our best to make approved programmes available on BoB, this isn’t guaranteed.
Some archive recordings can become degraded over time, which means the original tape may no longer be usable. If that happens, we’ll always try to find an alternative recording, for example from a different broadcast date or source.
In some cases, content in partner archives (such as the BBC archive) may be restricted and not available for us to retrieve.
If we’re unable to provide a suitable version, we will of course let you know.
Important things to know
- Not all requested programmes can be supplied
- Availability depends on archive access and licensing
- Learning on Screen may supply a version from a different broadcast date or channel if necessary