Read some general information and guidance about the large outdoor screen in Alexandra Square.
For all enquiries, please email bigscreen@lancaster.ac.uk.
Big Screen
Operating times and sound
The screen is operational between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday in term times, with the speakers switched off. BBC livestreams will be subtitled during this time.
Sound may be played during special occasions such as graduation ceremonies and significant external broadcast events. To minimise disruption in these instances, the University will ensure that:
- Sound is not played in anti-social hours (after 11pm or before 8am).
- During exam periods, sound will not be played at all.
- Where possible, staff and students are given at least 24 hours notice before sound is played, with priority given to notifying Library staff and those in nearby accommodation (Bowland College).
Content
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- Content relating to the University or Students’ Union including subtitled video and photo galleries
- Subtitled, BBC news live streaming
- Main University social media feeds and images
- Approved showing of special events such as Roses, graduation ceremonies and occasionally, significant external terrestrial TV broadcast events. Please note that we will require at least 2 weeks’ notice to be able to show a livestream
- Any artwork or photography displayed will be credited (when social media handles are featured for this purpose, the University does not take responsibility for or endorse any other content on these profiles)
- Where appropriate, content will be overridden in the event of an emergency
- The Communications team will have the final say on content and whether it is displayed on the big screen or a more appropriate communications channel (such as the smaller campus screens).
- External, paid for advertising
- Endorsements of campaigns that are not supported by the University, or any content that contradicts the University’s values, message and goals or undermines its operations. This includes any content that is in any way discriminatory
- Personal adverts by members of staff or students for goods and services
- Personal or political propaganda (encouraging students to vote in local, general or University elections is fine, asking them to vote a certain way is not)
- Any content that uses offensive language
- Any content that attacks named individuals or groups either within or outside of the University
- Any content that promotes individuals or organisations with no affiliation to the University (free or fee paying)
We welcome involvement from across the University community.
Staff or students who wish to submit content to display on the big screen should email internalcomms@lancaster.ac.uk
The Communications team will have the final say on content and whether it is displayed on the big screen or a more appropriate communications channel (such as the smaller campus screens).
A series of templates have been designed for use on the big screen – please email internalcomms@lancaster.ac.uk for these.
Please note that University branding is already featured in the design of the screen so please avoid using the standard University PowerPoint templates.
Images and videos should be formatted as follows:
- Images (JPG or PNG): dimensions 960 x 540.
- Videos (MP4): As the screen operates with no sound, we prefer videos to be subtitled where appropriate.
Content should relate to the University and it should be of genuine interest to students, staff or visitors. Some guidelines for good content include:
- Keep it simple- Keep your words few and short. Aim for a maximum word count of 45 words (with an image) or 60 words (without an image).
- Use a large enough font that people can read it from a distance – we recommend no smaller than 28 pt.
- Have one key message.
- Write in phrases rather than full sentences.
- If it’s a news item, make sure you have a punchy headline- fewer than eight words for news.
- Have a clear call to action- short web address, Twitter feed, email etc.
We will credit any artwork, photography etc. that we display. This credit may sometimes take the form of a social media handle. When social media handles are featured for this purpose, the University does not take responsibility for or endorse any other content on these profiles.