Broadcast Programmes

The Open University works with broadcasters such as the BBC to produce television and radio series such as 'Frozen Planet', 'Wartime Farm' and 'Child of Our Time'. The archive collection of these broadcasts includes the programmes and related documentation, such as transcripts, where available. The OU Digital Archive collection of broadcast programmes includes a small sample of the archive. The collection will grow as more content is added.

Image of Broadcast Programmes
Thumbnail Title Description Date
video record for Blue sky 2 : artificial unintelligence : why ants inspire the simplest robots Blue sky 2 : artificial unintelligence : why ants inspire the simplest robotsThis programme looks at how ants work together without leadership, this is then applied to robots
video record for Blue sky 3 : lab on a chip : does size matter in chemistry? Blue sky 3 : lab on a chip : does size matter in chemistry?This programme looks at Micro reactor technology
video record for Blue sky 4 : dancing in space : how dancers might help with spinal injuries Blue sky 4 : dancing in space : how dancers might help with spinal injuriesThis programme looks at how movement in dance helps scientists understand muscle and spinal movements.
video record for Blue sky 5 : spaced out : how art could help mathematicians? Blue sky 5 : spaced out : how art could help mathematicians?This programme looks at how we see space differently
video record for Blue sky 6 : crocodile cure : what medics can learn from crocodiles Blue sky 6 : crocodile cure : what medics can learn from crocodilesThis programme looks at how plastic surgeons became interested in crocodiles
video record for Blue sky 7 : dirty business : germs are bad for you aren't they? Blue sky 7 : dirty business : germs are bad for you aren't they?This programme looks at why we need to be in contact with some germs
video record for Blue sky 8 : running rockets : science fiction or fact Blue sky 8 : running rockets : science fiction or factThis programme looks at the problem of travelling to other solar systems and the energy which...
video record for Blue sky 9 : staring : have you ever had the sense of being stared at? Blue sky 9 : staring : have you ever had the sense of being stared at?This programme looks at whether we know when we are being stared at
video record for Blue sky 10 : making muscle :  why big muscles interest engineers Blue sky 10 : making muscle : why big muscles interest engineersThis programme looks at how engineers can apply the movement of muscle to their trade
video record for Blue sky 11 : the big bang : how star gazing can help catching criminals Blue sky 11 : the big bang : how star gazing can help catching criminalsThis programme looks at how scientists who improve satellite pictures can help with CCT images
video record for Chinese school: 5. Loved ones Chinese school: 5. Loved onesChinese School takes as its subject one small town in rural Anhui, and focuses on the lives of a...
video record for Blue sky 12: working the crowd : until recently we thought crowds behaved like fluids Blue sky 12: working the crowd : until recently we thought crowds behaved like fluidsThis programme looks at the movement of crowds. How a mathematician came up with an equation that...
video record for Compilation tape Compilation tapeDinosaurs, deserts and volcanoes: This programme looks at the geology of the region and what it...
video record for Coast : Series 1 Coast : Series 1This BBC/OU production is an exploration of the entire UK coastline.
video record for Compilation tape Compilation tapeDinosaurs, deserts and volcanoes: This programme looks at the geology of the region and what it...
video record for Compilation tape Compilation tapeDinosaurs, deserts and volcanoes: This programme looks at the geology of the region and what it...
video record for Compilation tape Compilation tapeDinosaurs, deserts and volcanoes: This programme looks at the geology of the region and what it...
video record for Compilation tape Compilation tapeDinosaurs, deserts and volcanoes: This programme looks at the geology of the region and what it...
video record for Compilation tape Compilation tapeDinosaurs, deserts and volcanoes: This programme looks at the geology of the region and what it...
video record for Compilation tape Compilation tapeDinosaurs, deserts and volcanoes: This programme looks at the geology of the region and what it...
video record for Islands Apart Islands Apart
video record for Island Britain Island Britain
video record for Taming the Wild Taming the Wild
video record for Comic relief's great big celebrity red nose job Comic relief's great big celebrity red nose jobThis programme follows six celebrities as they help with three projects funded by Comic relief....
video record for Modern Times Modern Times
video record for Ice Age Ice Age
video record for African School : Programmes 5 - 8 African School : Programmes 5 - 8This series captures the daily lives, concerns and personalities of young Africans and their...
video record for A Waste of shame A Waste of shameAs part of the BBC's Shakespeare Re-Told season, The Open University and BBC FOUR presents 'A Waste...
video record for It's your comic relief It's your comic relief'It's Your Comic Relief, the first ever Red Nose Day documentary of its kind, will see members of...
video record for African School : Programmes 1 - 4 African School : Programmes 1 - 4This series captures the daily lives, concerns and personalities of young Africans and their...
video record for Football Fever Football Fever"It's not just the reputation of Masindi Secondary School's coaching staff at stake - the pride of...
video record for The womaniser and the evangelist The womaniser and the evangelist"16 year old Dickson is a schoolboy womaniser in a puritanical country. He risks seven years...
video record for Happy birthday OU : 40 years of the Open University Happy birthday OU : 40 years of the Open University"In 1969 change was in the air. Man stepped on the moon and Britain launched a revolutionary new...
video record for Mental : a history of the madhouse Mental : a history of the madhouseDocumentary which tells the fascinating and poignant story of the closure of Britain's mental...
video record for James May's big ideas : Man-machine James May's big ideas : Man-machineJames May explores the world of cyborgs, robots and robotics, and looks to a new dawn in machine...
video record for A history of Scotland : Episode 3. Bishop makes King (1306 - 1332) A history of Scotland : Episode 3. Bishop makes King (1306 - 1332)Bringing alive the past, which has shaped modern Scotland, is at the heart of a major new...
video record for A history of Scotland : Episode 2. Hammers of the Scots (1240-1305) A history of Scotland : Episode 2. Hammers of the Scots (1240-1305)Bringing alive the past, which has shaped modern Scotland, is at the heart of a major new...
video record for Money Programme : the profits of gloom (OU version) Money Programme : the profits of gloom (OU version)The programme investigates how some businesses such as bailiffs, pawnbrokers, take-aways and cheap...
video record for A history of Scotland : Episode 1. The last of the free (AD 84 - 943) A history of Scotland : Episode 1. The last of the free (AD 84 - 943)Bringing alive the past, which has shaped modern Scotland, is at the heart of a major new...
video record for A picture of health A picture of health
video record for African School : Programmes 1 - 3 African School : Programmes 1 - 3This series captures the daily lives, concerns and personalities of young Africans and their...
video record for The bottom line : series 4 episode 8 The bottom line : series 4 episode 8The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, the Bottom Line cuts through confusion,...
video record for Dramatic science : learning to love the grey Part 1 Dramatic science : learning to love the grey Part 1This is a mini drama series looking at aspects of human cell technology
video record for State of the Union : 7 days (B) ; Wideworld programme 20 State of the Union : 7 days (B) ; Wideworld programme 20Anglia Television/Channel 5 series Wideworld.;N.B. this series consists of a re-versioning of OU...
video record for The Thirties : It's a lovely day tomorrow ; Wideworld programme 56 The Thirties : It's a lovely day tomorrow ; Wideworld programme 56Anglia Television/Channel 5 series Wideworld.;N.B. this series consists of a re-versioning of OU...
video record for The Thirties : The London Underground ; Wideworld programme 64 The Thirties : The London Underground ; Wideworld programme 64Anglia Television/Channel 5 series Wideworld.;N.B. this series consists of a re-versioning of OU...
video record for Chemistry bonds : Chemistry of creation ; Wideworld programme 131 Chemistry bonds : Chemistry of creation ; Wideworld programme 131Anglia Television/Channel 5 series Wideworld.;N.B. this series consists of a re-versioning of OU...
video record for Migration : Jewish Americans Part 2 ; Wideworld programme 142 Migration : Jewish Americans Part 2 ; Wideworld programme 142Anglia Television/Channel 5 series Wideworld.;N.B. this series consists of a re-versioning of OU...
video record for Migration : Japanese Americans ; Wideworld programme 145 Migration : Japanese Americans ; Wideworld programme 145Anglia Television/Channel 5 series Wideworld.;N.B. this series consists of a re-versioning of OU...
video record for The Victorians : The Great Exhibition 1 ; Wideworld programme 164 The Victorians : The Great Exhibition 1 ; Wideworld programme 164Anglia Television/Channel 5 series Wideworld.;N.B. this series consists of a re-versioning of OU...