Sky News (DStv 402) became the first global news channel to broadcast live from inside Tripoli, Libya - beating BBC World News (DStv 400 / TopTV 400), CNN International (DStv 401) and even Al Jazeera (TopTV 401 / DStv 406) - when Sky News correspondent Alex Crawford did this amazing, emotional and fascinating live report.
The Huffington Post has this story on how other news channels suddenly watched in amazement as Sky News led the way and suddenly went live first with this report from inside Tripoli while none of the channels had any reporters even remotely close or willing to go into the city centre.
''She had better contacts I think than any of the other broadcasts,'' Chris Birkett, Sky News editor told the internet newspaper. ''Those rebel sources allowed Alex Crawford to make an assessment whether it was safe to go in with the rebel convoy into Tripoli."
Sky News was able to "lash together old technology and new technology" according to The Huffington Post in order to broadcast images of Alex Crawford. Her cameraman used an Apple MacBook Pro that was connected to a small satellite dish plugged into the truck's cigarette lighter. In order to keep a stable signal the the producer sat with a compass and moved the satellite dish around as the truck moved.
None of the other 24 hour news channels could match Sky News Tripoli city centre coverage Sunday night. ''It seemed apparent to us we were the only people doing it," said Chris Birkett.
