London Live

For once, this actually feels like the kind of programming London Live should be doing.

Expect it to be cancelled in a few months then

To be fair, London Live have a handful of shows that actually aren't that bad, London Film Club, London Live Sessions, London Go etc. Trouble is 4 half hours does not a schedule make. A decent local news service is still the missing link.

Well, MMPR will be ending after 32 episodes, because it's that reversioned edit from 2010, with all the tacky edits (Batman style on screen sound effects, and similar), not the 1993 original version which had 155 episodes. The fanbase hated those edits. Here's an example of them: https://www.grnrngr.com/revisiting-power-rangers/rvpr01

CityNews in Canada is re-introducing hour long news at 6 and 11 into most of its markets outside Toronto this September (Edmonton and Winnipeg) and in January (Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver). Evening News outside Toronto was cancelled in 2010 due to budget cuts.

When veteran anchor Gord Martineau retired a couple of years ago after 40 years, City decided not to replace him and instead introduced an anchor-less bulletin, hosted instead by various reporters in different locations, some of whom update their story or present a different angle several times across the hour. Regular features such as weather, sport, entertainment and business round out the broadcast.

It's an interesting concept that is proving popular with younger audiences, certainly in Toronto. It could be something that could make London Live stand out from the crowd, especially if they introduced a late night bulletin.

You can watch the Toronto bulletins live at CityNews.ca. They air at 5,6 and 11pm on weekdays, 6 and 11pm weekends (local time).

London Film Club isn't great and lacks any gravitas at all. Sessions is decent but no-names mostly so no real audience draw and Go is just too dry. It really should be more frequent too like it was at the start as they are being totally overtaken by the likes of Londonist and even the Standard online which is a bit embarrassing. Having lived here for many years, London is not short of Going Out options that would make great TV.

Thought the Notting Hill Carnival coverage today was better than in previous years. Not the best quality live feeds, but double-headed presentation from different spots, and they did a reasonable job at capturing the buzz.

Couldn't find much coverage on local radio today, so I was pleasantly surprised to see London Live doing 2 hours.

You're being rather harsh about LFC. Just because the film reviewers aren't exactly of the Norman/Kermode ilk doesn't mean the show isn't much cop. It's more accessible than Claudia Winkleman on Film and not as cheap looking as other local tv film shows.

It is more accessible than Winkleman on Film and no, it's not as cheap as other local TV film shows, also not expecting critics or Norman/Kermode but it could be considerably better and, with no shortage of actual film journalists in and around London, random hobby 'critics'/bloggers with little actual reach, audience or reputation that they find on Twitter means it will never be what it could be. Lots of things look good but looking good is only part of the whole. It's adequate, it's average and 'aren't that bad,' your own description, isn't exactly a glowing endorsement.

To give credit where credit is due, it was great this year. I DVRd it and watched it back. Proof again that LL can do it with the right people and some actual effort. Imagine what they could do if they had more resource etc?

Ofcom have approved a cut in local programming in peak time from 2 hours to an hour in peak. (1800-2230).

What is even the point of London Live anymore?