The Newsroom

ITV News Channel - moving the channel on

A discussion that warrants it's own thread! (September 2004)

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BR
Brekkie
A discussion is apparant in the day-to-day ITV News thread which really warrants it's own thread so it can be discussed fully.

Beginning with a re-post of comments made in the thread:

nationwide posted:
Things i'd like to see...
1) More phone-in's - something the itvnc is good at - they used to do it a lot pre-relaunch at 1pm - they could like it to the 'Your Say' survey
2)I wish they'd let presenters sign off at the end of the hour - especially if the presenters change - I liked it when the news channel first became itv when the following presenter sat at the desk and said what was coming up - would be nice to see Steve Felicity and Leyla round the desk - they could then have a proper end to the bulletin.
3)The evenings could do with a make-over. They SOMETIMES do ents news at 7 - sometimes with a guest - then at other times they focus on sport - i know it follows on the the evening news but it would be nice to see a more rigid schedule - maybe a half hour showbiz programme at 7.30pm?
4) Have a full live hour at 11pm with a paper review - every night!


James Hatts posted:
nationwide posted:
3)The evenings could do with a make-over. They SOMETIMES do ents news at 7 - sometimes with a guest - then at other times they focus on sport - i know it follows on the the evening news but it would be nice to see a more rigid schedule - maybe a half hour showbiz programme at 7.30pm?

Yes - and I think the 7pm hour could do with two presenters. It is odd to suddenly return (usually) to a double-headed bulletin at 8.

As the News Channel is promoted on ITV1 at the end of the Evening News, it's a shame that the hour that follows doesn't show off the full potential of the channel, with two presenters, newswall presentations and suchlike.
nationwide posted:
4) Have a full live hour at 11pm with a paper review - every night!

Agreed. Though I find the repeats of PMQs and the like at 11 quite useful.

Other things I'd like to see:

1) Regular specialist shows in the evening - they could use the 8.30 slot every night in the style of US Election Weekly - along these lines:
Monday - Sports news and debate with Steve, Felicity, Alex Thomas, Tim Ewart et al
Tuesday - Media
Wednesday - Politics
Thursday - US Election Weekly
Friday - Sports Extra

2) A Friday edition of the ITV News Network - it's mad that it's only on 4 nights a week - move Sports Extra to 8.30.

3) Some kind of double-headed feature-led weekend evening show - maybe 7-9 or 7-10. A lot of the repeated material from Angela's show is getting stale by that time.


Agree with the point that 7pm & 11pm are crucial - after the main ITV1 bulletins, and while repeats of PMQs and press conferences are useful, it is the best opportunity to show off the ITV News Channel.

I'd suggest for these slots a tactic used by ITV2 - that is ITV News Extra. This programme would go out live for an hour at 7pm, and is designed to be repeated at 11pm. The host - I'd suggest Felicity Barr - she's known to ITV viewers, or if you want someone more heavyweight maybe have Alistair Stewart ditch the LIVE show and come in after LT to front this.

It would incorporate things like PMQs and Press Conferences, but rather than just a replay, the host would be joined by a guest to discuss the highlights from these events. It would also include an ITV News Network element, covering the headlines from the regional news rooms - and plugging the later ITV News Network programme, and have regular features - such as a weekly discussion of the US elections and the Friday night Sports Extra, plus extended interviews and analysis of the daily Your Say poll.

There would then be regular bulletins at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm, with ITV News Network at 8.30pm.

A regular sports bulletin would be introduced to the schedule at 5.45pm and 9.45pm (hosted by Felicity or Steve) and would be the time of the CSO switch. (At 30mins past we have the headlines, top story recap, extended weather report, break then Sport at 45mins past the hour)

Then ITV News Extra would be replayed at 11pm, then at midnight we get a live bulletin - ITV News Late. This would last an hour and include a detailed paper review, and would be replayed at 1/2/3am, with ITV News Extra repeated at 4am, followed by ITV News Network at 5am.

The daytime schedule would remain pretty much the same.

In summary:
5.45pm ITV News Sports Extra
6pm ITV News Channel
6.30pm ITV Evening News
7pm ITV News Extra (inc Headlines at 7.30pm)
8pm ITV News Channel
8.30pm ITV News Network
9.00pm ITV News Channel
9.45pm ITV News Sports Extra
10pm ITV News Channel
10.30pm ITV News
11pm ITV News Extra (as 7pm, with updated headlines at 11.30pm)
12m'n ITV News Late
1am / 2am / 3am ITV News Late (repeat)
4am ITV News Extra (repeat)
5am ITV News Network (repeat)
5.30am ITV Morning News (LIVE)
NA
nationwide
I think daytime is pretty much okay on the news channel (except the 6-7am hour). Although it would be good to have proper business news - news 24 and sky wipe the floor with them - and hardly any of the presenters speak confidently over the markets board.

The evenings need help - its the channels biggest chance for gaining viewers from cross promotion yet it's the worst time presentation wise.
I like the News Network - i think it could be improved by putting some uk-today crossovers in it.
I also think a programme that covers ents and sports news in a lighter way - anyone remember sky news'prime time' - something like that with Felicity and Steve.

Other than that and my points quoted earlier thats it - oh and ditch the 'breaking news for britain' stings - espeically the editing suite one!
JH
Jonathan H
nationwide posted:
oh and ditch the 'breaking news for britain' stings - espeically the editing suite one!


I thought someone said that was a live gallery shot?
TE
TELEVISION
Jonathan H posted:
nationwide posted:
oh and ditch the 'breaking news for britain' stings - espeically the editing suite one!


I thought someone said that was a live gallery shot?


It is.
LO
lobster
for a start they could get rid of the pre-recorded overnite stuff. that's no way to run a news channel.
BR
Brekkie
To raise a couple more issues.

Firstly simulcasting of the ITV1 bulletins. I see no point in them changing this - but adding signing to them would give them more of a purpose . Also, switch to the most appropriate region rather than sticking with London Tonight (as they did with Scotland Today a couple of weeks ago.)

A signed version of the GMTV Newshour between 6 and 7am would also be an idea.
:-(
A former member
Dr Sigmund Mohammad posted:
for a start they could get rid of the pre-recorded overnite stuff. that's no way to run a news channel.


Exactly. ITV News is in a mess. There is no consistency also with those camera angles! Too far out !
TA
Tagesschau
What's wrong with Breaking News for Britain... it's a slogan that does what it says on the tin. No other news channel has that.
I agree with the presentation in the evening... and also weekends... they never have two men presenting during the week, but we have to endure the likes of Lloyd Bracey on a sat or sun. At least they seem to have realised that when Joyce is off then Owen's on so there's some continutity... I've also noticed that instead of having totally random presenters on London on the weekend, Owen seems to do them all now. But it's still hit and miss. Like tonight, suddenly, after a week of Owen doing the late bulletin, we've got Chris bloody Rodgers... he's fine, but where's the continuity? Noone's heard of him in London before. And he's so slimey.
JH
Jonathan H
jordo posted:
Exactly. ITV News is in a mess. There is no consistency also with those camera angles! Too far out !


An interesting comment! Could you elaborate?
OH
ohwhatanight Founding member
Jonathan H posted:
jordo posted:
Exactly. ITV News is in a mess. There is no consistency also with those camera angles! Too far out !


An interesting comment! Could you elaborate?


You can't win really can you!!!!!!!!!!! lol - Im sure people would complain if the same three shots were used continually whereas ITV NC does seem to use the moving cameras to their full ability providing us (the viewer) with some different shots around the studio - for which I am grateful as it does break up the monotony of continuous news channels a bit.

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