Applepie's posts

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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

TVTV posted:
Looks like a morning show from 10 years ago


It looks quite Americanised. There have been some ever so subtle influences on their US owners recently, certain presentation styles in terms of the phrasing they use. They've also seemingly used NBC correspondents more, even though they have a fair few Sky correspondents in the US already.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

Why is Anna Botting presenting Press Preview standing outside Buckingham Palace? Is it necessary?! Is the Queen going to appear and hand her a statement?

I don't understand why they needed Sarah Hewson, Dermot Murnaghan, Anna Botting etc, to stand outside Buckingham Palace to read the news today. What does it add to the story? They aren't even interviewing anyone while they are there.


This is a "trend", apparently, to stand outside somewhere that's the source of the story, so stand outside Buckingham Palace looking cold for a few hours, it is believed, adds something. I've yet to see exactly what in all the time broadcasters keep doing this for various things so...

Of course the day the Queen comes out, stands in front of a set of microphones and gives a press conference will be a sight to behold.


I'm not sure it's a trend as they've done it for years, and it really bugs me as I agree it adds no value in instances like this. Surely that is what correspondents are for? It's especially uncomfortable to watch when it's bitterly cold and the presenter's teeth are chattering.
derek500 and Meridian AM gave kudos
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Applepie

GB News Launches on Social Media

The GB logo on Wikipedia is different to the letterhead one:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GB_News


It's still awful.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

This maybe a long shot, and just wishful thinking on my part, but could the delay in introducing the new logo be because they are working on a much bigger refresh? With GB News about to launch, the poaching of one (and maybe more) of their team, do they think it's time to up their game and introduce a much wider new look, perhaps using the half-built studio that NBC Sky World News was to use?


From a strategic perspective it would make sense to assess any new competition, but whether that is influencing any delay is anyone's guess (except those who actually do know). Although, it does seem as though they are positioning themselves as aspiring to be the most trusted source for news - at least their new promos on the international feed state that. And it could be plausible to assume that is directed at any upcoming competitor.

It would be interesting to know what Sky and NBC's long term plans are. They've abandoned plans for a joint channel, but does that mean they have abandoned their aspirations?
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

I see no issue with using temporary sets for special programmes - if anything, I think it would less imaginative to use the same studio for absolutely everything.

The Glass Box isn't particularly versatile, but it could be if the rotated the desk once again and made more use of the Sky Centre backdrop.

Westminster actually is quite flexible, all they need to do is wheel out the desk, swap it for soft seats, or a different desk etc. The screens can display whatever is needed.

I can understand Sky News's switch to a more white/clean studio style, if to try to convey more of a focus on the content rather than a gaudy studio, which to be fair, the Sky News Centre did steer towards. Still, one can have a clean, content-focused presentation while still conveying a more authoritative identity - and indeed an identity full stop.

I just think a decision needs to be made on whether Sky News is a rolling news channel - in which case, there's no point in having different titled programmes - especially as they are all currently identical in terms of news stories and how they are presented (save for one or two programmes having a standing presenter).

Or, they need to give more editorial independence to some of the programmes, with different graphics for each. And yes, that does sound like appointment to view, but I would much rather a proper ATV rather than the slightly fake style at the moment. Breakfast, Today, Afternoon, News Hour, Tonight, News at Nine and so on are all virtually identical. Just a different face reading the news and mildly varied title cards.

Programmes would feel more special if they focused deeper on a different story or something. One hour programmes (but less of them) that are actually unique would be more appealing - in my opinion at least.

I actually really liked the podcast special with Dermot that they broadcast on screen, something like that would be great.
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Applepie

Sky News Australia

TVTV posted:
Sky News AU's 2021 launch campaign can be seen here

https://vimeo.com/508617014

Sky News is now officially the most watched Pay TV channel in Australia - it's not uncommon for them to have a clean sweep of the 5 most watched Pay TV shows night after night.


Probably because it's on every television screen in every News Australia office, of which there are dozens, 24 hours a day.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

rob posted:
So I think can we agree that that will be the new look.


No, it isn't.


I know, I wasn't talking literally, more in the same tone as previous comments.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

Surprised somebody hasn’t speculated yet whether it might be a hint towards a new look.

We may not be fans of Studio 6 on here but it’s the only one of the main Sky News studios they haven’t had to abandon at short notice recently


Well, I was just about to suggest that, but then along came the promo of Sophy(ie) Ridge's special programme in a delightedly deep blue set. So I think can we agree that that will be the new look. It does look quite smart though, so speculation or otherwise, it would make a pleasant change of scenery.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

cat posted:
I don’t think she shouldn’t be allowed back because of her deliberate Covid breach.

It’s because her ratings are poor, her interviewing style is cringeworthy, her research is non-existent, and her huge salary would be better spent hiring some foreign correspondents.

She isn’t good at interviewing politicians because she isn’t very well informed. And that’s the whole point of her show, it’s the agenda setting daily interview show on the channel.

Nobody in Westminster (I work there) takes her seriously. She’s a joke.

That’s why she shouldn’t be presenting that show. Sky can do so much better.


I largely have to agree with this. For me at least, it has nothing to do with her gender, more her style of presenting which comes across as aggressively patronising without much substance to back it up.

As cat said, use the extra money on good hires and some furniture for the studio.

The issue is, who would best be placed to take on the [morning] show, since Holmes left, there hasn't been a suitable replacement. Steve Dixon works very well Gillian, but that is tricky at the moment. So there feels like a vacuum for the early part of the day as the more experienced presenters are in the evening and night.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

On a lighter note, has anyone noticed the title cards they used in Mark Stone's report on Lebanon, looked nice and classy - very grey, but in a good way. Overall, the report had a slightly different feel about it to other reports, couple with the new international title card and promos. Feels ever so slightly like CNN in preso style.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

True words. Don't understand the problem that in the year 2020 real background screens look far worse than a green screen or just a well adjusted TV with all the new technology. In the 2005er the newswall and everything looked far superior and more authentic, you couldn't even distinguish the 2008 newswall background from the real studio part. That's the problem when the studio as in this case the Westminster one is too small and the distance between background screens and TV presenter is too tight which makes the lighting for the presenter shine on the screens and completely deteriorates its CONTRAST!


Thinking back when Anna Botting did a special programme from Westminster - the graphics used then looked good, so it seems it's the 'live' backdrop. It's a nice idea, but stylistically I don't see the point when a branded backdrop would probably looked a lot better. Although, if they are, at some point, introducing new graphics they didn't see too much point in producing anything other than a stop-gap.


Here it is again for those that missed it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9xMwoXQ0jY


Everything about that is so much better, including music and lighting.
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Applepie

The Sky News Thread

I wonder if Murdoch has a long term licensing agreement with Comcast for Australia which is why they haven't rebranded?

It's worth noting that Sky News Australia is called Australia Channel for overseas viewers outside Australia and New Zealand.


Perhaps, would make sense. Although, Sky has little relevance in Australia as the equivalent cable provider over there is Foxtel - so a Fox News Australia would fit better. That said, I'm that there is no appetite for a Fox News anywhere outside of the US.