Killie Kingdom's posts, page 9

Lets be honest though, thats the only thing with this new format it has put an end to an extent the cheeky banter bewteen presenters. Although having said that in some ways it has improved the show as since Shereen and Jane left, the banter went downhill. ...but all in all, I am really starting to liek the new format, it gives the show more authority and back to the traditional desk and chair, a move away from that awful sofa/desk combo!

What a cracker!!

What does drules mean?

God knows how they're going to pad two hours. I don't know how much more of the Setanta highlights they've got access to, and I presume the paid-for station has a monopoly on the majority of it. They also don't have Sara O and Julyan to do the crap filler nonsense which, while awful, filled a lot of time. No doubt though that Scotsport will account for a vast proportion of STV's regional programming over the coming season.

Meanwhile - if STV are going to opt-out of ITV programming and save money on it, they should be forced to provide local programming instead. Otherwise they could just ditch anything for the sake of cost, presumably the reason that rule was implemented in the first place.

I'd say the stv news programmes reign supreme.

King and Queen Indeed.

I remember fondly the days when a certain lady used to be known as the Queen of Queen Margaret Drive!!

You will be far too young to remember her though, Laura.

So, time for my comments.

I like it all very much. Looks very professional and John really has authority being behind the desk. He used to look very cramped and awkward on the wee sofa they had in the last studio. Feels like he's a real 'anchor' to the show now.

Like the camera angles, interesting opening - very refreshing and quite dramatic. I do have to say I really like this whole look, seems a lot more thought through and well structured.

Minor niggles:

Most of these are personal views and not the fault of the presentation at all. I think the reason I seldom really watch Scotland Today is the fact that John, Louise and Dave Cowan are the only very good presenters/reporters.

I don't want to start a rant on Stephen Jardine but I think he is terrible. His report tonight was full of bias and he uses such emotive language all the time. He messed up the link by not answering the question John asked him at the top of the show, and just went into some pre-prepared link he had made up, repeating again that he was "live" - 3rd time within the minute we were told this. Plus, he's so full of opinions, and frankly looks a bit weird - he's just not got the calibre for presenting national news.

Talking of bizarre guys, Raman isn't much better. He'll chat away on the handover to the sport then begin shouting as soon as he starts presenting. He also talks so slowly and puts so much false emphasis into his voice it's like he's talking to a 3 year old, VERY LOUDLY. And as for Bernard Ponsonby, well, he's very shouty and condescending too - full of clichés, and frankly dead wood.

That all sounds very harsh, but the other presenters (and most reporters) are excellent, with some of the younger ones coming along well. It's no longer the technical standards, but I think it's some of the team that are letting the show down a bit now.

Also, at the end it feels quite disjointed as John hands to the unknown weather girl (?), who we see in shot for about 15 seconds, then it cuts to the weather sting, the ad promo, the weather, the ad promo, the sting, back to John for goodbye, then the 'stv.tv' slide and v/o, then back to a closing shot of the studio, then stv endcap, then a sponsor message, then the pollen news, then the sponsor message, then 'Talking Scotland' segment - you get the drift. Needs to be a bit more joined up I think - I thought the weather girl was perhaps going to do the weather in-vision, but no such luck. Could Louise not perhaps do the weather?

These are minor niggles really, and looking at stv now I think the channel looks in the best shape it has for a long time (pres-wise at least). Just sort out the dodgy aspect ratios guys!