diarmydotnet's posts, page 6

RTÉ News

Interesting thing about the RTÉ website. I was reading the Sunday Business Post a few weeks back and I saw this:

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/07/23/story15831.asp

Very impressed that RTÉ is doing all this at once. New studio and possible server outputs by September, new online multimedia website by year end and a big news wall. All very impressive stuff (thanks Teilifis!)

Only thing I'm slightly worried about now is that they will continue to use the old dogs for presenting the news... Nothing fundamentally wrong with maintaining the continuity of familiar faces in foreign backgrounds, but if the level of blundering continues from Dobbo, Doyle and Ní Bheolain, I think this could come across as way-over-their-heads stuff. RTÉ are well-capable of providing a news service that's familiar and warm, but modern and newsy. It's just with the sheer number of presentational errors of late that the transition might be difficult for all concerned (gallery included).

Overall I'm hugely impressed with what they've done so far in the public domain. And I really really hope it works... But you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

diarmy

RTÉ News

is it just me or are the graphics sets for the 'temporary news' set in a squashed 16:9?? I dont remember so much left space on the screen before... have a gawk at the news from RTE on Realplayer and you'll see what I mean?

If this is the case, I wonder why they're bothering altering the graphics bed so late before a re-launch? are they just testing the crew on a wider aspect before DTT trails? or will these sets be going out for DTT trials shortly? this would make sense if they're not going to have the new News ready before the DTT trials, in which case we'll have at least 4 weeks of 'temp-news'.

and look at the headroom!!!

on the one today, very tight ship as per usual with Finnerty, but in fairness, the shabbyness is already protruding as at the end of the bulletin you can see the radio mic for presenter number 2 just thrown over the chair to John's left... not good. the chair should be completely removed on the 1 if there's only going to be one presenter on it, that or dont use the wide angle (probably not an option now the temp set is fixed.

anyone??

RTÉ News

Yeah that's a shocker alright, in fairness though, the did a decent enought job of moving the set - I can imagine a host of trade-unionists miffed on a sunday evening in Montrose sweating as the perspex panels and MDF were being shifted. The lighting gives it away more than anything - and above all this means more of the same from the dodgy station as we wait in anticipation of the re-launched version. (Aengus MacGrianna was flustered after the 'business news' pi**take they have, but other than that it wasn't bad)

Couldn't get a screenshot of RealPlayer, forgot how it's so much easier on the Mac but can't do it on the work PC.

RTÉ News

Michael Murphy is back on our screens! This morning shortly before 10am he appeared in a Headlines bulletin, sporting a Paxman-esque tie, trademark tweed suit and the epic voice of perfect deliverence... Rise quickly through the ranks kind sir, and relieve the Dobbo (or DUBbo) from the stress of mucking through an hour of programming.

Bring Back Micheál - Even for the 'cúpla focal' he'd add to the whole thing.

PS. Lovely background with David Murphy (who wears a grey suit... honestly!!!) ... shame it's him though, his voice is head-wrecking... and the headroom is appauling. Even if they just stumbled upon the shot by accident, it's a step in the right direction!

RTÉ News

Does anyone notice that Dobbo is WAY more relaxed lately?? Even on Six lastnight, as an LVO to Abbylara to a priest and a local was being streamed through, a tractor slowly drove past and drowned out the sound - Dobbo just said "that's alright, we'll leave the tractor pass"... and after Sean Whelan's report from Belgium on mobile-phones Dobbo said with a smirk "stands to reason doesn't it"... this kind of banter is reminiscent of Sky News in the olden days.

Another question, open to anyone but I'll bet Teilifís will know: The News Correspondants for RTÉ who we very rarely see, the Marine Corr, Jim Fahy, Education girl during the summer, etc... do they get paid a constant salary, or is it contractual between what they actually contribute? If it's a salary thing are they doing other things too outside of just reports for RTÉ? What's the story with it??

RTÉ News

While I'm not entirely sure of the background, I would agree with Phen that TG4 is being set out to fallow by RTÉ corporate in the hope they'll prosper. I think that TG4 is coming on leaps and bounds when you compare its current position to that of the Hallowe'en night back in the late 1990s when TnaG first launched!

TnaG was a token tv network back in those days, catering for the 'Gaeltacht' regions as RTÉ would have it. But gradually (diadh ar ndiadh) TG4 as it's now know is becoming a powerful station, with great programmes like Árdán, Ros na Rún and other things such as an excellent News section. While Nuacht TG4 is almost a carbon copy of Six One in terms of main headline content and video, the Nuacht team do great justice to regional news, often neglected by the Six One team, who focus on the Dublin-National stuff mainly.

TG4 would do great on it's own I think. Being a subsidiary of RTÉ is stagnating it's development, but facilitating it none-the-less. TG4 has also spawned greats like Síle Seoige, Gráinne Seoige and other fantastic female personalities who have become leading ladies at various networks here and in Britain.

TG4 seem also to be steaming ahead with their picture formats. I've noticed the 'widescreen-esque' format for a while and I agree whole-heartedly with Phen about their weather graphics being spectacular (almost reminiscent of old TV3 before they got tacky). TG4 I think should be given the freedom to move. You will notice more and more major players in the Irish and international markets advertising on TG4 and this is no co-incidence. TG4 is hugely popular. It's viewers for Cúla 4 and Pop 4 are growing all the time and they also have no hang-ups about showing quality english-language dramas, unlike their cousin Raidió na Gaeltachta, who in the absence of Anocht FM play no english-language content whatsoever - a major stagnation point in my view of the dwindling listenership of RnaG.

Súil Eile - Another View

Sky Newsbreak

Barney Boo, super super job. Never thought something like this could be conjured up in someone's spare time with such professional appearance, dedication to excellent rendering and above-all high quality.

Truly excellent work my friend... definitely 'PintWare'

One minor thing, I'm using a laptop at work behing a poxy (yes, it's poxy!) server... RealPlayer has the Internet Connection details, but NewsBreak doesn't seem to find the connection active. I've run it on the laptop in my own home and works brilliantly. Any ideas on how to get around Poxy Servers*?

Great work again, hope to see the N24 one soon (if anything just for the theme tune!!)


* Poxy Servers is a balls-up of Proxy Servers - having reference to their poxy nature and general f**king up of my internet pleasure at work... grrrr!

RTÉ News

I'm not 100% positive if RedBee are re-vamping the news, but common sense would dictate they are. Even if they were hired to just do new idents for the station and work on theme tunes, they'd surely be in close proximity to the odd news broadcast and would have to (as ethical businesses) offer their services for that too.

RTÉ have done their own in-house stuff in the past, and up until that rotten pink and purple phase with a theme tune that started off brilliant and just faded out into oblivion, they had a good thing going. Today though (and I saw that Nine too last night as I was writing my post) RTÉ news is falling apart at the seams. Traditionally RTÉ keeps their sets and news graphics fresh every 2-3 years, which is in line with September also. I can't really see RedBee just doing idents and tunes for RTE One on it's own. The news is where the money is for them. Besides, they'd contrast too much - RTÉ designed news versus RedBee idents. Look at the stuff on RedBee's website RED BEE MEDIA and you'll see they usually do fantastic stuff for idents... an RTÉ redesign of the fledgling news service would be disastrous side-by-side

I found this intriguing pic on RedBee's site:
http://www.redbeemedia.com/images/playout/services/playout_services_01.jpg

Contrast it with this:
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/gallery_1.jpg

See how the RedBee media graphic (probably from the BBC's gallery) has giant plasma screens with miniature 16:9 screens on it? The flat-screen monitors, the professionalism about the place... no wonder RTÉ news falls flat on it's face every night... i'd be fairly pi**ed off too if I worked in that pokey little box!

RTÉ News

ah the mock was only an idea... i'm sure RedBee will blow our socks off with the colours, set, astons, graphics, DOGs and of course, theme tunes. As to whether or not RTE directors and other civil servants will have the incentive to carry it off 3 times a day every day remains to be seen.

Good job on the video Teilifis, considering it's from VHS you've managed to ace it first time!

It's a shame there aren't more background programmes on RTE. The Beeb have a good few that i've seen, i.e. how News 24 is made, the set for WWTBAM on ITV etc. It'd be nice to see the daggers behind the cloak!

RTÉ News

As if by odd co-incidence, I came up with a mock too of a graphic system RTE might use, taking on board Teilifis's comments about green and Phen's comments on blue retention. It's basic but I think it has to be basic and informational - taking into account the elderly audience of RTE news (a lot of young people i know never watch the news).

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/rtegreen.gif

A rather presumptious storyline but hey, we can always dream. The addition of a clock on-screen I think is essential in helping the audience see what stage the news is at. RTE makes no use of a clock when all the major international networks do. A simple ticker / pop-up scroller at the bottom would allow people quickly glance at news stories coming up. The inclusion of the RTE logo in it's official colours keeps everything on-screen linked to the RTE colour scheme and also offers better branding for transferred clips to other networks.

I just think it's best keep it simple. RTE will undoubtedly retain the current gallery staff after the RedBee overhaul so simplicity is key to saving on the cringeworthy f**kups.

One more point, News On Two should be made more topical and reflective. I've noticed the editing and direction on it lately has been fantastic and Anto Murnane is a class act in the hotseat. David McCullogh's stand-up piece on the Red C poll last night along with the plasma-screen graphics far outshone the rubbishy tat that shows up on Six One. More of that please!

diarmy

RTÉ News

Teilifis, you posted this pic in the previous page:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/RTE1TV/Camera1.jpg

Would I be right in assuming this is Emma O'Kelly, the gorgeous Education correspondant?? Don't remember her presenting news but the outfit, height contrast with the screen, notes and body language from that photo alone scream on-screen appeal to me and a couple of guys and gals at the office here who've seen it.

The pics of Anto Murnane and his walkabout tour are pretty cool. The TV Room links for the VTs from 1999 are brilliant also. I noticed that the website address was given with it's full 'http://' prefix also - in 1999! Today on NewsOnTwo we have this rotten newsontwo@rte.ie thing that appears (since TV3 offered the 'text us a story' routine).

I cannot believe that I missed that era in televisual delight. Contrary to what others say, the portal looks cool in the 1999 opening - and the wire-frame buildup of the 'news' bit looks very well, even if the 9.00 bit looks a bit old-fashioned. The music was brilliant to and I love the contrast between the green of the opening titles and the blue astons and graphics in the News room.

The virtual Newsroom is something I remember with a hatred that ran deeper than the one i have for Dobbo. Absolutely yuk. TBH, ITV is the only one that can competently use the virtual newsroom anymore, and i'm glad most networks have gotten rid of it.

Ta again Teilifís, excellent as always!

RTÉ News

Interesting as ever Teilifís. Great insight into the place.

Have you or anyone else got a hi-res video of the 1999 SMIL link you posted? It's coming down on 20Kbps (which considering it's from 1999 and still hosted on RTÉ's servers is amazing) and I barely remember that format and set. It looked fab... and now I can finally see your point about the massive regressive step they took in doing in that set and "building" this one (despite my fondness for the colour scheme outside of astons and graphics).

anything at all??

d