TI
TI
Owen is to join BBC News 24 early next year.
"It seems the right moment to go for new challenges - and I look forward to
plenty of those, joining the line-up of presenters who have helped make BBC News
24 the country's leading news channel," he said.
Owen, 59, currently co-presents the ITV Lunchtime News bulletin with Katie
Derham.
He he has been a regular ITN presenter for over a decade and has anchored all
its news bulletins.
From 1994 to 2000 he was royal correspondent and covered the funeral of Diana,
Princess of Wales.
Kevin Bakhurst, controller of BBC News 24, said: "I'm delighted that Nicholas
is joining News 24.
"He is one of the most respected and experienced presenters in the business
and will bring a real charm and depth of experience to the channel."
Alastair Stewart will take over as full-time co-presenter of ITV's lunchtime
bulletin in the New Year.
Nick Owen quits ITN for BBC News 24
ITN newsreader Nicholas Owen is defecting to the BBC, it was announced today.Owen is to join BBC News 24 early next year.
"It seems the right moment to go for new challenges - and I look forward to
plenty of those, joining the line-up of presenters who have helped make BBC News
24 the country's leading news channel," he said.
Owen, 59, currently co-presents the ITV Lunchtime News bulletin with Katie
Derham.
He he has been a regular ITN presenter for over a decade and has anchored all
its news bulletins.
From 1994 to 2000 he was royal correspondent and covered the funeral of Diana,
Princess of Wales.
Kevin Bakhurst, controller of BBC News 24, said: "I'm delighted that Nicholas
is joining News 24.
"He is one of the most respected and experienced presenters in the business
and will bring a real charm and depth of experience to the channel."
Alastair Stewart will take over as full-time co-presenter of ITV's lunchtime
bulletin in the New Year.
TI
Are you on the moon!? Or perhaps half asleep.
Sky's coverage of the reshuffle has been dreadful. Actually, worse than dreadful. They haven't spoken to ANY leader of ANY party (the BBC had Cameron and Sir Menzies on set).
There's an e-mail doing the rounds at Television Centre, sent out by Peter Horrocks, which show screen grabs from News 24 and Sky.
The strap on Sky says:
NEW FOREIGN SECRETARY EXPECTED TO BE CHARLES CLARKE
The strap on News 24 says:
CHARLES CLARKE TO LEAVE THE HOME OFFICE
Sky thought that Charles Clarke was going to be the new Foreign Secretary!? They thought this while Nick Robinson was interviewing him after being sacked!
And you think Sky had a brilliant morning covering the reshuffle? Go back to under your rock mate.
Sky News
Quote:
Sky's coverage has really come into its own with the reshuffle; they were really on the case while the BBC was still winding up its morning shows (Breakfast simulcast on News 24 'til 9.00, bizarrely).
Jon Craig's been brilliant, trying to make it up whilst out of the studio and with his back to the front door of no.10. Adam Boulton, who's been up all night looks a bit tired, bless.
Jon Craig's been brilliant, trying to make it up whilst out of the studio and with his back to the front door of no.10. Adam Boulton, who's been up all night looks a bit tired, bless.
Are you on the moon!? Or perhaps half asleep.
Sky's coverage of the reshuffle has been dreadful. Actually, worse than dreadful. They haven't spoken to ANY leader of ANY party (the BBC had Cameron and Sir Menzies on set).
There's an e-mail doing the rounds at Television Centre, sent out by Peter Horrocks, which show screen grabs from News 24 and Sky.
The strap on Sky says:
NEW FOREIGN SECRETARY EXPECTED TO BE CHARLES CLARKE
The strap on News 24 says:
CHARLES CLARKE TO LEAVE THE HOME OFFICE
Sky thought that Charles Clarke was going to be the new Foreign Secretary!? They thought this while Nick Robinson was interviewing him after being sacked!
And you think Sky had a brilliant morning covering the reshuffle? Go back to under your rock mate.
TI
Lord!
Perhaps someone should start something like myskynewsmemories.com - where former staff can describe their experience of what it's like to work somewhere that is probably the closest to Baghdad you'll get without actually being there.
I was there once and one of the channel's "star" presenters was at the old newswall and threw a tantrum about the sound that, at least, could be best described as volcanic. It quite jaw-dropping to watch a middle-aged woman behave like a five-year-old who's had their sweets taken away.
When someone once got the spelling of a locator wrong, one of the senior staff sent out an e-mail to the equivalent of "SkyNewsAll" naming and shaming her.
Staff crying in the toilets, walking out on the job, tantrums, screaming, throwing chairs, beating tables with fists - if you've been at Sky News you will have seen it all.
Sky News
Quote:
Don't get me started, Luke !
Suffice to say, with the disclaimer that my views are not necessarily representative of my former colleagues .. well, not all of them anyway ...
Also bear in mind I have never had any interest in rolling news or sport, especially so with the advent of increasing gimmickery and questionable tabloid news values ....
I was just a vision-mixer doing a job ...
Sky is a stressful, sullen place in general, especially so in News.
The work is fiendishly repetitive and boring.
The technical staff are treated like robots, not human beings.
Some of the gallery producers are next to useless. Others just plain rude.
The old gallery was cramped, dirty and poorly air conditioned.
Some of the gallery directors are too bored or incapable to direct clearly.
Some of the gallery directors think they're directing an epic.
All the above grate when you're stuck doing a difficult but tedious job for either 3, 4 or 5 hours at a stretch.
That's a concise summary !
Suffice to say, with the disclaimer that my views are not necessarily representative of my former colleagues .. well, not all of them anyway ...
Also bear in mind I have never had any interest in rolling news or sport, especially so with the advent of increasing gimmickery and questionable tabloid news values ....
I was just a vision-mixer doing a job ...
Sky is a stressful, sullen place in general, especially so in News.
The work is fiendishly repetitive and boring.
The technical staff are treated like robots, not human beings.
Some of the gallery producers are next to useless. Others just plain rude.
The old gallery was cramped, dirty and poorly air conditioned.
Some of the gallery directors are too bored or incapable to direct clearly.
Some of the gallery directors think they're directing an epic.
All the above grate when you're stuck doing a difficult but tedious job for either 3, 4 or 5 hours at a stretch.
That's a concise summary !
Lord!
Perhaps someone should start something like myskynewsmemories.com - where former staff can describe their experience of what it's like to work somewhere that is probably the closest to Baghdad you'll get without actually being there.
I was there once and one of the channel's "star" presenters was at the old newswall and threw a tantrum about the sound that, at least, could be best described as volcanic. It quite jaw-dropping to watch a middle-aged woman behave like a five-year-old who's had their sweets taken away.
When someone once got the spelling of a locator wrong, one of the senior staff sent out an e-mail to the equivalent of "SkyNewsAll" naming and shaming her.
Staff crying in the toilets, walking out on the job, tantrums, screaming, throwing chairs, beating tables with fists - if you've been at Sky News you will have seen it all.
TI
Sarah Montague and Gavin Esler, Jane Hill and Matthew Amroliwala and Sian Williams. And Krishnan Guru Murthy too!
Here's an urban legend... apparently Krishnan wasn't too keen on the channel and when he finally was signed to Channel 4 News, he had his contract biked over to Television Centre and signed on the dotted line while presenting!
It was around the time when they used to have that dreadful phone-in where er, no-one would phone in. And the story that always gets told about some footage of pigs playing the mud and a caption popping up which said:
JENNIE BOND
Royal Correspondent.
Those were the days...
Emily Maitlis & Ben Brown to present N24 7-10pm slot
Gawd this takes me back. Who was there in the beginning - during the "car crash in a shower" set.Sarah Montague and Gavin Esler, Jane Hill and Matthew Amroliwala and Sian Williams. And Krishnan Guru Murthy too!
Here's an urban legend... apparently Krishnan wasn't too keen on the channel and when he finally was signed to Channel 4 News, he had his contract biked over to Television Centre and signed on the dotted line while presenting!
It was around the time when they used to have that dreadful phone-in where er, no-one would phone in. And the story that always gets told about some footage of pigs playing the mud and a caption popping up which said:
JENNIE BOND
Royal Correspondent.
Those were the days...
TI
Not Sarah Montague surely!
Just kidding.
If you apply your mind it's not as cryptic as your average Wicked Whisper!
If you think about who's presented on the channel, who's now in charge and how much importance is being placed on the channel it's pretty obvious.
And how would you take on Sky News during one of it's most popular time slots? Fight fire with fire, surely...
Emily Maitlis & Ben Brown to present N24 7-10pm slot
Quote:
The new signing that hasn't been named yet was (I think) either the fourth or fifth person to be seen live on the channel.
Not Sarah Montague surely!
Just kidding.
If you apply your mind it's not as cryptic as your average Wicked Whisper!
If you think about who's presented on the channel, who's now in charge and how much importance is being placed on the channel it's pretty obvious.
And how would you take on Sky News during one of it's most popular time slots? Fight fire with fire, surely...
TI
The full time slots haven't been agreed and I doubt that they will stay the same, ie 9 - 13.00, 13.00 - 16.00 etc.
I'd also heard that the channel's hand was forced on news of the change because a trade paper was going to run a story and they didn't want presenters reading about their fate in a magazine.
So there is indeed a big development to come - I reckon it'll be a good thing.
Emily Maitlis & Ben Brown to present N24 7-10pm slot
Yeah - it seems W12 and I seem to hang about at the same watercooler!The full time slots haven't been agreed and I doubt that they will stay the same, ie 9 - 13.00, 13.00 - 16.00 etc.
I'd also heard that the channel's hand was forced on news of the change because a trade paper was going to run a story and they didn't want presenters reading about their fate in a magazine.
So there is indeed a big development to come - I reckon it'll be a good thing.
TI
I guess because most importantly we don't want to get things wrong.
Remember before Peter Horrocks took over the post of Head of TV News there were reports that Nick Pollard (head of Sky News) was going to get the job!?
And some of the names flying around as possible new Editors of the 10 'O Clock News ranged from Nick Pollard (again) to Kermit the Frog.
I'm just telling you what I've heard from two reliable sources...
Here's a deal - if I get it totally wrong I'll tell you what I had heard.
But the TV News industry - especially the BBC is such an incredibly leaky ship, I can't believe I'm the only one... who else knows!? Fess up!
Emily Maitlis & Ben Brown to present N24 7-10pm slot
Quote:
Anyway why cant you just tell us?? I dont know why theres so much secrecy on this board!
I guess because most importantly we don't want to get things wrong.
Remember before Peter Horrocks took over the post of Head of TV News there were reports that Nick Pollard (head of Sky News) was going to get the job!?
And some of the names flying around as possible new Editors of the 10 'O Clock News ranged from Nick Pollard (again) to Kermit the Frog.
I'm just telling you what I've heard from two reliable sources...
Here's a deal - if I get it totally wrong I'll tell you what I had heard.
But the TV News industry - especially the BBC is such an incredibly leaky ship, I can't believe I'm the only one... who else knows!? Fess up!
TI
We're talking someone along the likes of, and with the calibre of Jeremy Paxman/Dermot Murnaghan/Huw Edwards/Fiona Bruce/David Dimbleby/Steve Dixon.
Sorry, the last name is a joke.
Emily Maitlis & Ben Brown to present N24 7-10pm slot
...okay at the risk of ending up with my face covered in egg just incase it is only Chinese whispers but...We're talking someone along the likes of, and with the calibre of Jeremy Paxman/Dermot Murnaghan/Huw Edwards/Fiona Bruce/David Dimbleby/Steve Dixon.
Sorry, the last name is a joke.
TI
Kate & Simon
Matthew & Jane
Jon & Louise
Ben & Emily
Chris
But! I have heard from a few reliable sources that there's also very big surprise coming...
A single-headed programme fronted by a household name from a national TV bulletin. If the name I've heard is correct - it will be a massive coup. Firsly it'll totally thump Sky News in what is possibly their prime timeslot but also give a massive boost to News 24.
And apparently - according to the Chinese whispers - we're not talking about B-list presenter here (Alagiah, Darren Jordan, Sophie Raworth etc). Think bigger.
... Will have to wait and see!
Emily Maitlis & Ben Brown to present N24 7-10pm slot
This is the order in which the presenters will appearKate & Simon
Matthew & Jane
Jon & Louise
Ben & Emily
Chris
But! I have heard from a few reliable sources that there's also very big surprise coming...
A single-headed programme fronted by a household name from a national TV bulletin. If the name I've heard is correct - it will be a massive coup. Firsly it'll totally thump Sky News in what is possibly their prime timeslot but also give a massive boost to News 24.
And apparently - according to the Chinese whispers - we're not talking about B-list presenter here (Alagiah, Darren Jordan, Sophie Raworth etc). Think bigger.
... Will have to wait and see!
TI
News looks bad for Sky relaunch.
Paul Revoir.
You could say it has been a bad couple of weeks for the commercial news channels in the UK.
Sky News' long awaited relaunch of the channel, with its state of the art set and new presenting line-up, two weeks ago has seen the channel's ratings drop off alarmingly.
Then last week it was confirmed that ITV News Channel was going to be hauled off Freeview for half of the day so lads channel Men and Motors could keep its 24 hour slot.
While commercial rivals face big question marks, BBC News 24 has been given a new vote of confidence by BBC head of TV News Peter Horrocks, who has indicated that the BBC's newsgathering will be targeted more towards News 24.
Latest Barb figures revealed Sky News' ratings have fallen by 7.7% since the relaunch, with BBC News 24 up by about 10% and ITV News Channel up by 8.3% in this period.
Sky News head Nick Pollard told Broadcast: "My view is that when you launch new output you are bound to have ups and downs. I'm very relaxed about the figures - two weeks in ratings terms is a very short period." He added Sky News was still ahead of News 24 over the year.
But while Sky is saying that it is early days for the new service, which has cost millions to relaunch, there will doubtedly be some concern at the viewers' initial response to the broadcaster's decision to move to a more "informal" and "flexible" approach.
This has seen Sky News introduce presenter-led programming with new names such as Eamonn Holmes and former Bill Clinton aide James Rubin in an attempt to create "appointment to view" shows. Rubin's show World News Tonight at 8pm has reportedly sunk as low as 1,000 viewers. It has even been beaten by ITV News Channel, even after ITV News was pulled off Freeview and there have been question marks over his presenting style.
Pollard said: "It is a brand new show and is bound to take a little time to settle down," before lashing out at News 24, describing parts of its programming as "stodgy" and "rather tedious". Horrocks said News 24 was now comprehensively beating Sky News.
BBC figures, based on three minute weekly reach show that since the Sky News relaunch, News 24 has 5.1 million and Sky News 4.2 million viewers. BBC data shows Sky News is down 21% on the same week last year.
BBC sources claimed their gains have been most marked at 5pm and 7pm - despite the fact that some of Sky's most established faces, such as Jeremy Thompson and Julie Etchingham, are on air then. They are also claiming big increases at weekends.
Rivals have expressed surprise that the new line-up has not been more heavily promoted. One said: "They have spent a huge amount on Eamonn Holmes and don't appear to be promoting it."
Sources at both ITV and BBC suggested that the new approach has seen Sky News take its eye of the ball for breaking news, the thing that has undoubtedly been its major strength over the years.
ITV has been cashing in on the uncertainty of the viewing public, with a ratings boost since the Sky relaunch.
But this good news has been overshadowed by the fact that the channel has been reduced to 12 hours a day on the digital terrestrial platform with the launch of ITV4 last week.
ITV News will continue to broadcast on DTT when ITV4 is off air but in February the channel will face the axe when ITV's new kids offering launches in the space it is currently using.
Despite an impressive list of scoops this year the channel, which has an annual programme budget of £3.5m, continues to lose money for ITV. Once the channel loses DTT capacity, the platform on which it performs most strongly, the reasons for its continued existence become harder to back up.
Staff understand this and according to sources morale has been dented and they are beginning express concerns about job security. The National Union of Journalists told Broadcast that it was monitoring the situation adding it would be concerned if news was seen to be less of a priority for ITV than an entertainment channel (Men and Motors).
Sky News
From the front page of the latest Broadcast - 11/11/2005News looks bad for Sky relaunch.
Paul Revoir.
You could say it has been a bad couple of weeks for the commercial news channels in the UK.
Sky News' long awaited relaunch of the channel, with its state of the art set and new presenting line-up, two weeks ago has seen the channel's ratings drop off alarmingly.
Then last week it was confirmed that ITV News Channel was going to be hauled off Freeview for half of the day so lads channel Men and Motors could keep its 24 hour slot.
While commercial rivals face big question marks, BBC News 24 has been given a new vote of confidence by BBC head of TV News Peter Horrocks, who has indicated that the BBC's newsgathering will be targeted more towards News 24.
Latest Barb figures revealed Sky News' ratings have fallen by 7.7% since the relaunch, with BBC News 24 up by about 10% and ITV News Channel up by 8.3% in this period.
Sky News head Nick Pollard told Broadcast: "My view is that when you launch new output you are bound to have ups and downs. I'm very relaxed about the figures - two weeks in ratings terms is a very short period." He added Sky News was still ahead of News 24 over the year.
But while Sky is saying that it is early days for the new service, which has cost millions to relaunch, there will doubtedly be some concern at the viewers' initial response to the broadcaster's decision to move to a more "informal" and "flexible" approach.
This has seen Sky News introduce presenter-led programming with new names such as Eamonn Holmes and former Bill Clinton aide James Rubin in an attempt to create "appointment to view" shows. Rubin's show World News Tonight at 8pm has reportedly sunk as low as 1,000 viewers. It has even been beaten by ITV News Channel, even after ITV News was pulled off Freeview and there have been question marks over his presenting style.
Pollard said: "It is a brand new show and is bound to take a little time to settle down," before lashing out at News 24, describing parts of its programming as "stodgy" and "rather tedious". Horrocks said News 24 was now comprehensively beating Sky News.
BBC figures, based on three minute weekly reach show that since the Sky News relaunch, News 24 has 5.1 million and Sky News 4.2 million viewers. BBC data shows Sky News is down 21% on the same week last year.
BBC sources claimed their gains have been most marked at 5pm and 7pm - despite the fact that some of Sky's most established faces, such as Jeremy Thompson and Julie Etchingham, are on air then. They are also claiming big increases at weekends.
Rivals have expressed surprise that the new line-up has not been more heavily promoted. One said: "They have spent a huge amount on Eamonn Holmes and don't appear to be promoting it."
Sources at both ITV and BBC suggested that the new approach has seen Sky News take its eye of the ball for breaking news, the thing that has undoubtedly been its major strength over the years.
ITV has been cashing in on the uncertainty of the viewing public, with a ratings boost since the Sky relaunch.
But this good news has been overshadowed by the fact that the channel has been reduced to 12 hours a day on the digital terrestrial platform with the launch of ITV4 last week.
ITV News will continue to broadcast on DTT when ITV4 is off air but in February the channel will face the axe when ITV's new kids offering launches in the space it is currently using.
Despite an impressive list of scoops this year the channel, which has an annual programme budget of £3.5m, continues to lose money for ITV. Once the channel loses DTT capacity, the platform on which it performs most strongly, the reasons for its continued existence become harder to back up.
Staff understand this and according to sources morale has been dented and they are beginning express concerns about job security. The National Union of Journalists told Broadcast that it was monitoring the situation adding it would be concerned if news was seen to be less of a priority for ITV than an entertainment channel (Men and Motors).