2015 Election and the Leaders Debates

Wed 6th May 2240, ITV: Unforgettable Election Moments - 60 Years On. Apparently includes "rare footage from ITV's first election night programme in 1959". Sounds like another great archive compilation from Shiver.

There's probably more of an argument that ITV Channel Television/BBC CI shouldn't show the UK leaders debates than UTV/BBC NI.

Do we know if the Sky1 simulcast of Sky News will be the HD version or the SD like Pick?

Why do we need Sky 1 or Pick or any other channel to simulcast a news channel anyway?

We all have digital TV now and access to the news channels if we want to watch. Seems like a really strange thing to do.

Lets rewind, and I think its been lost in translation. My original point has always been, there was no need for the NI parties to be included in the ITV debate. This may seem very unfair but People in NI can't vote for any of the parties on that stage. At least with Scotland and Wales and England you can vote for at 5 or 6 people on that stage. If it came across as me saying I don't NI should get the debate Im sorry for any confusment on my part about that daft comment.



That would also come under the sting of tightrope78 comment, UK does control stuff over the islands including deference., benafits. UK can overules the islands on stuff ( but would do to etc)

I think there is something in this - looking at a few random NI constituencies some of the parties who took part in the debates are standing (Green, UKIP, Conservative) but Labour, LibDem etc don't appear to be standing.

On that basis, is it unfair to the NI parties for those debates to be shown in NI, giving undue prominence to those parties who are standing UK wide?

Higher up the EPG.
Increased share for Sky News's election output.
Promotes Sky News.

Also might get people watching Sky's coverage if they're not particularly interested in the election coverage generally, and are channel hopping near the top of the EPG. I presume Sky1's regular schedule will move to Sky2.

Given that NI voters are incredibly unlikely to elect anyone from the national parties, no.

As for whether it should be shown in the rest of the UK - given the DUP could form part of a Coalition with the Tories, and at a stretch SDLP with Labour, I think the rest of the country should get a chance to watch the NI parties debate.

Because it's a major national event which deserves more prominence than usual? Also acts as a shop window for Sky News - just because everyone who can get Sky 1 or Pick can get Sky News it doesn't mean they actually watch it.

C4's Alternative Election Night is now going throughout the night, beginning at 9pm with The Last Leg, Gogglebox and various comedians dominating until midnight before a results show through to 6am which will include more from the C4 News team.

A shame though they're not doing an Alternative Election Breakfast the following morning.

Another reason for the Sky1 simulcast is for Freeview Lite homes with NOW TV who can't get Sky News.