BBC National/News Channel from New Broadcasting House

INDEED!!!!

2pm TOTH:

There's a lot of good stuff in the new look, but some of the text in the graphics (eg the ticker) just somehow doesn't hang together.

Expectations were very low for this relaunch. I think in agreement they have been exceeded!

Really like the graphics so far. Nothing radical but nice and fresh. The spacing of "NEWS" seems right on the ticker unlike "WORLD NEWS" on its ticker.

At first I wasn't sure about the constant red ticker but it is a pet peeve of mine that news seems to be permanently breaking so it's good that it doesn't stand out so much now! I also like the clock colour.

Why is the headline strap text so big though? Bit incongruous IMO.

And we are finally seeing selected presenters' Twitter accounts officially appearing on screen.

New Twitter handle, instead of the Bird as we've seen on WN, we have an @

I love the new countdown but at 0:00 it shows the new broadcasting house entrance but the bbc world countdown shows the gallery this now makes sky news look old but at least it is in 720pHD

BUT seriously, they need to fix the opening title and sync the end of the music with the end of the graphic just like what WN has.

Well, I think I need to counter the gushing praise over the standing presentation - I found it unnecessary. Worzel's comments welcoming the channel "into the 21st century" would have been warranted for anything but standing up (especially considering it wasn't a 21st century "innovation"). The screens are useful to be standing against when there is something to present (and there often isn't) - when ITV News recognise there is little need for it, I think it shows how unnecessary it really is.

Anyway, moving away from little annoyances like that, I have to say the new countdown music is very nice. The new titles that seem to have annoyed some (and the accompanying music) seems perfectly fine to me. I think the problem is that people are used to the old titles and how they played out. I find the unexpectedness of the way it played out piqued my interest and hooked me - perhaps it inflames other members' OCD.

Having watched the One O'Clock News in HD and on a decent sound system, the sound is incredible. Unlike before where you could hear fans whirring, and where the presenter sounded muffled, the sound was crisp, and there was virtually no background noise. The sound is silky smooth. It's something that may be overlooked, and something I think deserves a lot of praise - the best sound quality on the news I've ever heard.

The new graphics are fine - I haven't yet gouged my eyes out over Helvetica, and I don't think I will be - the simplicity of the layout has largely been retained, and there is no disturbing dichotomy with the two fonts being on screen at the same time.

Overall, this is a definite improvement on nearly every count.

So far the title issues and the odd texts problems seem to be the only issues.

I think they've done really well - hats off to everyone - especially Sam Taylor who has been overseeing this.

Haven't seen the iPad yet - Matthew was holding that in the promo leading up to the relaunch.