BBC Television News

All,

It's now several months since the BBC rolled-out its re-launched product across it's various outlets (Nationals, Regions, World, News Channel, etc.). Whilst we have several threads pertaining to each one individually, I am trying to gather a very quick feedback on your overall impression, now that the product(s) have had time to "bed-in" and find their place. I would appreciate this thread being used for your feedback in this format, with me kicking off with my comments (please avoid bitching moaning and disagreeing with each others comments within this particular thread, as this will obviously continue in the existing respective threads):

Best overall aspect of the relaunch: The new BBC World set .

Worst overall aspect of the relaunch: I was hoping for new music too, thus making the re-brand "complete" in all aspects.

Overall marks out of ten: 8

Ta, much.

I'm glad that they finally moved away from the whole of idea of 'less is more', especially with the regions. In my region (Spotlight) the graphics were so simple. Originally starting with just Spotlight in a boring font with a boring animated background. They eventually added the lighthouse but it was still boring and uninspiring. The new graphics are not over dramatic and ridiculous like graphics were when computers were first used to make graphics, but they've got just enough gravitas that the news should. I think it works very well. Spotlights set didn't change, so no comments there. New music is good too. Building on an already successful set of themes.

I've a mixed opinion really. Let me first say that the quality of the journalism has never altered - always top class. Here's my take on each outlet:

BBC National/News Channel
The national bulletins still feel the same, which is good. Cosmetically, I'm less pleased with N6. It feels too empty and the colours are bland and uninspiring. The Barco screens are not brilliant. In my opinion, ITV's VR technology looks far better. I like the principle behind the on-screen graphics (that less is more) but the colours are just too drab. I'm glad they went back to Gill Sans though. The News Channel has completely lost the atmosphere it had as News 24 in N8. I also think it is even more repetitive than before. The weekend bulletin junctions still need looking at.

BBC World News:
I absolutely love the new N8. It looks ten times better than when News 24 was in there as well as the current N6. I think the name change was a mistake though. There was nothing wrong with 'BBC World'. Similarly, dropping the News 24 brand was a big mistake. Presenters constantly get confused about it and call it by the wrong name. There was no confusion before the change. The World News Today programmes have been watered down and now there are few differences between them and normal bulletins.

BBC North West Tonight:
I like the new theme music - a nice progression of the old theme. The titles are quite nice but I did prefer the September 2007 NWT titles. I guess the change was more necessary in other regions that had looked the same for several years. The 2007 re-brand for NWT was quite refreshing.

So, overall. I do like the new branding (titles, music etc.) and the new N8 is very nice indeed. However, N6 looks dull and the channel name changes were a mistake. As I said at the beginning, the main thing - the journalism - has remained consistently excellent throughout.

Best overall aspect of the relaunch?
Worst overall aspect of the relaunch?
Overall marks out of ten?

I couldn't agree with you more on that front. The previous generation of NWT titles were very dull, and the studio had been fundamentally the same (with a larger screen and new panels added later) for far too long.

The 2007 refresh was very well thought through, even if the blue set backlighting was a bit of an odd choice. The titles in particular were very well executed with some great implementation of BBC News elements, including the 'Your News' reference which the Beeb seems to be all for these days; they also managed to include the 'news beams' flying across the region, regional place names, and the idea of the news coming from every part of the region to one place i.e to the programme itself.

Some great work there, and it's a shame that it had such a short period of time on air. In fact, I would have been quite happy to see that look rooled out across the BBC News brand.

I don't really think that's relevant really, James.

To pick one signle aspect or to mark out of ten would simply be far too simplistic. Let peoples' opinions go.