The Newsroom

Best BBC NEWS since 1999

(October 2007)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
IT
itsrobert Founding member
looknorth posted:
seamus posted:
I think the 99 era set looked the best after they painted more red on it in December 2001, it looked less bland, yet gave it a more authoritative look to it.


Thats my favorite look aswell if you look at the clip on youtube of huws behind the scenes whenthe camera spins areound dead fast in N6 you can see the new desk in nwraps wating to be installed.


No, I recorded that clip from BBC One daytime television in c.2000 (IIRC, the 2000 US election race is mentioned in it) which was well before the new set. The desk you see as the camera pans round N6 is the old UK Today one. If you never saw UK Today, it was the programme which went out on digital transmissions in place of the local news (before digital satellite had the BBC One regions) and featured a mix of reports from the news teams across the UK.
LE
Look East
The 2001 onwards set was by far the best, the walls panels were rich in colour and the lighting was superb. The set actually made better use of the 99 titles in the 2001 era, which for the Nationals at least, bought the whole image firmly together. News 24 also had some tweaks at a similar time, the red walls behind the plasmas either side of the desk and a redesign of the second N8 set (used for Business Today at the time) This also made N24 look very pro, a style and era never replicated since.

It's easy to say, "oh what we have now is rubbish!" but to be honest I hated the 1999 BBC National set. Often, I think the story to a succesful image is tweaking, new ideas introduced, allbeit quite subtle.
NG
noggin Founding member
Yep - I agree that News 24 missed a trick in relaunching without a decent second set. Until the current look they always had a sofa set (first two sets) or a second desk set. (Then again they lost their own weather centre and weather presenter as well)

On the other hand - moving the sports presentation onto the main set, replacing the separate sports studio (which was originally in Broadcasting House!) worked well. (Though they then moved the sports presenter back to a separate set after that...)

14 days later

JW
JamesWorldNews
lewsnews posted:
itsrobert posted:
As you said, the music was exceptional, especially the Six theme.


I agree, been trying to get hold of clean beds for ages!! I like the way they transitioned it through the lates 1980s versions and then onto the 1990s. I know there out there, but all I could find was this.....
BBC six beds


I tend to agree Rob. Having found the attachment on YT, the BBC News music from 93-99 was truly good. As you both correctly state, the Six was particularly good, and its nice to hear it clean.

The close of Breakfast News was also slightly jaunty, as if to send us out the door to catch the train to the office.

I wasn't keen on the early News 24 music, also attached.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QYqHkIxerg

Credits to moshabee.
SS
SecretStar
Hi, glad you like the video.

Just thought I'd share a couple of hilarious e-mails sent to my YT account this week from someone apparently from the BBC. They're YT name is: mkselleck

Quote:

Sent: 11 November 2007

Hello, I was involved with the music production of many of the themes you have included in your uploaded clip. You do not have the permission from the respected musicians or copyright to post such unreleased music/mixes. May I ask you kindly to remove the video and in future use broadcast recordings if you feel the need to post such a montage. Thank you in advance.

Michelle (BBC Music)


My Reply:

Quote:
At 64kbps mono, it's a long way off being broadcast quality. I will be happy to comply with your request when you supply credentials stating the legitimacy of your identity and request.

Your YouTube user page clearly states that you're 26 years old. Basic arithmetic suggests that your claim to have been personally "involved with the music production of many of the themes" is extremely spurious. Purely because the earliest theme on the video is from 1984, when you would have been 3 or 4 years old and the newest theme is from 1997 when you would have been 16.

Unless you're a musical prodigy with exceptional talent for composing television news themes from the age of 3, or even 16, then I'm afraid I will not be removing the video unless I receive written correspondence from a "@bbc.co.uk", "@redbeemedia.com", "@bbcworldwide.com" etc. email address to [address supplied]@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks in advance.


mkselleck's reply:

Quote:
Sent: 13 November 2007

you need to learn people don't give out their real age and identity on sites like youtube, so don't get too confused!
My collegue from bbcworldwide will be in touch but personally I think you are a very sad to put it together in the first place and sound like a total p****,,


The word censored by this forum rhymes with 'click'.

And my reply:

Quote:
Whoever you are, I can say with almost 100% certainty that you are nothing at all to do with the BBC. For a start, the BBC and its subsidiary companies tend to employ people who have mastered spelling, grammar and the art of articulating their correspondence to a far higher degree than you have managed. And they don't use insulting language to encourage someone to comply with a request.

I await an e-mail from your colleague requesting the removal of the video in question with anticipation.

Also, you might like to know that I've stored copies of our correspondence for future reference. In the extremely unlikely event that the BBC has lowered its standards on who they put on the payroll, they might be very interested to see how poorly one of their employees conducts themselves when dealing with members of the public.

If you are nothing to do with the BBC, as I strongly suspect, then I fail to see the purpose in you wanting the video removed.


There's some weird people out there!
ST
Stuart
I thought the compilation was GREAT. I don't see the BBC's or anyone else's objection with us enjoying it.

I was rather hoping we could all get together and put some captured vids to it to make a nice running sequence. It's not doing anyone any harm. At the end of the day it is amateur enthusiasts enjoying a hobby - not an exploitation of a market. It's for personal pleasure.

Get real BBC (or whoever else is complaining).

EDIT
Although the dates for the "sunlight & big ben walking people" music for Breakfast News are wrong. It wasn't 97-00, it was well well before 96. Shocked I know that cos I moved here in 96.
RE
Revitt
StuartPlymouth posted:
Although the dates for the "sunlight & big ben walking people" music for Breakfast News are wrong. It wasn't 97-00, it was well well before 96. Shocked I know that cos I moved here in 96.


Was it? I thought the virtual set was used for Breakfast News up until the BBC logo revamp in late 1997.
BA
Bail Moderator
Revitt posted:
StuartPlymouth posted:
Although the dates for the "sunlight & big ben walking people" music for Breakfast News are wrong. It wasn't 97-00, it was well well before 96. Shocked I know that cos I moved here in 96.


Was it? I thought the virtual set was used for Breakfast News up until the BBC logo revamp in late 1997.

It was, this was the 96 stuff..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kyYPHU6PFvI&feature=related

Man walking up Big Ben was launched in 1997.

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