Business on News24

Is business coverage on News24 being 'downgraded'?

I'm very disappointed with Julia Caesar and the coverage now seems to be 'consumer' orientated. Coverage of the company sector seems to have gone down.

Any other thoughts?

I can't bear to watch Julia Caesar - I change channels when she comes on.

Bring back the likes of John Terrett and Shola Olowa...

BBC News 24 seriously needs to consider the business news more. Perhaps they could boost ratings by having "Business Breakfast" or similar at 8am, which may prompt more businesses to turn it on above another channel, rather than suffering the usual fluff on Breakfast. I'd also suggest the full length of European Breakfast Time (with the WBR programmes at :30) is shown, taking it up to 8am. Perhaps a business programme for the Market Close in the afternoon would also be a good idea.

Or just do what BBC World do, do WBR style updates throughout the day which last 15 mins long.

The Delia Smith recipe for 'traditional' business news on N24:
Start with a dash of banter between newsreaders and the business presenter, followed by lashings of information on interest rates, accompanied by news on the housing market and its expected decline/surprise growth; add shavings of petrol prices or supermarket sales figures if petrol prices aren't at hand. Bring to the boil and serve with an underused business reader at 25 and 40 minutes past the hour.

Sadly business news on BBC News 24 can be this predictable but even sadder than that is the fact that I am sure much research went into finding out what the 'average' viewer wants from their business news. Give Mr and Mrs Average what they want and this is all they will want, but if you give them something different then they will grow to like and want more - something we are unlikely to see I fear.

Cringeworthy again today - It's a good day on the markets - It's a good day on the markets - it's a good day on the markets ......

Goes to Graph FTSE up all of 3.9 points.

with that fixed Grimace again

Urgh!

Did anyone catch how they did the Allders going bust story? First decent bit of business news for a while...

Yes I did notice that and when the announcement was made she was nowhere to be seen.

Doesn't help that the business person has to perch on the edge of the desk looking like a spare part

The bit that never seems quite right to me is the transition from bantering with the presenters about what's happening in the business news, to presenting a piece to camera from the autocue. It's not something which quite flows properly.

All you guys need is to borrow Darshini David from BBC World. Admitedly she also makes the senseless generalisations about "the markets" but she she has a wonderful conversational style that makes you want to listen to what is often pretty dry material.

*Sigh*

She doesn't get any better does she?