Channel 4 Breakfast News

GMA's ratings have been going downhill for the past month now. Total viewers and Demo are down. They have lost in the demo to Today for a few weeks now too. Things are not that great for them.

I've always felt Channel 4's news offering is too small. Would love a morning show or an extended lunchtime slot.

I think you'll find most of C4 News's target demographic are at work during the day, and the last thing they've got time for in the morning is watching the telly.

I was surprised they even had the lunchtime programme at all (Did anyone really watch it ?)

I believe it was only extended in the first place because it replaced a daily parliament programme which come on air at Noon, before Sesame street.

That's right. There used to be an ITN-produced political programme called Powerhouse at lunchtime. This initially came from ITN's operation at Millbank but eventually moved to Studio 6 at Gray's Inn Road. Once the Iraq war came along in 2003, the decision was taken to replace Powerhouse with a news bulletin, News at Noon. After the war was over, NaN remained and Powerhouse never returned.

Powerhouse was of course a successor to The Parliament Programme, launched in the late 80s. In between it had a spell being called House to House as well, I think.

Aside from The Channel Four Daily, the only time I can remember ITN providing morning news on Channel 4 was in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks in 2001 when a long-form edition of Channel 4 News was broadcast at breakfast time. There have also been occasional midnight specials over the years (usually for war coverage) but these have been few and far between.

Also, Powerhouse had rather a funky theme tune:

I would welcome something from Channel 4 in the morning either decent news or something like the Big Breakfast I know they were looking at ideas a few years ago and ITN tendered. Should be different to Channel 4 News. What about an improved version of RISE from the Channel 4 newsroom?

As discussed, and proven over the years, there is no market for serious long form C4 News/Newsnight style TV programmes at breakfast time.

What's the point of a fluff news programme using C4 News's set ? Or are you simply suggesting that ITN should produce something in that style (which they could do, and have done of course)

I think so yes I agree there is no appetite for C4 News or Newsnight style show at breakfast. But I do think ITN could produce something better than BBC breakfast i.e. a bit like RISE it would have to be fast moving etc.

RISE is probably the worst comparison used in this instance.

Just out of interest, why do people assume that there isn't an appetite for the serious, political and international style of Channel 4 News at breakfast time? After all, Today is successful on radio.

Although BBC Breakfast is my default TV choice, I regularly find myself straying to Sky News. Time is precious in the morning and for my taste, Breakfast often relies too heavily on health, education or human interest stories - especially during the portion I am able to watch. And for me, Good Morning Britain isn't even worth bothering with. Once I get into the car I switch Radio 4 on and get my fill of what I was looking for on the TV. I for one would welcome a serious alternative to the BBC with a format not unlike the Breakfast News of old. I'm sure there would be others like me out there.

TVAM in 1983? GMTV in 1993 rise in 2003? All die a death.