The Newsroom

Channel 4 News

(November 2011)

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NG
noggin Founding member
Sky Networks posted:
noggin posted:
C4 News often use BBC studios rather than the ITV equivalents. At one point local ITV facilities were quite tricky for C4 News to use ISTR - and BBC studios were far easier to arrange.


I’m not sure about that. All the regional ITV news rooms have dedicated lines in and out of ITN which C4N has on-going access to. So from a technical point of view, it will always be easier for C4N to use a regional ITV news room as the infrastructure is already in place.

I think use of regional BBC facilities might have more to do with occassional technical issues, locations, timings or perhaps guest availability.

I can think of at least one example where C4N were interviewing a live studio guest who was due to be interviewed on the BBC News Channel later that evening. However, the car sent by the BBC to pick him up got stuck in traffic so ITN was asked if it could arrange a down-the-line interview from GIR instead. I guess it works both ways?


Historically, post the 1992 separation between ITV and C4, some ITV regions were quite prickly at providing facilities for non-ITV bulletins. Technically it was straightforward. Politically anything but.
CI
cityprod
noggin posted:
Sky Networks posted:
noggin posted:
C4 News often use BBC studios rather than the ITV equivalents. At one point local ITV facilities were quite tricky for C4 News to use ISTR - and BBC studios were far easier to arrange.


I'm not sure about that. All the regional ITV news rooms have dedicated lines in and out of ITN which C4N has on-going access to. So from a technical point of view, it will always be easier for C4N to use a regional ITV news room as the infrastructure is already in place.

I think use of regional BBC facilities might have more to do with occassional technical issues, locations, timings or perhaps guest availability.

I can think of at least one example where C4N were interviewing a live studio guest who was due to be interviewed on the BBC News Channel later that evening. However, the car sent by the BBC to pick him up got stuck in traffic so ITN was asked if it could arrange a down-the-line interview from GIR instead. I guess it works both ways?


Historically, post the 1992 separation between ITV and C4, some ITV regions were quite prickly at providing facilities for non-ITV bulletins. Technically it was straightforward. Politically anything but.


Was there any correlation between the regions who provided facilities least, and the regions that joined Channel 3/ITV in 1993? It might be possible to imagine that Carlton, Meridian and Westcountry might be less inclined to help Channel 4, where as Central, Granada and the other regions that had sold advertising for Channel 4 prior to 1993 might have been more ameenable.
NG
noggin Founding member
cityprod posted:
noggin posted:
Sky Networks posted:
noggin posted:
C4 News often use BBC studios rather than the ITV equivalents. At one point local ITV facilities were quite tricky for C4 News to use ISTR - and BBC studios were far easier to arrange.


I'm not sure about that. All the regional ITV news rooms have dedicated lines in and out of ITN which C4N has on-going access to. So from a technical point of view, it will always be easier for C4N to use a regional ITV news room as the infrastructure is already in place.

I think use of regional BBC facilities might have more to do with occassional technical issues, locations, timings or perhaps guest availability.

I can think of at least one example where C4N were interviewing a live studio guest who was due to be interviewed on the BBC News Channel later that evening. However, the car sent by the BBC to pick him up got stuck in traffic so ITN was asked if it could arrange a down-the-line interview from GIR instead. I guess it works both ways?


Historically, post the 1992 separation between ITV and C4, some ITV regions were quite prickly at providing facilities for non-ITV bulletins. Technically it was straightforward. Politically anything but.


Was there any correlation between the regions who provided facilities least, and the regions that joined Channel 3/ITV in 1993? It might be possible to imagine that Carlton, Meridian and Westcountry might be less inclined to help Channel 4, where as Central, Granada and the other regions that had sold advertising for Channel 4 prior to 1993 might have been more ameenable.


Think it might have been the other way round. Certainly the BBC Norwich and Cambridge DTL studios were used quite frequently by C4 News rather than the Anglia facilities. (Anglia had sold C4 advertising, and paid for C4 out of the levy)

22 days later

JA
Jamesypoo


That's Channel 4 News.
CR
Critique
Jamesypoo posted:


That's Channel 4 News.


He's got the mannerisms and everything down to a T.
IT
itsrobert Founding member
It's a strange decision to have Social Affairs Editor Jackie Long lead tonight's Channel 4 News, while seasoned presenter Sarah Smith is sidelined to being the co-presenter. Smith was the launch presenter of More 4 News back in 2005 and has frequently presented C4 News programmes ever since. You would have thought it would be the other way round.
TM
Telly Media
Agreed. Although I thought Jackie did an excellent job presenting some of the recent 'Pop Up' strands.
IT
itsrobert Founding member
Sky Networks posted:
Agreed. Although I thought Jackie did an excellent job presenting some of the recent 'Pop Up' strands.


Yes, me too. Can't take to her as a lead news presenter, though. She comes across as a bit cold/severe. Quite a good interviewer, though! I think Sarah Smith has a warmer quality about her which lends itself to presenting.
IT
itsrobert Founding member
Out of interest, is tonight's normal length Channel 4 News due to Syria or is this now a regular occurrence? Once upon a time the Friday edition used to be 30 minutes but it's been a while since I've seen the programme on a Friday so I can't be sure.
BR
Brekkie
It's been full length for most of the summer and is for the next few weeks at least too.

22 days later

AC
aconnell
I've only just noticed that Matt Frei has changed from Washington correspondent to a newly-created position, Europe Editor. He's in his element reporting on Germany's elections at the moment.

I wonder why the switch - indicative of a move from covering fewer American stories to better, more comprehensive Europe coverage on C4N with a big name such as Matt? In any case, it's a great appointment.

Also, I wonder who has replaced him in Washington, and where he is based?
NG
noggin Founding member
aconnell posted:
I've only just noticed that Matt Frei has changed from Washington correspondent to a newly-created position, Europe Editor. He's in his element reporting on Germany's elections at the moment.

I wonder why the switch - indicative of a move from covering fewer American stories to better, more comprehensive Europe coverage on C4N with a big name such as Matt? In any case, it's a great appointment.

Also, I wonder who has replaced him in Washington, and where he is based?


Matt was based in the US for the BBC when he moved to ITN, so maybe he wanted to stay there for personal reasons (kids schooling, spouse's job?) for a period before moving back to Europe? Or maybe it's been decided having him closer to HQ is useful (possibly as a stand in presenter)?

Matt was born in Germany wasn't he - so he should be in his element?

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