( Why does Andy Crane keep saying TONIGHT at the beginning of each story, it dosen't make any sense?
The "TONIGHT" repetiiton is a import from CItytv. On the 11pm version of the programme the introduction is exactly the same. They say tonight after each story. I expect that since the programme is probably operated on a shoestring budget it wont change much but this is a start.
The whole things quite funny to watch actually, like the bit before the break they tell us whats still to come, then they switch to a random camera above manchester and play out the full music. You keep expecting for the logo to fly in but it just never happens.
Thats definetly a Citytv production technique. They have several skycams across the top of Toronto and they use them liberally during the newscasts. You will see more use of the them. Chum/Citytv also runs a 24hour newschannel for Toronto and they employ the same techniques. CablePulse 24
Having just looked at the schedule it seems as though they are playing out Citytv original productions:
Arts and Minds Startv tvFrames Much Music Flow (String of Videos)
Larger Than Life (No longer on Schedule)
Sextv Live@MuchGonna Meet A Rock Star (No longer on Schedule)
Movie Television Queer TV (No Longer in Production)
Its seems like 95 percent of the new programming is direct from CItytv in Canada. The Live@Much and Much Music flow are from their Much Music video channel. It was Canada's rival to MTV for years. Also they recently launched Sextv and Startv. Manchester should after a while expect to see localized versions of Breakfast Television and also another edition of the News programme to be added. And they will probably add a local version of Speakers Corner and CityLine and woman's chat show they airs during the daytime.
Not that I'm complaining; just that in the future, perhaps you could consider posting the source of the screenshots and videos in your post (in this case, it happens to be my site, as you can tell from my signature).
About Citytv Vancouver... they are indeed a rather young operation, converted from a pre-existing station. CHUM paid quite a bit to buy the station, and as a result, they don't have much money left to buy a decent location in downtown Vancouver for a new studio. (Besides, I can't think of an available place in downtown Vancouver off the top of my head which could be used for broadcasting purposes.) So, Citytv Vancouver still comes out of an industrial park south of Downtown.
They do have a storefront window studio in their building, which they use for their morning program Breakfast Television. But, being in an industrial park, it doesn't exactly offer a great view or attract curious onlookers.
NTL have added Channel M to the line-up this morning on Channel 26, though I believe it is only in the Manchester area, but we get it anyway even though we're in Cheshire.
Looking foward to watching Channel M News later on.
Interesting Developement. Now they have to launch a major advertising campaign in the Greater Manchester to hightlight the news programme. But not until they work out the kinks and bugs and probably hire more reporters. DO they have capabilities to do live shots?
Well I watched it tonight and I was quite impressed in how local it was, even though you could clearly tell it was on a shoestring budget it was good, even though two reporters actually both did 2 different reports in the programme. Though it had a London Tonight fell to it, when there was that report of the school that got burnt down. Shame there was no Weather and no Andy Crane tonight, heck there was even a story from Warrington on it. (It was Ikea announcing that they will be charging people 70p each time they use their credit card at the Warrington store)
I didn't realise that the titles were in NTSC format, but the titles seem to be a mix of the current Granada Reports one (the giveaway being 3 squares turning round revealing a Metrolink tram) and the 1998-2001 Granada Tonight one (the giveaway being the whole 'City News' thing)
I have to give it to Citv TV or whoever runs it is that they're doing a hood job.
Well from the way you describe it , It sounds like positive developements. They will need more time to balance out things. Hopefully if they can raise the advertising revenue they will be able to afford more reporters and videographers. That is another Citytv import you are likely to see shortly. Its significantly reduces the cost of news gatherings. Its a process where the reporter is also the cameraperson. Its sounds cheap but the process in which CityPulse uses its, it looks cutting edge and sorta gureilla (sp) journalism feel to it. Especially when they use a small handheld camera positioned on a tripod recording the videographer interviewing someone with the main camera perched on their shoulder. This footage is them spliced in with the main footage from the main camera. Sounds complicated but it looks really youthful and modern.
As far as the titles. Yeah is quite obvious that Citytv/Citypulse/Chum is providing the graphics for them. Especially that open. The colours and format is virtually the same for Citypulse in Toronto (the Original) and in Vancouver.
Keep us updated. If any one has screen shots please provide them.
videographers. That is another Citytv import you are likely to see shortly. Its significantly reduces the cost of news gatherings. Its a process where the reporter is also the cameraperson.
Nothing new in the UK - Channel One in London brought motorcycle-riding videojournalists (VJs) to the UK, and they are being used more and more by the BBC regions.
Did wasnt implying the "one-man-band" style was created or unique to Citytv's Citypulse. The manner in which they do it is unique and soley Citytv style. While most news organizations are happy to keep the wall between viewer and tv solid and intact. Citytv seeks to dymystify and democraticize the process of the tv making. Citytv is truly a unique and if Chum has their way with Channel M it could be a mirror of the Toronto station. To really get an understand for the style of Citytv read this article, yes its a couple of years old and the stats are outdated but the station philosophy shines through. Citytv - The Sheer Force of Attitude
For those still wondering why in the Channel M titles he says. Tonight...blah..Tonight....blah...Tonight.... Have a look at this clip of Citytv's CityPulse from [1996] Also this is a current open for the CityPulse [Today.] Also for a promo for thats nights news here is what you would [See] Citytv seeks to infuse and grity urban feel to the station and that is by design since the stations inception since the late 70s. The seeks to have a multicultural on-air staff to reflect the people of the city of Toronto. Again if Chum/City has their way with Channel M, hopefully that will carry over to the channel.
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/citytv.jpg http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/citytv1.jpg pics and videos from Tv Ark