Doco on launch of ITN News Channel

Do forgive me if this has actually been posted before now. In all likelihood, it has.

But just in case, I spotted on YouTube a 45-minute documentary talking about the launch of the ITN News Channel - right through from planning the music (the initial stings sounded very different!) all the way to the set design, pilots and launch.

It's a very enjoyable watch. It does show how long we've come in TV presentation, how much remains the same; the tremendous work behind the scenes and how, in many ways, ITN was ahead of the curve (but a touch too early) in what news consumers want.

Great video, never seen it before.

Actually it's a repost of the same video on the other thread (Youtube Gold).

Thanks never seen that what a great insight

It's fascinating isn't it?! Also makes you wonder where some of the people who made it all possible are now. Weird to think it would close just over five years later.

And sorry Hazimworks - I never frequent the YouTube Gold thread. Maybe I should...!

Your missing out on alot of Gold!

Excellent find, and very interesting documentary.

I remember thinking back in 2000 at the launch, that they must have been in a CGI studio and set, because of that seemingly impossible 'floating desk'. It was a few years later that I discovered the elaborate cantilever construction and fake column/bracket. A truly inspired design.

I'm glad they changed the music prior to the launch. The final version was much better.

It's a shame that the channel lasted a little more than 5 years. Ultimately, it was a project that ITV plc neither had the will nor the money to fund indefinitely.

I remember that, for years afterwards, the ITN interactive section on Telewest's digital cable set top boxes (and later Virgin Media) continued to use a design based on the original 2000 ITN News Channel look with the arrows, and the blue and white colour scheme.

Such a shame it all (the channel, online & radio) fell victim to the big reduction in value of the ITV News contract.

I remember ITN News Radio closing on the Digital One network and being replaced by the 'D1 ten' label and test tone. It was one of the first stations I listened to using my first DAB receiver (a Psion Wavefinder) along with Life.

It was all quite sad as they lost the digital radio station, IRN contract to Sky News and branded TV channel in quick succession. Towards the end of the ITN News channel, almost all the report sign off's were 'xxxx, ITV News, location' and no mention of ITN at all.

For some reason we didn't get the ITN News channel on NTL analogue cable in Cambridge until 2003.

Blimey, that was a blast from the past. I'd forgotten so much about all this. I'd completely forgotten ITN had launched a digital radio version of the News Channel.

Sadly, it all ended in tears. ITN had missed the boat really when it came to 24-hour news and the whole thing was a great folly really. But a really interesting watch nonetheless.

Perhaps they made a mistake sticking to a rather rigid "news wheel" format rather than adopting a BFM-style emphasis on fast-paced breaking news and talk. That way, they would have had a chance of challenging Sky News and BBC News.