Election 2005 -Pre-Election discussion here

I was under the impression that they always used to hire out that office whenever they needed coverage from Westminster.....that shot suggests they might have hired it out for the next month, given the desk and BBC colours throughout....also kind of backs my suggestion above that they aren't too concerned about keeping in the red.

Why have Sky got the SkyCopter hovering above Downing Street.....I appreciate they want to cover the drive to the Palace, but are they allowed to hover like that (apparently quite low as well)?

It will be hired out. Normally they are hired out by foreign broadcasters like ABC (Australia) and CBC to cover the UK election.

I really hope Sky's graphics are nothing like the ones we've seen this morning, and the generic political graphics they've been using for a while now. They're awful.

Interesting first challenge for the news channels - Kennedy and Howard speaking at the same time.

ITV immediately cut away from Kennedy to go to Howard
Sky stuck with Kennedy for a couple of minutes then went to hear the crux of Howard
News 24 didn't acknowledge Kennedy at all.

Start as you mean to go on, News 24.

I imagine they'll have permission, but remember when the Fathers-4-Justice guy was there and they did the same thing within about 20 minutes.

ITV and the Beeb have helicopters for it too.

And News 24 have just shown the BBC Battle Bus that will be going around the country. Complete with TV and Radio studio and online area. Also gave a hint of the election GFX - interesting to see one version with a 6 on it ... wonder if that means the 6 will be coming from different places/locations?

They recorded it and played it afterwards.

But yes- I think they missed it too...they stuck up a line saying "Charles Kennedy statement shortly" rather apologetically. But then, surely with weighting etc. they're allowed to give more coverage to the official opposition than the third party?

Sky just unveiled their election strap - in a bit of a disastrous way. Quite nice... animated slug, white background.

Not as nice as last time.... actually it's pretty vile.

Oh good grief (Sky's graphics).

I think Sky have got problems with their new strap, and are mixing and matching old and new style.

Sadly I think that's how its meant to look.

Real cut and paste job (imho). They could have taken the opportunity to redesign the ticker and fit everything in nicely.

That animation (if it hasn't already) will start to drive you mad as its repeated 24 hours day after day...

I think it's quite nice. Albeit a few technical problems but I like it!

Yes- "Cut and Paste" comes to mind...that looks awful....it doesn't even line up properly at the top, and seems "bigger" (I didn't think it was possible) than the slug.

Oh dear.