Election 2005 -Pre-Election discussion here

Because they are such huge changes? Surely the opening line could quite easily vary every day- I'm sure even Anna Ford doesn't really need it written up on her autocue.

On the subject of The Boulton Factor....the pre-recorded insert was done very poorly- sometimes if done well it's hard to tell but here it was very obvious. Boulton has a way of giving the game away- he kind of gets louder and smiles a lot more than usual- a bit like a child caught doing something they shouldn't. The main problem is of course that most the programme (content very good mind) was done on wideshot, but after the discussion with the 3 party reps, they went into a very narrow shot of Boulton quite obviously alone.

Really like the Sky News side panel information screens.

The News 24 version is simply awful...by keeping the "Election Live" DOG and then shrinking the screen, it half-disappears for non-widescreen viewers. Worse than that, the infoburst setup includes it's own identical "Election 2005" DOG approximately 3mm away from the dodgy DOG that's half off the screen.

Also not sure what font they're using, but it's just terrible and far too large- the infoburst screen should not be bigger than the live picture screen.

The Sky News panel setup is promising for the relaunch, should they follow-through with the idea- the only problem that I see is that we assume they'll be going widescreen.....and this setup won't work in widescreen as effectively as it does in 4:3.

It's also worth remembering that they pretty much ditched the entire Vote 2001 graphics concept for their relaunch later that year.

I imagine, though, that they'll have spent some money on the technology to actually do the things in the first place - they seem to run very smoothly and switch from colour to colour and issue to issue without a problem - so to not use it in the revamp would be daft... he says... as it breaks down on-screen.

During the manifesto launch, News 24 had "Election live" bug below an 'Election 2005' logo, next to a 'Labour Manifesto' graphic, whilst the strap had 'Election 2005' and the text below said 'Labour launching manifesto'.

Talk about reinforcement.

The graphics I believe are being produced from a combination of Vizrt generators and Inscriber Inca RTX systems that Sky ordered recently.

Vizrt Homepage
Inscriber Homepage

I bet ITV are regretting choosing that pillock today be their 'ballot box voter' on the Evening News.

He disliked Tony Blair because he 'smiled' too much' and gave one word answers to everything. And how many times did Mark say 'wet Leicestershire'?

One less time than Michael Howard has said "Hard working families".

Does anyone know whether George Alagiah and Mark Austin will be presenting the evening news on location throughout the campaign, or whether they will perhaps swap with their co-presenters?

I don't think that they will switch presenters. The election coverage teams are already allocated, and neither Sophie Raworth nor Nina Hossain have been included in the line up.

I am really liking the BBC coverage with the battle bus. I - for one - think that this gives auntie the edge so far. SKY's Adam Boulton is doing really well. Kay Burley is on the road at the moment but her style and interviewing is way behind the Beeb.


BBC SCOTLAND VOTE 2005 WITH ANNE MACKENZIE
THURSDAY 5 MAY - BBC ONE (SKY CHANNEL 941)

Scotland is getting the regional programme on ONE! Why?

It was on BBC TWO Scotland last time, which gives us the choice, not like there's anything else on overnight. What will be on TWO anyway, given that News 24 will be simulcasting ONE? Why do BBC Scotland insist on doing this? While the rest of the country gets groundbreaking interactive coverage from a huge studio complex, we'll get Anne and Jackie, probably from the Newsnight Scotland set!

They'll probably replace the QT special with Alex Salmond and Tommy Sheridan as well.

(Although I get Anglia TV here I am from Scotland, which is why it bothers me)

You're joking- can someone confirm that News 24 will be simulcasting Dimblebey et al from *proper* BBC One?....I will be in Scotland on May 5th and will not be happy with inferior standards.

On another note- the view from the rooftop studio of the BBC bus was outstanding this afternoon....beautiful view of Lake Windermere and the surrounding hills of the Lake District. Far more exciting than the newsroom sequences.

Better blo*dy well not be! Put it on BBC Two Scotland by all means, but let us see the proper stuff!

BBC Scotland hits the Election 05 campaign trail

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/04_april/05/scotland.shtml



The date of the final hustings scares me...same night as Question Time, though the hustings could well be radio programmes, it isn't clear!

The last election, and even the US Election were on NEWS 24, so I guess this one will be.

I have emailed the wonderful new bbc feedback mechanism and will report back if they say anything. This is a *national* election, and its not as if Scotland will produce many interesting stories, if less than 70% of the seats go to Labour it will be a major shock...worthy of reporting on the national programme not ghettoed off to the regional one.