Expanded News Multiscreen launches on Freeview

The additional two streams have been added to News Multiscreen today.


I couldn't get any audio on the weather stream until I retuned the set top box, but all working fine now.


However, the screens seem ridiculously small - and probably look even worse on widescreen TV than an old 4:3, which is still the standard template for interactive services.


There is still the BBC News header and BBCi footer (though with shortcuts removed) - with a line of text at the top which changes as you navigate the screens, and a line at the bottom telling you to use the arrows to change the audio. Unlike the old multiscreen, the feeds you're not using don't go darker.


They could easily make the screens slightly bigger by axing some of the stuff at the top and bottom - I don't see why News Multiscreen needs a page number when other interactive services don't have one - and the BBCi bar is a bit pointless considering you have to exit the service to access things like the index.


I just think the version I posted here a few months back looks a bit more balanced: http://www.tvforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22921&highlight=bbc


Alternatively, they'd have been better off keeping the previous screen and doing a mirror version for Sport/Weather, using one of the colour buttons to switch between the two screens.



P.S. If someone can add caps of the new look multiscreen I'm sure some other members will appreciate them.

that would be good with a separate screen for each and the 4 screens (Headlines, Story, Weather, Sport) at the bottom and an almost full screen video for each screen rather than two like in that mock

Here's what I'm currently seeing via my freeview box...
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/newsmulti.jpg

Is it just me or are the pictures and text squashed? The "BBC NEWS" logo isn't, however. Bizarre.

They're in the right ratio - just they're using 16:9 widescreen feeds instead of 4:3 or 14:9.

Don't think it works myself - especially as so much stuff is still arced to 14:9 meaning these small pics still have the black bars at the side making them even smaller!


All that text at the top is a waste IMO and could easily be incorporated into what is at the bottom, leaving room to make the 4 screens slightly bigger. Yes, they'd only be slightly bigger - but I think it would make alot of difference.