General Election Thread

Sky News looking very fresh with their election graphics this morning - though the Union Jack theme does make it look like the Lib Dems have been overlooked.

The BBC on the other hand looking very tired with their hideously block graphics and a big strap of red over the bottom third of the screen. The glimpses we've seen of the electon graphics look promising, but overall it's highlighting the lack in ambition of the BBC's presentation.

Just mentioned it in the Sky News thread, but from tomorrow Adam Boulton and Jeff Randall will have a daily one-hour show at 7pm called "Randall and Boulton Unleashed".



Covered Brown's speech, Alistair did a little sum-up, and then took a few questions from Philip in the studio. This Morning didn't have a clean feed of Alistair, so when he appeared on their screen in the studio all the ITV News breaking news graphics were there.

Did ITV hold a news programme this morning?

Election debate dates then...

Sky - 22nd April

ITV - 15th April

BBC - 29th April

Yep they certainly did - on This Morning lol!

www.bbc.co.uk/election has just gone live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/election10/446presenters.jpg

BBC has just issued a Press Kit about their coverage of the General Election (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/04_april/06/election.shtml) - here are the main TV coverage points:
Main Programs:
* Special Saturday editions of Newsnight will be aired during the election campaign, with each program focusing on a different election issue & will include a studio audience.
* The Daily Politics will be extended to one hour editions, with nine departmental debates to be held in the last three weeks focusing on specific departments.
* Question Time will be broadcast live following each of the Leaders Debates to allow the public to give their thoughts on the debate.
* The Politics Show will extend to 75 minutes on Sunday & The Campaign Show (both hosted by Jon Sopel) will be produced by both The Politics Show & the BBC News Channel.
* This Week will have an additional episode each week of the campaign.
* BBC News Channel on Tuesday's will visit a specific constituency for a town hall debate with candidates for that constituency.
* Bill Turnbull will host Breakfast from around the UK (visiting different locations), with Sian hosting from the studio
* Nick Robinson and Jeremy Vine will also contribute to CBBC's Newsround program.

BBC Nations:
Scotland: A Scottish leaders debate is planned along with special debates about defence and public spending. Newsnight Scotland will be extended to half an hour four-nights of the week on BBC Two.
Northern Island: NI will have an hour long local leaders debate. There will also be two Daily Politics specials focusing on the constitution and the economy & BBC Newsline will host a series of live political debates.
Wales: There will be two live debates in key constituencies which will be screened on BBC One Wales along with the Welsh leaders debate. BBC Cymru Wales will produce three Welsh language debates for S4C. On BBC Two Wales, two Daily Politics opt-outs will focus on devolution and economy & on the night of the Welsh leaders debate - there will be a special Wales opt-out during Newsnight.

BBC Regions:
* "Across England, there will be twelve 40-minute long regional television debates with politicians towards the end of the campaign, each focusing on issues that matter to the region in front of a live audience."

Election Night:
BBC One (National): "David Dimbleby will host the Election Night programme, joined by Jeremy Paxman, Nick Robinson and Jeremy Vine and the new look Swingometer. Emily Maitlis and Peter Kellner will look at the seat by seat detail of how Britain has voted, and Fiona Bruce will provide regular news updates. Andrew Neil will host the great and the good to watch the results come in with live on-the-spot interviews. "
BBC One Scotland: Jackie Bird, Glenn Campbell and Brian Taylor will host.
BBC One Northern Island: Noel Thompson and Jim Fitzpatrick will host.
BBC One Wales/S4C: Huw Edwards will host BBC One Scotland's coverage will Dewi Llwyd will host coverage on S4C.

I always love the swingometer!

Sky News teams for the major parties:

Labour - Niall Paterson and Michelle Clifford
Conservatives - Joey Jones and Dharshini David
Lib Dems - Rachel Younger and Paul Harrison

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/election10/446presenters.jpg

That image obviously showing a section of the N9 newsroom with its distinctive 'flying saucer' ceiling; will that be the main presentation zone for the election? Previous UK elections have had much bigger and more dramatic studios, and although N9 was used to good effect during the European elections coverage, it still seems somewhat 'small-scale' compared with previous efforts.

If N9 is indeed to be the main presentation area, are we expecting anything 'exciting', or will it be a modest tweak of the set-up and style showcased in the Euro election coverage?

I'd expect there to be the traditional big set in TC1, simply because of the number of presentation areas needed - the big desk for Dimbleby, Robinson and guests, a news desk for Bruce, a seating area for Paxman, a virtual area for Vine, some screens for Maitlis, and perhaps another area for Andrew Neil.

I thought sky wouldn't have needed to look to general correspondents for following the parties. They have Rachel Younger, Joey Jones, Niall Paterson, Glen Oglaza, Pater Spencer, Jon Craig and Adam Boulton. Interesting no sign of Joel Hills who was covering the Lib Dem conference if memory serves.