Government to suspend Parliament

They all started using them yesterday. First Sky, then the BBC and ITV by the evening.

I grit my teeth last night and watched the whole debate and vote in soggy lo-res SD on BBC Parliament, I never thought I'd say it but content is king. Zero floss, and fascinating to observe the extraordinary body language and posture of a certain individual through out, to be honest their coverage provided all you needed to know.

An article in the Guardian about the headset mics might interest:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/sep/03/headset-mics-latest-tactic-in-tv-newss-battle-with-brexit-protests

Here's the thing, deejay. I've always been an advocate of on-location anchoring. I think it adds (under normal circumstances) some real-time perspective to the story. However, in the case of the world's principal news anchors fighting it out with glockenspiel man on College Green, it has - IMO (and pardon the political metaphor) - swung the other way, meaning that on-location on the Green is now somewhat pointless, as views and voices can no longer be properly heard!

Some may say that being close to the action at Westminster means the outlets can - at short notice - draft someone from the corridors to appear on tv, LIVE to the world. But the same can equally be said of the established (and soundproofed) studios which already exist at Millbank. Here, we would hear the views and opinions without the background disturbance.

Or, does the more theatrical experience on the Green (Glockenspiel and all) attract more viewers?

I think the theatre of College Green is actually adding a great deal to the coverage, especially when they have more than one camera to play with. The opening of last nights Ten was very nice indeed, with a live helicopter shot over the Houses of Parliament and towards the London Eye, a camera move from St Stephens Tower to the protestors then a mix to Huw.

Oh, I say! I didn’t see that, obviously. But sounds delicious!

Now, it seems Labour will vote against an election. Another wild and unpredictable day ensues for that anchors on the Green.

Also across the whole of yesterday 1.5 million people tuned in to @BBCParliament

WWOOOOWZZAASSS pic.twitter.com/7ZIOmAF2E0

— Oliver Barnes (@mroliverbarnes) September 4, 2019

*Confirmed* @David_Cameron speaks candidly about his time in power in #TheCameronYears - Thursday 19 September, 9pm @BBCOne >> https://t.co/5mnAouydZR pic.twitter.com/NMMrhD7z83

— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) September 4, 2019

Could this still air during an election period?

Well if they did he wouldn't stick around for the consequences.

C4 News extended till 9pm with the second hour on More4

I’m not sure about the others but MSNBC has been covering this for several minutes each hour. There’s enough people based in London that they aren’t relying on Sky reporters/coverage. They’ve been taking live feeds of parliament but have been replaying a @bbcparliament twitter video of the rebel’s crossing the aisle. The coverage of Hurricane Dorian continues to dominate coverage.

Edit : When the vote came in MSNBC and CNBC cut right in, CNN is still discussing Dorian and Fox News Jeffrey Epstein.

If there really is an election, I’m sure it will be displaced by one of 400 different live debates and leaders profiles that will surely be scheduled.