ITV Lunchtime News: now 1 hour as part of ITV Day

Is it me, but wouldn't the Clear ticker work better on the ITV News Channel, rather than that awful red?

This programme is awful. A complete waste of the talents of Katie Derham and Nicholas Owen. We have just gone to the third comercial break since 12.30 and its only 13.05. I hope the programme is given a more newsy agenda, such as Live with Alistair Stewart. I think a programme like that would work really well at lunchtime. They need alot more rehersal time.

It has gone a bit tits up, but I don't mind it, I'll give it time too.

Also noticed that both Granada News and London Today had Headlines, I presume each Region is doing this?

some interesting electionny features although it seems to be a bit disjointed, like the desk.

Katie seems to be pouting, maybe they should analyse her body language tomorrow.

Yes, it's the first day, you have to give it time - but there seems to be a distinct lack of actual news in the programme. And, in my opinion, they have gone too far with the images on the background; they look appalling not to mention distracting IMO.

What happened with the jury :

The MP interviewed couldn't hear a woman who was asking the Questions on the Live link, there wasn't many E-Mails read out either.

Looks like the London Today/Tonight disease has spread to the Lunchtime News.

I think Regional News stories are going more Generic, I've been hopping between both Granada News and London Today, both Lead with the Election and some Election panel made up of Odinary people, something being done in all ITV Regions. Both also had voting lines for ITV's Year of The Volunteer.

Not Good.

GOOD
New desk - works really well and adds some different shots
Lighter background images are better (not sure about the purple squares though)
Ballot box jury and Life Matters graphics - both really great!
Introduction of a ticker


BAD
News content and structure of bulletin
Three advert breaks
Two presenters are adding to confusion who should be reading which part.
Over promotion of the text and email address for Ballot Box Jury.
Why feature that person from Big Brother analyising the party leaders - it seemed something more suited to This Morning!
Ticker didnt line up properly with ITV News Channel graphics.


HOW IT CAN IMPROVE?

Structure the bulletin better :-
12:30 - 12:55 Main news, (one advert break)
12:55 - 13:10 Regional news, (rather than handing back there is another break)
13:13 - 13:27 Ballot Box Jury and additional feature-type items from ITV News in London.

Sort the presenters out! Get both to introduce the programme at the start but split up some of the presenting so that not EVERY shot has both presenters there.

It's a shame there were a few technical problems but I will give it another go tomorrow to see if it's improved.

PS The local content on ITV Wales News has been really good and much better than the ITV Lunchtime News!

The ITV Lunchtime News....Dumbing down at its best.

There was no cross-promotion of the News Channel either