ITV News

This used to be evident in CNBC's old studio in the late 1990's, as you could clearly see the wall to wall TV's in the background that had Sky News, CNN, BBC1, ITV etc. Though it's not often it's shown on-screen.

Here are some comparisons between the two studios:

http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/alastairlucysport.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/ninafelicity.jpg

http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/virtuald2_2.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/stevescott_level.jpg

http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/virtuald2_3.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/gayleherrimans.jpg

You've got to say it's an excellent effort. Is the set they've been using for the News Channel recently, the same one as they used to have the "tighter" CSO shots from where they did have the "Theatre of News" mock up, yet it did look decidedly smaller?

Also, I dont know how VR works, but couldn't they somehow take photos of the flooring in the real "TON" at all angles, and that whack that under the feet of the presenters in the fake "TON" rather than have the graphics, which make it look less realistic?

All the same, it looks good from the screen-grabs. I can't see the channel itself at the mo as its off in my region on Freeview until mid May, but looks impressive.

Somethiong tells me thing are very very slowly starting to come together for ITV??

Some caps from today's output from the virtual studio.

They had guests on chairs on both sides of the desk today.

Notice that at one point they had removed the sheeting covering the cables on the right hand side of the desk.

http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/itvncvirtual1.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/itvncvirtual2.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/itvncvirtual3.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/itvncvirtual4.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/itvncvirtual5.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/itvncvirtual6.jpg
http://www.dolben.demon.co.uk/newschannel/itvncvirtual7.jpg

I just thought I'd pop in to say I thought the report on the NHS Row today (the one with the clip from GMTV) was one of the best reports I've ever seen on ITV News.

I like the backdrop in the one with Leyla Daybelge. It looks a lot nicer than the current one used on ITV News. It would look good with an inset on it.

Also, why does the ITV NC not sometimes have the squares featuring images from the story in question behind the presenters like on ITV 1. The just add the yellow aston with the story name, and have the blue squares backdrop, it looks really bad.

It does look very good - similar to the one used in reports when they have experts talking about something!

Why are they still coming from the virtual set? It looks really fake, cannot believe they are still using it. Is there still problems in the main set?

As has been explained, they have started rehearsals for the Election this week

It would be nice to see something like that on the News at 10.30, therefore giving the so called ' flagship ' programme its own unique style.

Has the Evening News had adverts all week?

It had adverts at least two times this week... I don't know about the other days. Nice to see Katie again, she seems to do Fridays quite often.

BTW, I was watching on Sky and during the headline recap at 6.50, we went over to Meridian News (South) and the picture locked up, but the music continued with no voice over... Anyone else had this or is a Sky fault... By the time I had switched and back again, it was into the sting.

John