Its Katie and Alistar Today. Just caught highlights..
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Alistar did a little special speech - forgot what he said!! Anyone remeber?
I'm glad Katie has returned from holiday, I find Nina increasingly unwatchable.
After the titles Alastair said
"Good afternoon and welcome to a new-look Lunchtime News, from today we're on air at one thirty to bring you the latest international, national and regional news and today we start with..."
The ending was a bit messed up really, with the local news crashing to the studio for a report on Steve Irwin, and then the headlines.
Since the revamp earlier this year they've never really got the opt-back-in segments right - it used to be quite neat with the graphic, headlines, graphic before the "And Finally" item.
Anyhow, just a thought - considering all the fuss ITV had to go through to get OFCOM to allow them to move, reinstate and move again News at Ten, I'm guessing they've just been allowed to move the Lunchtime News without any approval.
I thought the ITV news was paltry compared to it's previous incarnations. Compared to the hour show this had little in content to compare with and looked what it is, a costcutting budget production.
I then saw the Border news and i couldnt believe what it has become , no OB, one filmed report and the presenter Ann Smith in a head and shoulders shot throughout. It was a very limited news bulletin and incredibly frustrating to watch. It felt almost claustrophobic .
It's another big step down for ITV and yet another lamentable stage in it's decline.
I thought the ITV news was paltry compared to it's previous incarnations. Compared to the hour show this had little in content to compare with and looked what it is, a costcutting budget production.
I then saw the Border news and i couldnt believe what it has become , no OB, one filmed report and the presenter Ann Smith in a head and shoulders shot throughout. It was a very limited news bulletin and incredibly frustrating to watch. It felt almost claustrophobic .
It's another big step down for ITV and yet another lamentable stage in it's decline.
Central West has hardly any lives for the past year, even in the 6pm programme.
I caught the Lunchtime News today, though I don't think the programme should have two presenters, today overall it was far more watchable, just plain News and the priorities were better too, ie leaving the Steve Irwin thing until the end.
Just a shame the programme has to be on at 1.30pm, but as said better and far less fluff and pointless items.
I think today's Lunchtime News was far better. But it would be so much better if it was on at 12.30pm, and had no ad-break.
As for the ITV Border News, yes mizzb, it was pretty dire. Usually there are a few OB's, but nothing today. And they are sitting the presenter on the bench in front of the plasma, rather than projector screen ... same as they do on all the short bulletins. Would make sense just to use the CSO studio. I have been in that studio before and it is quite big. It could look good if CSO was used to a greater extent. But that studio hasn't been used since last November.
ITV Tyne Tees short bulletin this lunchtime was good. Used closed up of the presenter (Kenny Toal) behind him the Tyne bridge. With camera angles to left and right for some stories (facing the plasmas on either side) and on the end where you get most of the studio in the picture (as normal appart from in this bulletin they didnt zoom out).
I'd rather have Nina than Katie, I hate the way she nods her head during a story and the way she stands in the studio, looks lyk if she moved her legs anymore apart she'd do the splits She should just get on London Tonight & have Nina on the LN
I agree, Nina is a much better presenter than Katie and should be the regular presenter on the LN (she could still stand in for Mary on the Evening News)
Stupid time for the morning bulletin - it be better around 11.25am in the middle of This Morning. 11.10am is just too random!
And looks like Nick is off anyhow! I think if they cut back to one Nick and Katie could still do as many bulletins just alternating considering the time they each have off!
Well 10.55am was just as random - with short bulletins they dont need to start on the hour or half past the hour like the main bulletins do. People who watch This Morning will still watch it regardless of whether its 10.55am, 11.10am or 11.30am.
Anyway moving onto the lunchtime news, I thought it was much better than the 1 hour long bulletin we had until Friday. However the regional news is a bit rubbish now its shorter, by the time they have the main story and leave time to fit in the weather (including a chat with the weather presenter in the studio) there is very little time. However this is ITV's fault rather than the regions, as they can only work with the time ITV allocate them.
On ITV Wales we had an in vision weather presenter on the 11.10am bulletin too, so the extra minute or so is take up with a longer weather forcast.
Obviously this is just a matter of opinion and I don't particularly object to Nina's attempts to display as much cleavage as possible or her need to always tell us when she'll next be on screen, (there's certainly no doubting her ambition). What I'm not so keen on is her delivery and intonation, which is dull enough to send an insomniac on acid to sleep.
As for the shorter Lunchtime News - I liked it, unquestionably less filler, but I thought it could have done with another five minutes of national/international news. No doubt on a "slow news" day it would seem just right.
