Well what I heard from one of the Central News directors a couple of months back was that the original plan was to switch to widescreen in early December if things were all on track but that's all I know.
Considering now the only regional segment is a 10-second headline round up in the Evening News, I don't see that as an excuse to delay the changes to the National news.
Considering now the only regional segment is a 10-second headline round up in the Evening News, I don't see that as an excuse to delay the changes to the National news.
Yes - and it didn't stop the BBC doing it 7 years ago by 14:9 pillarboxing (and letterbox masking on analogue) the 4:3 centres that weren't capable of 16:9 production. After all ITN have been 14:9 pillarboxing ITV News for years on digital outlets - so they can't claim it is a quality thing.
(ITV1 News looks shockingly soft and horrid on satellite)
Apparently they are waiting for 2 regional studios to be widescreen compatible before making the switch.
AIUI the switch will happen without Westcountry. Not sure when Westcountry will switch though.
They may have decided not to upgrade Westcountry if they are going to close it and relegate South West regional news to a 10 minute pre-recorded sub-opt out of an ITV West programme made in one of the three studios based in Whiteley currently producing two Meridians and a Thames Valley..
This widescreen switch is too good an opportunity to miss, and they should seize this to update ITV News's presentation package to suit. Would be good to finally get it near-perfect.
I'd like:
-> the colour-scheme to be decided for everything: blue OR teal, not both -- perhaps neither? they could go with something new!;
-> the straps etc to be replaced, and other graphics to change - time to lose the atrium?;
-> the set to be tweaked, removing the walkway?
-> the opening to be tweaked - all the headlines before the titles? no more tabloid headline straps or dramatic zooms.... I'd also like a return to the more classic music as well, I've always hated the circa January 2006 remix.
This impending widescreen switch could possibly be the reason for the delay of the 'tweaks' - they want to do it all at the same time. Possibly wishful thinking, but I'm clutching at straws here. I think the videowall should be made much better use of, but there should be no pointless use of it.
What are everyone else's thoughts on what ITV News needs?
This widescreen switch is too good an opportunity to miss, and they should seize this to update ITV News's presentation package to suit. Would be good to finally get it near-perfect.
I'd like:
-> the colour-scheme to be decided for everything: blue OR teal, not both -- perhaps neither? they could go with something new!;
-> the straps etc to be replaced, and other graphics to change - time to lose the atrium?;
-> the set to be tweaked, removing the walkway?
-> the opening to be tweaked - all the headlines before the titles? no more tabloid headline straps or dramatic zooms.... I'd also like a return to the more classic music as well, I've always hated the circa January 2006 remix.
This impending widescreen switch could possibly be the reason for the delay of the 'tweaks' - they want to do it all at the same time. Possibly wishful thinking, but I'm clutching at straws here. I think the videowall should be made much better use of, but there should be no pointless use of it.
What are everyone else's thoughts on what ITV News needs?
1 - agree
2 - the straps don't bother me, though I preferred the 2004 set. Never liked the atrium as a full time view though - as it's so square it doesn't work on a curved backdrop.
3 - desperately needs tweaking - even carpeting the walkway would make it look very differently.
4 - No - I like the headline set up but it was better before they had the three-part opening headline with all the zooms and that. Only change perhaps would be to have the opening headline dealt with before the main titles, then go straight into the other headlines. Varying it slightly for each bulletin would be best though.
I also think for short intros they should do the opening sting, one headline then the closing sting - rather than playing a random part of the titles. Music wise I did prefer the 2004 version to the remix.
Videowall - I think splitting it in two and turning the desk 45 degrees so one half acts as a newsroom backdrop, with the other half there as a video wall.
That shows how good the studio can look but they choose not to let it look like that (eg the awful image of the open space outside the studio).
They need to pick a good colour scheme, or perhaps pick 4 colour schemes to match each show such as:
- Reds for the early news
- Greens for the lunchtime news
- Yellows and oranges for the evening news
- Blues and blacks for the late news
They have to stop incorporating ITV1 branding into the news.
I also think it would be a good idea to have specific presenters presenting specific shows rather than doing mix and match. They should also have a female anchor for the late news as female hosts seem to have a better delivery on their own rather than male hosts on their own.
I don't like the idea of different colour schemes for each show.
I'd have it all blue, keep the atrium, update the astons to be blue. I'd come up with a new schedule so it is clear when the news is on, it seems all over the place these days.
EDIT: Quick question, what was the date that the new blue style background was launched?
I don't like the idea of different colour schemes for each show.
I'd have it all blue, keep the atrium, update the astons to be blue. I'd come up with a new schedule so it is clear when the news is on, it seems all over the place these days.
EDIT: Quick question, what was the date that the new blue style background was launched?
