ITV News

Something I've also noticed recently, since the NC's closure is ITV News' inaccuracy in some cases.

Three weeks ago today, when the Thames whale story was developing, the 5pm bulletin claimed that the whale was doing well and was very likely to be released 'later on tonight'. However, since 15 minutes prior to the bulletin, both Sky and N24 had been reporting that the whale's health was deteriorating rapidly; something that went completely unmentioned, and so until the 11pm, terrestrial viewers had no idea that the its health had failed and it had actually died.

This afternoon, on the 1pm summary bulletin, Steve Scott announced that Ariel Sharon was "undergoing major surgery" and that it was extremely unlikely that the senior would "last the day", when for a while Sky had been reporting that the operation went well, and that he was no longer in serious danger.

Two examples of inaccuracy there. Surely ITV should be the channel that pays the closest attention to worldwide developments so that they can immeditely report information on Network bulletins, seeing as they no longer have a rolling news channel?

While we're on the subject of the state of ITV News, I shorten the Lunchtime News to 30 minutes, but introduce another 30 minute bulletin mid-afternoon.

Yeh, that ought to work.

Is this one of your own ideas, or plucked from the wisdom of the Digital Spy forums ?

Whats the point in that? Didnt they get rid of the mid afternoon bulletin because hardly anyone watched it. People are either in work or picking the kids up from school at that time of day.

I wouldn't go that far. I agree with jdtech that the Lunchtime News should return to 30 minutes and that ITV should broadcast another summary at around 15.00, just like they did a few years back, but I wouldn't have another 30 minute bulletin in the afternoon - it'd be more of a news channel than entertainment if that was the case!

I think we should have 30 minutes of ITV News, then 30 minutes of local news; and maybe take The Pulse from ITV News and have it on local news. We used to have something like that when Scotland Today (Scottish TV) used to be on at 2pm.

Two full length local news programmes? I'm not sure about that.

I would not turn my nose up at having two full length local bulletins a day. It certainly worked for Scottish TV and it most definately did work for Kirsty Young. Thanks to lunchtime Scotland Today she has been with FIve News and ITV News.

However, I agree that I am not sure if two 25 minutes shows would work, but extended lunchtime bulletins would be a good idea.

I have to say though AN HOUR of the Lunchtime News is too much. They need to cut that down to size and allow regions to do something which that have not been able to do of late....make their own programmes!!!

I realise that we're talking about presentation, and the Lunchtime News is packaged as an hour long programme, but talking as if it focuses on national/international events for more than half an hour is entirely misleading.
The local news segment is around twenty minutes (without commercials) and The Pulse is a further ten.

Separating out the local bulletin would allow for the advertising breaks to be positioned between programmes, giving the appearance of fewer breaks during the news, and making The Pulse more "worthy", perhaps providing a stage for yet another dull politician, would please many on here if not ITV's target audience, but I'm happy with an hour of ITN produced output at lunchtime.

My aching sides!!!

They struggle to fill their 15 minute slots as it is!

The best lunchtime news programme by far is Channel 4 News - they seem to get the balance exactly right and their daily business segment sits in nicely along with key entertainment and media stories.

Very true. C4 do have just the right balance, it's authoritive yet slightly, well, lunchtime-y. Business does work very well in that time slot and it can often seem to be a perfect example of how news should work, or that's my opinion anyway.