ITV News

Has the future of the overnight updates been confirmed - surely they're finally going to bite the dust with the morning news going.

Quite possibly I suppose, maybe Julie or Mark may have a final headlines update at around midnight. Then nothing until daybreak. On the other hand surely they'll need someone to be on duty overnight?

If they were planning to change the timings for the lunchtime news I hope they would still retain the format. I find that sometimes the news at 1.30 is one of the best bulletins of the day, plenty of live OB's, guests in the studio and live. Especially when Alistair is on duty he can grill into them! It leaves me feeling up to date.

Maybe something like this could work...with ITV having a set News schedule 7 days a week.

DAYBREAK
The same as present except I'd scrap the 8:07 Regional News headlines to add an extra minute on the 6:07 and 7:07 bulletins...slightly more time for the Regional headlines of the day. My thinking is at 8:07 most people have already left for work so less need for Regional Travel/Weather updates.

6:07 ITV Regional News (Monday - Friday, 4 minute pan-Regional bulletin).
7:07 ITV Regional News (Monday - Friday, 4 minute pan-Regional bulletin).

WEEKDAYS
9:25 ITV Morning News (5 minute bulletin, I like the idea of having this 7 days a week, nice start to the day).
12:00 ITV Midday News (Monday - Friday, 25 minute programme).
15:30 ITV Afternoon News (5 minute bulletin).
18:00 ITV Regional News (Monday - Friday - 20 minutes of sub-Regional News and Weather, 10 minutes of pan-Regional Sport).
18:30 ITV Evening News (30 minute programme).
22:00 ITV News At Ten (Separate branding from the rest of the ITV News programming...more like the original News At Ten, 25 minute programme).
22:25 ITV Regional News (5 minute round-up).
1 1/2 Hours of National News a day, 35 minutes of Regional News (25 minutes sub-Regional).

WEEKENDS & BANK HOLIDAYS
9:25 ITV Morning News (5 minute bulletin, I like the idea of having this 7 days a week, nice start to the day).
12:00 ITV Midday News (15 minute programme)
18:00 ITV Regional News (5 minutes sub-Regional bulletin).
18:05 ITV Evening News (20 minute programme).
22:00 ITV News At Ten (20 minute programme).
22:20 ITV Regional News (5 minute sub-Regional bulletin).
45 minutes of National News a day, 10 minutes of sub-Regional News.

Actually what I have emboldened, italicised and underlined is not possible as, in Scoltand at least, the have a full 30 minute current affairs and debate programme and their news updates are half way through the show at 22.40-ish.

One watches tumbleweed pass by.

What are you on about... that's exactly the same as what happens right now?

Julie or Mark staying on until midnight will never happen in a rain of sundays.

There will of course be a presenter on duty all night just incase breaking news happens overnight (a la Diana), But I'm very doubtful ITV are going to shell out on overnight updates which probably have extremely low viewing figures, much lower than those of the Morning News I'd imagine.

In that situation I think the programme would just start at 22:25 instead? Thinking about the 12:00 News though,would they clash it with Channel 4's News update? Methinks not...therefore maybe half 12 is the best time?

How many staff would it take to get breaking news on air overnight? What's the smallest possible crew they could have on standby?

Do they have somebody "on standby" though? When Diana died, was it not broken by Nicholas Owen? I doubt he'd have been in the building waiting.

No, Dermot was on standby then. He interrupted the late night music video slot by saying that 'Princess Diana is gravely ill'. I'm sure there's a clip somewhere.