ITV News

was it mabye boosted by the Susan Boyle report ?? I'm a celeb probably attracts a similar audience(as it's a reality show like BGT)

Is it "The Sun-style" when BBC World News do that too?

I highly doubt BBC World News uses phrases like "A Mother's Tragedy" or "Saved By The Bell". That is what I'm referring to, not a simple line of text telling you what the story actually is.



I think you're right. If you remember back to the week of BGT finals, the "coming up at ten" trails that week all had some BGT- or Susan Boyle-related story in them - obviously targeting the type of audience viewing that show - which turned out to be the "And Finally..." every night.

But why go to that expense when the existing virtual set can do it all at a fraction of the cost - and frankly the images will look better anyway! The BBC Barco screens look awful close up, especially for the weather - but heck, it's the BBC, so nobody criticises that!

I refer the honourable gentleman to the extensive ramblings of "Worzel".

I thought one of the reasons for a virtual studio was to make something they couldn't in real life. They should have made something that is not practically possible but looked good (like a studio hanging in the middle of the atrium with a massive glass wall or big studio wall with graphics overlooking London)

The ones on BBC News do look awful, but compare that to what Al Jazeera has (except their Washington studio), and they look great, and superb quality.

I actually prefer the look on BBC News.

The images on the Barco screens may not be as clear as ITV's when we see the 'down the line' interviews, and I happen to know that the interviewer is looking at a monitor for the sake of maintaining correct eye line from a camera point of view, but it all seems a lot more genuine to me, and that's how I want to feel about a news broadcast.

I've not really got a problem with the weather graphics or any other images shown on the BBC broadcasts. The very slight mis-match in colours is hardly noticable most of the time. I doubt that the average punter would even take a second glance.

Which begs the question why ITV News ever wanted to go down the route of an entirely VR set in the first place. Now they've got it they seem to feel they have to use it, even though what it produces is little better than that which could be avaialble from a genuine permanent set.

I thought one of the best sets they had was for the original ITN Channel (I've tried to find a pic and I can't). It was built into office space and appeared almost VR with the blue hue and impossibly positioned desk anchored to the column...but it was real, and with a real newsroom seen vaguely in the background.

I'm sure it cost a damn sight less than what they have now, and they can leave their 'biggest VR studio in Europe' to the likes of Spielberg for movie inserts.

Rather that than eventually go down the extreme route of creating oversized desks to fit into surreal environments like ZDF have done...perhaps that will be the next rebrand for ITV

http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/ZDF_Virtual_Studio_2.jpg

I agree that set was very nice, though considering the misplaced views on the London-centric skyline amongst those in charge, they probably don't want a newsroom backdrop for similar nonsensical reasons.

Although they've largely returned to being sat behind the desk, the set does need the flexibility to allow them to stand if required, which I imagine the current set would do. A real set would limit opportunities, either meaning too small a screen (like the 1999-2004 set) or a lot of wasted screens, which arguably is the case with one wall of the BBC set.

I really don't think the set being real would benefit the viewer at all - but I would like a bit more depth too it - so basically the same set, but vague shots of the London skyline or newsroom in the background, so the panels are kind of translucent rather than opaque.

I don't think the original ITN Channel set had anything London-centric about it: it was an international channel before ITV bought the majority share, although I appreciate that wasn't your point.


It's not necessary for newsreaders to stand up. They managed to sit down for 50+ years, and they will get used to it again! I think the fad is fading.

I'm not a fan of a newroom background, but the one used as described above (I wish I could find a picture) was blurred enough for it not to distract from the content of the broadcast. Quite similar to the BBC News ethos of just having enough movement to prevent it looking like a 10'x10' print.

http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/news/itvnews_channel/images/itn_firsttx_d.jpg

This one?

EDIT: TG beat me to it!

But still, here's how the blurred newsroom looked:

http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/news/itvnews_channel/images/itn_firsttx_e.jpg

Also, when a pinkish-orange hue was applied:

http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/news/itvnews_channel/images/itnncheadlines2002a-01.jpg
http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/news/itvnews_channel/images/itnncheadlines2002d-01.jpg