JH
Exactly. Yes, the ITV News Channel is often dire and seems to take breaks at inappropriate points. But surely it's a question of economics? The News Channel has to make money, but there is not an even playing field in the market.
Sky News (as far as I know) has never made a profit and probably never will do. Enormous sums are ploughed into it (so it has very good financial resources) and the loss it makes is written off.
The BBC has a guaranteed revenue from the licence fee and yet still runs News 24 on a shoestring. And yet when a big story comes along, all the might and resources of the BBC are pushed into news coverage.
You could argue that the ITV News Channel is the only one of the three that has to operate on a purely commercial basis - it must balance the books. Unfortunately, the result of this seems to be that the NC is finding it difficult to compete in many areas. Having said that, I completely agree that there are a number of very simple and straightforward things that the channel could do to improve its performance and presentation.
p_c_u_k posted:
Sky News was never designed to make money - it was put in place so that if anyone complained about the lack of British programming on Sky in the early days, Rupert Murdoch could point to it and say "Look, there's our public service broadcasting". It's always been a loss leader, in a bid to give the network some respectability.
Exactly. Yes, the ITV News Channel is often dire and seems to take breaks at inappropriate points. But surely it's a question of economics? The News Channel has to make money, but there is not an even playing field in the market.
Sky News (as far as I know) has never made a profit and probably never will do. Enormous sums are ploughed into it (so it has very good financial resources) and the loss it makes is written off.
The BBC has a guaranteed revenue from the licence fee and yet still runs News 24 on a shoestring. And yet when a big story comes along, all the might and resources of the BBC are pushed into news coverage.
You could argue that the ITV News Channel is the only one of the three that has to operate on a purely commercial basis - it must balance the books. Unfortunately, the result of this seems to be that the NC is finding it difficult to compete in many areas. Having said that, I completely agree that there are a number of very simple and straightforward things that the channel could do to improve its performance and presentation.
OH
ohwhatanight
Founding member
It does seem unfortunate that ITV News Channel didnt drop advert breaks around some Pope items but I'm sure there have been instances in the past where ITV News Channel DID drop breaks for a story whereas SKY¦News didnt!
Thinking back to a year ago the quality of the adverts on the ITV News Channel seem to have improved - where it isnt just erection dysfunctia, loans and jml adverts!
One thing that irritates me even worse than missing THREE MINUTES of a news channel is when a news channel breaks away for a 27 minute programme and the rolling news is covered by a strap in the bottom!
Surely BBC News 24 need to address the problem of containing full-length programmes on a rolling news channel?
Thinking back to a year ago the quality of the adverts on the ITV News Channel seem to have improved - where it isnt just erection dysfunctia, loans and jml adverts!
One thing that irritates me even worse than missing THREE MINUTES of a news channel is when a news channel breaks away for a 27 minute programme and the rolling news is covered by a strap in the bottom!
Surely BBC News 24 need to address the problem of containing full-length programmes on a rolling news channel?
BE
I've been thinking about the ad situation. I think part of the problem is the way they go into and come out of breaks - always with that awful "Breaking News For Britain" and the music. Sky News doesn't do that - they just say "more after the break" and go straight into adverts. It's only a fairly minor point, but I feel that it does change the feel of the channel.
With Sky News you really feel like the channel is still going on in the background - that if there is some breaking news you will hear about it really soon. With the ITV News Channel you kind of feel as if the whole operation stops when they go into adverts. It's more of a 24 hour news programme than a rolling news channel.
It might sound like a weird theory but I think if they integrated the advert breaks more into the actual rolling news coverage, and take a leaf out of Sky's book, it could really improve the viewer's perception of the channel. They needn't show less ads, either - just integrate them more and get rid of the breakbumpers on either side. You need to get straight back into the news coverage after a break, rather than faffing around with music and titles and welcomes back.
With Sky News you really feel like the channel is still going on in the background - that if there is some breaking news you will hear about it really soon. With the ITV News Channel you kind of feel as if the whole operation stops when they go into adverts. It's more of a 24 hour news programme than a rolling news channel.
It might sound like a weird theory but I think if they integrated the advert breaks more into the actual rolling news coverage, and take a leaf out of Sky's book, it could really improve the viewer's perception of the channel. They needn't show less ads, either - just integrate them more and get rid of the breakbumpers on either side. You need to get straight back into the news coverage after a break, rather than faffing around with music and titles and welcomes back.
DU
On point 1- I actually doubt from what I'm hearing here that there is a time where Sky have left a live event for adverts and ITV haven't.
On point 2- feature programming on News 24...this is dropped whenever news breaks, and because it's not adverts the use of the ticker keeps viewers informed.
Really there is no comparision between News 24 and ITV news channel....one IS a news channel, the other is I believe largely pointless.
Too many adverts.
Replaying itself overnight.
The list goes on. ITV News Channel is really, really poor.
ITN used to be better than average (its quality still shines through on the C4 news)- so what's gone wrong with the ITV News Channel?
ohwhatanight posted:
It does seem unfortunate that ITV News Channel didnt drop advert breaks around some Pope items but I'm sure there have been instances in the past where ITV News Channel DID drop breaks for a story whereas SKY¦News didnt!
Thinking back to a year ago the quality of the adverts on the ITV News Channel seem to have improved - where it isnt just erection dysfunctia, loans and jml adverts!
One thing that irritates me even worse than missing THREE MINUTES of a news channel is when a news channel breaks away for a 27 minute programme and the rolling news is covered by a strap in the bottom!
Surely BBC News 24 need to address the problem of containing full-length programmes on a rolling news channel?
Thinking back to a year ago the quality of the adverts on the ITV News Channel seem to have improved - where it isnt just erection dysfunctia, loans and jml adverts!
One thing that irritates me even worse than missing THREE MINUTES of a news channel is when a news channel breaks away for a 27 minute programme and the rolling news is covered by a strap in the bottom!
Surely BBC News 24 need to address the problem of containing full-length programmes on a rolling news channel?
On point 1- I actually doubt from what I'm hearing here that there is a time where Sky have left a live event for adverts and ITV haven't.
On point 2- feature programming on News 24...this is dropped whenever news breaks, and because it's not adverts the use of the ticker keeps viewers informed.
Really there is no comparision between News 24 and ITV news channel....one IS a news channel, the other is I believe largely pointless.
Too many adverts.
Replaying itself overnight.
The list goes on. ITV News Channel is really, really poor.
ITN used to be better than average (its quality still shines through on the C4 news)- so what's gone wrong with the ITV News Channel?
JD
And the likes of Medicines Sans Frontier, Thomas Sanderson Awning, Thomas Sanderson Conservatory blinds, Secret Spring Pillow - A New Dimension of Comfort!, Bonjela & Cancer Research UK repeated endlessly...
But I still like the ITV News Channel...
John
SCOTLAND TODAY ADDICT posted:
itv nes is cr#p. Sounds about right. If i have to watch another oxfam advert every ad break again i.... 
And the likes of Medicines Sans Frontier, Thomas Sanderson Awning, Thomas Sanderson Conservatory blinds, Secret Spring Pillow - A New Dimension of Comfort!, Bonjela & Cancer Research UK repeated endlessly...
But I still like the ITV News Channel...
John
TV
ITN used to be better than average (its quality still shines through on the C4 news)- so what's gone wrong with the ITV News Channel?
Remember the ITN News Channel, I'd hardly say that was better than average
well the graphics, music and studio were fantastic - far nicer then the current itv package. and the reports were recycled from itv/channel 4/channel 5, whilst the current news channel recycles reports from itv. the only thing itv have added is the live reports ... which they then cut away from for adverts.
tvmercia
Founding member
Andrew posted:
Dunedin posted:
ITN used to be better than average (its quality still shines through on the C4 news)- so what's gone wrong with the ITV News Channel?
Remember the ITN News Channel, I'd hardly say that was better than average
NE
ITV News is a commercial channel. To be fair, ITV News Channel is dragging in the ratings behind Sky News and BBC News 24. BUT... ITV NC is almost five years old whilst BBC News is seven years and Sky News is 16 years, so that is why the BBC and Sky may have an edge because of that - the News Channel is relatively young compared to the latter two.
However, it does help with big star names. Fair enough, ITV News has Angela Rippon and Alastair Stewart. BBC News has Peter Sissons, Chris Lowe and Phillip Hayton, while Sky has, er.... well, Adam Boulton, Jeremy Thompson and Allan King.
However, it does help with big star names. Fair enough, ITV News has Angela Rippon and Alastair Stewart. BBC News has Peter Sissons, Chris Lowe and Phillip Hayton, while Sky has, er.... well, Adam Boulton, Jeremy Thompson and Allan King.
OH
On point 1- I actually doubt from what I'm hearing here that there is a time where Sky have left a live event for adverts and ITV haven't.
On point 2- feature programming on News 24...this is dropped whenever news breaks, and because it's not adverts the use of the ticker keeps viewers informed.
Really there is no comparision between News 24 and ITV news channel....one IS a news channel, the other is I believe largely pointless.
Too many adverts.
Replaying itself overnight.
The list goes on. ITV News Channel is really, really poor.
ITN used to be better than average (its quality still shines through on the C4 news)- so what's gone wrong with the ITV News Channel?
We will beg to differ on Point 1 - im sure I have seen it happen in the past!
Point 2 - recently when The Pope died BBC News 24 finished airing their 27 minute programme before airing this VERY important news! They didnt even cut away as soon as the end credits rolled!
Point 3 - 'too many adverts' - i dont see why that is deemed a negative? SKY and ITV have similar is not the same amount of adverts each hour! They both need to air adverts for revenue (unlike the BBC!)
Also to note, on some occasions ITV News Channel have broken away from an advert break to break some news! Im sure SKY¦News have also done this on some occasions!
ohwhatanight
Founding member
Quote:
On point 1- I actually doubt from what I'm hearing here that there is a time where Sky have left a live event for adverts and ITV haven't.
On point 2- feature programming on News 24...this is dropped whenever news breaks, and because it's not adverts the use of the ticker keeps viewers informed.
Really there is no comparision between News 24 and ITV news channel....one IS a news channel, the other is I believe largely pointless.
Too many adverts.
Replaying itself overnight.
The list goes on. ITV News Channel is really, really poor.
ITN used to be better than average (its quality still shines through on the C4 news)- so what's gone wrong with the ITV News Channel?
We will beg to differ on Point 1 - im sure I have seen it happen in the past!
Point 2 - recently when The Pope died BBC News 24 finished airing their 27 minute programme before airing this VERY important news! They didnt even cut away as soon as the end credits rolled!
Point 3 - 'too many adverts' - i dont see why that is deemed a negative? SKY and ITV have similar is not the same amount of adverts each hour! They both need to air adverts for revenue (unlike the BBC!)
Also to note, on some occasions ITV News Channel have broken away from an advert break to break some news! Im sure SKY¦News have also done this on some occasions!