ITV News Revamp: One Year On

With the new weather graphics appearing today, it reminded me it's one year since the ITV News revamp of February 2004 - so one year on what are your thoughts?

I think the ITV1 programmes have certainly improved over the last year, with the News at 10.30 being a better programme than it's predeccesor - although scheduling wise I still believe the original 11pm Nightly News was the best solution for ITV overall.

Although the weekend bulletins are fine, I do think it's time they integrated the regional news bulletins in the early-evening to provide a neater 30-minute packaged programme. I'd also like to see the sports presenter return to weekend bulletins - especially on Saturday.

The regional look has been adopted much better by ITV than the BBC regions - at least ITV's regional graphics don't look like mocked up versions of the national graphics, ala BBC!

The quality of regional news programmes still varies greatly from region to region - Central News and ITV Wales News do a superb job, while Granada Reports is just cringeworthy, with the hosts trying to make a snide little joke in between each story. However, the increase in the number of competitions and text messages is not what regional news should be about - it doesn't add anything to the programmes.


As for the ITV News Channel - well, I've not been able to watch it for four months since it was removed off Freeview, but it still has the same problems as one year ago - namely, irregular presenter shifts and the limitations of the second set before the main bulletins.

The new CSO is an improvement, but I think a permanent News Channel studio would help the channel alot, especially in the run up to the main ITV1 bulletins - especially in the early evening.


Looking ahead, the Lunchtime News is about to become a one-hour show with Katie Derham joining Nicholas Owen as co-host. I personally have my reservations about this as the current format works very well in bringing viewers up to date quickly at Lunchtime.

Trevor McDonald is also due to quit, while their is talk of Scotland having it's own version of the 10.30pm bulletin.

To be picky, it is one year tommorow.

But thats not the point of this topic. ITV News is definately better, IMO, the flashy opening titles I love. They have covered most news stories quite well, but some pieces are obviously just space fillers...

Could say more, but I'm too tired now,
John

John (jdtech), could you please amend your gigantic signature which is far too big.

Ta.

Apologies, I make one 8KB and the other 5KB, on previous forums a limit of 25KB was imposed... surely 13KB is not too big for dial-upers?

John

I'm a broadband user so wasn't objecting to the file size, rather the overall dimentions of the image.

As much as I appreciate you removing one of the two images, I'm afraid the remaining gif is still outwith the pixel size allowed in the terms and conditions of the site.

Sorry to sound pedantic, but it rather spoils the flow of the page and requires an extra scroll just to get past it.

I'm sure if you posted in the BBC World thread, then modbot robert would have mentioned it. I regret that it falls to me, a mere user, to be the one to say.

now youre bringing out the ryan pannell in me, as i am going to quote the rules ... *clears throat*

If you use an image it must be:

- no greater than 300x60 pixels
- preferably is not animated
- hosted on a server which will allow the image to show up at this website

ITV news presentation has gone down hill slightly, with the pointless News channels titles on the newswall at the start, its a NC, you want to see the story. The red ticker, bad camera angles, and the Morning News doesnt have the brillaint feel as it looked on Feb 1st. The zoom has gone and camera angles all over the place. There is no consitency on the NC with the background, you either get 4 squares and background, 4 squares with the square background or a full image. The just 4 squares isnt good enough for the NC!

I hate to be picky, Gavin, but I have signatures turned off...they annoy the hell out of me. Believe it or not, I do actually read other threads.

ITV News has improved greatly over the past year, and I hope it will continue to get better.

I must say, at first I was not keen on the set, revamped music ( I was and still am a stalwart fan of the MORE recognisable ITN theme ). But it has grown on me, and I really like the set now. And the News at 10.30 seems to be going from strenth to strenth, and have adopted some nice closing angles, esp. tonights one.

I cannot comment on all regional news programmes, but Lookaround has certainly improved a lot, even if they do a lot of gibbering on at the end to fill time. They now put a lot more analysis into their stories, with guests in the studio, Live OB's etc. Tonights main story lasted for about 8 minutes.

I think the NC still needs a bit of work, but it too has improved, esp. with the intorduction of dual - headed newscasting.

I have my reservations about the new hour - long Lunchtime News. I would hope they would use the extra time for more analysis, news, business. But I would imagine they will go for long ad breaks, and consumer reports with Chris Choi.

On the idea of the News at 10.30 for Scotland, it could be a good idea, but why can it not come from Scotland, surely it would make more sense for it to come from STV in Glasgow.

Overall ITV News has improved a lot, but it still has a bit to go yet, if it ever wanted to overtake BBC News in the ratings. ( And Charles Allen : I don't think that producing ITV's News in house would allow ITV to overtake them ! )

Ok, Ok, I'll stretch this image down to 60 pixels high then...

John

To be picky again, I've just noticed I T V 1's signature is 463 pixels wide... isn't that a breach of the rules too? Or am I just not liked?

John

yes, but it s the same size as yours, as its twice the height. There are many other people on this forum with larger sigs. Probably because you got an ITV sig and not a BBC one!