Haven't seen a lot of the new ITV News, as such, but have to say that I am not a fan of the newscaster standing. I prefer them to be seated at a desk. personal preferance.
Graphics are good, but I still miss the old style "orchestral" music, as opposed to the current synthetic version.
But hey, isn't that desk good! It grew on me. Didn't like it in the beginning. What about those little lights or dots that appear on the desk's platform though (floor level). What exactly are those? I can't make it out.
What about those little lights or dots that appear on the desk's platform though (floor level). What exactly are those? I can't make it out.
AIUI they're all part of the virtual reality setup. They provide fixed points for the computer to identify so it can adjust the perspective of the newswall graphics relative to the camera angle.
I used to watch ITV news over BBC but since the revamp it's now the other way around. BBC I feel looks slicker and more newslike. The ITV set just doesn't look like a newsroom to me, I've never liked it since day one a year ago.
One thing I've noticed as that the desk shows a reflection of whatever is on the graphics wall behind it. How does it do that? I thought the graphics wall was all CGI, if the reflection is GC too then it is done exremely well - especially as it must be a live effect.
One thing I've noticed as that the desk shows a reflection of whatever is on the graphics wall behind it. How does it do that? I thought the graphics wall was all CGI, if the reflection is GC too then it is done exremely well - especially as it must be a live effect.
It shows up a reverse image of up above -the full computer image consists of the visible newswall and then a mirrored version below which is tinted slightly. I'd guess there is some green under the desk glass.
A few random thoughts one year on from the relaunch:
I think overall it's been a good year for ITV News. They've continued to raise their game and squeeze more out of existing resources.
ITV1 bulletins
The ITV Lunchtime News has continued much the same, content-wise and style-wise, since the new set was introduced. But we know that changes are afoot - we will have to see how they balance the heavier and lighter stuff.
The Evening News is generally a very slick, well-produced product. And in the last year they have continued to take the show on the road on a regular basis with some memorable OBs. Nina seems to have settled in well now.
The 10.30 has definitely been tweaked and refined over the course of the year. The agenda have moved clearly upmarket. It's now a good product that deserves a wider audience.
The Weekend News now has a regular presenter in Andrea Catherwood. Despite having the biggest audience of the week, the weekend programmes seem a bit weak sometimes.
Things that the News Channel has done well this year
Live with Alastair Stewart and Live with Angela Rippon have been very strong programmes.
Alastair regularly gets very good guests and good interviews which go on to be widely quoted in newspapers and other media outlets.
And Alastair's show is often first with big-name guests. I have often seen someone interviewed by Alastair pop up 2 or 3 days later on Sky News Today.
UK Today at 11.25 and 3.20 is very good - plus the live to the regions at 8.45 and 9.15 every night. More of this would be good.
Things that the News Channel could still improve on
I think double-heading needs to be the norm between 7am and 9pm. And when the regular presenters are away or unavailable they need to make sure that all regular slots are double-headed every day. On weekdays N24 and Sky News are always double-headed except over Christmas.
Double-heading does make a different to the feel of the output - and affects how well they can use the studio and the newswall.
We've had the argument over the costs v benefits of live overnight output many times before. But at the very least in order to be taken seriously as a competitor to Sky News and News 24 they need to be able to carry on live output later into the night when the occasion merits it.
Their failure to cover the local election results and the North East regional assembly referendum was inexcusable. Especially when Tyne Tees was providing live coverage of the referendum results. So still some room for more joined-up thinking.
Even last night with the breaking news regarding the Pope, 11.30 was rather early to start looped overnight output.
When the News Channel is on form, it is well up there with Sky and N24 in the quality stakes. However too often it is mediocre. I guess it's a question of money, but it could do with greater consistency.
The News Channel needs to better package and signpost its best content. Take the ITV News Network programme - an excellent concept, but poorly packaged and presented.
Sometimes it opens with the generic sting, sometimes with the gallery shot, sometimes with a wide shot of the studio. It could really do with its own titles - and they could use the regional news theme.
What about those little lights or dots that appear on the desk's platform though (floor level). What exactly are those? I can't make it out.
AIUI they're all part of the virtual reality setup. They provide fixed points for the computer to identify so it can adjust the perspective of the newswall graphics relative to the camera angle.
Nothing to do with the virtual reality. I believe it's simply the construction of the set.
Their failure to cover the local election results and the North East regional assembly referendum was inexcusable. Especially when Tyne Tees was providing live coverage of the referendum results. So still some room for more joined-up thinking.
It's always the same story with ITV though - I've never noticed TTTV News on the UK Today segment either. Incedentaly, that programme ("The North East Decides") had a 60% viewing share in the North East, according to a local paper. For a channel owned by Britains "best regional broadcaster", the regional coverage is very poor. (Though I have to say, BBC News 24's coverage of any Northern News isn't particularly stellar either).
I've been very impressed with ITV News this year. I very rarely used to watch ITV News, but recently, I've been watching it as much, if not more, than the BBC. I like Nicholas Owen on the Lunchtime News, and I feel the ITV Evening News is now much better than the BBC Six O'clock News. It's a shame for the latter, as the BBC used to have a respectable bulletin at six o'clock. I also occasionally tune in to the News at 10.30, and have been pleasantly surprised...it is far superior to its predecessor, News at "Ten" - I think having it at the same time every night has been beneficial to ITV News.
However, one area where the BBC beat ITV hands-down is in the 24-hour news arena. BBC News 24 has come on leaps and bounds in the last year, and I still feel that ITV NC is not up to the BBC's standard as yet. Let's hope that can be rectified in the next year. As has been proposed here, permanent dual presenting would help, as well as having the same newscasters on the same shifts every day. At the moment, it just feels very "makeshift", for want of a better word.
A few random thoughts one year on from the relaunch:
Things that the News Channel could still improve on
I think double-heading needs to be the norm between 7am and 9pm. And when the regular presenters are away or unavailable they need to make sure that all regular slots are double-headed every day. On weekdays N24 and Sky News are always double-headed except over Christmas.
Double-heading does make a different to the feel of the output - and affects how well they can use the studio and the newswall.
We've had the argument over the costs v benefits of live overnight output many times before. But at the very least in order to be taken seriously as a competitor to Sky News and News 24 they need to be able to carry on live output later into the night when the occasion merits it.
When the News Channel is on form, it is well up there with Sky and N24 in the quality stakes. However too often it is mediocre. I guess it's a question of money, but it could do with greater consistency.
The News Channel needs to better package and signpost its best content. Take the ITV News Network programme - an excellent concept, but poorly packaged and presented.
Sometimes it opens with the generic sting, sometimes with the gallery shot, sometimes with a wide shot of the studio. It could really do with its own titles - and they could use the regional news theme.
I agree entirely. The special programmes should be signposted better with special titles. I was thinking maybe Live with Alistair and Angela should have special longer titles showing them in typical poses, a bit like the opening to Parkinson. They should maybe still carry these names even when they are off. It might be a bit american though "Good morning you're watching Live with Alistair Stewart, Alistair's off today I'm John Nicolson" but if Breakfast with Frost can do it.
I've said before ITV News Network should use the regional titles, maybe zooming out from London to the whole UK. UK Today also should have a sting and be made a longer 10 minute feature rather than something to rush past at 3.22pm on the way between the Markets and the Weather.
Not to go mad with the money as we know they have a budget, money for one extra presenter per day wouldn't go a miss meaning afternoons and evenings were always doubled. Also live coverage until 1am with the 12.30am being the recording would be a good start.
Moving on to ITV1 bulletins
, these have seen a great improvement. The theatre of news presentations are great at adding to the story, just remember the tsunami, ITV News featured images of it on the wall with the presenter walking about introducing reports etc, BBC News just have 'Tsunami Disaster' written on a red caption in the corner.