The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

Changes to coincide with new look ITV News. Some regions have been rumnored to relaunch and London for defo is getting a revamp in December

Interesting. I hope it's a new set, I really do.

and the walls were more yellow.

Had a nose around Gas Street and could definitely see some ITV News set bench/sofas in the alcove. Would have got a pic but there were police around and they might of thought I was a terrorist.

Yeah, you are right theres a new yellow light above the plasma screens, adding to the two weaks ones below.

My reckoning is that they moved back into Studio W, a few months ago, and dismantled the East studio, to prepare for a new look/studio in the East's studio?

But why as to no overhead shot and some lighting changes in the West studio, I don't know.

The overhead shot was provided by a cheap camera, maybe they'd retired it.

Anyone catch BBC WM Sport today?

As there was an international break this week, there was a slight change of format.

Instead of mainly commentating on one match, as they normally do, it was concentrating on the non league matches, plus Walsall's home game with Stockport, in an 'open mic' format, which meant 6 broadcast quality reporter/microphones, plus 4 more reporters on mobile phones.

In other words, organised chaos, with reporters talking over one another, with a lot of discussion over the various catering facillities at the grounds.

You had the likes of Franksy at Tamworth, Dicky Wilford at Rushall Olympic in Walsall, Mark 'Sports Editor' Regan at Truro, covering the Halesowen away match, & on the phone at Alvechurch, near Redditch, Nadine Towel.

Listener reaction by text was mainly favourable, with one dissenter. (Relative of yours Skyfan ? )

Central's rear projection isn't very updated, the Ferris wheel is missing.

It looks like they have given up on that now. They are still using a dusk backdrop even though its dark. They used to update it or change the view every so often a couple of years back.

Central just aren't putting the effort in full stop.

Was the West Midlands edition of 'Inside Out' a little short this week, as there was 2 Midlands related trails inbetween IO & the 8pm summary, when there normally isn't(For the record they were the Jo Malin WM trail & the local Politics Show trail!)?

Also the Jo Malin WM trail got shown again straight after the 8pm summary, then back to network with the Dr Who interactive trail.

Anyone else getting fed up of the Jo Malin trail?

What are her listening figures like?

It must have been Westy, Inside Out is supposed to end directly before the news. In fact, the 8 o'clock news summary is always supposed to be directly after a programme to maximise the number of people who actually watch it. (One of the main reasons for having the 8 o'clock news summary is to reach people who otherwise don't watch any BBC News).

English Regional trail slots have decreased markedly in recent years. Whereas there were once regular daily slots for the regions at 1344 and 1856 and people in each region decided what to promote and when (usually very efficiently and with extremely limited funds), now there is supposed to be one or two "concentrated campaigns" a year for each region with slots throughout the day. Each campaign lasts a week or so. Unfortunately, while stations like BBC WM might get trails as part of this campaign, stations like Stoke or Shropshire probably haven't had a bespoke trail at all since the changes. Certainly Radio Oxford hasn't had a trail in years (yet bizarrely trails for Sussex and Surrey have gone out on the Oxford trasmitter.) A classic example of people in marketing not really understanding how regions work and that local radio TSAs are rarely the same as regional television TSAs.

Any idea why it's been 'BBC London News' instead of Midlands Today at 630 on the SKY Epg the last couple of nights?

The 1025 is correct, so surely it can't be completely knackered.

Even the rest of the English regions on the SKY Epg are correct too!