LU
I'm guessing you didn't take the first day too well, then?
I generally feel that the new editorial team will find their feet and then decide what direction to take the programme. I'm surprised they so dramatically changed the outlook though.
James Hatts posted:
Well the late bulletin was fairly pathetic - four stories - two packages, two in brief.
All four stories the same as featured in the 11am bulletin (and probably GMTV too...)
If they hadn't wasted about 3 mins on the YouGov crap then they might have had time for some news
All four stories the same as featured in the 11am bulletin (and probably GMTV too...)
If they hadn't wasted about 3 mins on the YouGov crap then they might have had time for some news
I'm guessing you didn't take the first day too well, then?
I generally feel that the new editorial team will find their feet and then decide what direction to take the programme. I'm surprised they so dramatically changed the outlook though.
LO
I wish them well with the new venture, and I'm not going to condemn it for eternity on the basis of the first day, but I thought it could have been a lot better.
The LNN version of London Tonight always seemed like a fairly comprehensive roundup of the main London stories.
Today's ITN effort didn't give that impression. I know that you often get a lot of pre-planned stuff on the first day of any new broadcasting venture, but it just seemed rather thin and unsubstantial.
We only saw a handful of reporters today - Simon Harris, Phil Bayles, Damon Green, Kier Simmons and Tamzin Sylvester.
That interview with Stuart Thomas said that ITV bosses wanted it to seem like a 'big' show. I'm not sure that day one achieved that aim.
Having said that, I welcome a less crime-led agenda, and it will be very interesting to see how the new service develops.
I think Stuart Thomas did a good job at LBC with limited resources, and I hope he does well with ITV London News.
The LNN version of London Tonight always seemed like a fairly comprehensive roundup of the main London stories.
Today's ITN effort didn't give that impression. I know that you often get a lot of pre-planned stuff on the first day of any new broadcasting venture, but it just seemed rather thin and unsubstantial.
We only saw a handful of reporters today - Simon Harris, Phil Bayles, Damon Green, Kier Simmons and Tamzin Sylvester.
That interview with Stuart Thomas said that ITV bosses wanted it to seem like a 'big' show. I'm not sure that day one achieved that aim.
Having said that, I welcome a less crime-led agenda, and it will be very interesting to see how the new service develops.
I think Stuart Thomas did a good job at LBC with limited resources, and I hope he does well with ITV London News.
IS
Isonstine
Founding member
Well I've just watched London Tonight on the ITV Regional News streaming service and I must agree with Mr Hatts' sentiments.
Many said that LNN's London Tonight was nothing more than Entertainment Tonight, well tonight's efforts made the old LT seem like Newsnight!
Whilst it's always going to be hard finding your feet when you take over a programme with a different news organisation effectively running the show, I was not that impressed with the coverage of the first night.
They didn't really report anything that was particularly news...the rediculous YouGov was something you'd expect to find on page 20 of the Evening Standard and you could tell that by Ken Livingstone's answers when he was interviewed and especially the "Richard Branson as mayor" question.
It seemed like they planned an hour show and forgot to include the first half hour of news.
It's always going to be hard to cover the stories in London - it's a big city, but when the first 10 minutes of the programme were taken up with the YouGov poll then they're not doing themselves any favours. The only particularly news-worthy reports were the Tube strikes, but even then nothing much new was said. And also the two stories that Alastair felt he had to stand up for. If that was ITN's attempt of "more of the days stories" then I dread the day I come to London to watch such a programme!!
Finally, as amusing as Stephen Bayley's own personal opinions on London were - they weren't really neccessary and just more wasted airtime. And then tomorrow we've got the Lonely Planet writer telling us why London is so fantastic.
I mean - what's the point!? The viewers are already there...they have their own opinions. It's not like an official report or national census has been released. It's just not needed. You want to know what's happening in London...not a feature about the city. If you want then they the viewers can switch off and read a tourist guide.
Even though BBC London has made a small faux-pas with their presentation, they lead with the stories that mattered more to London. Including their top story which are the plans to put mobile phone transmitters on the tube.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against magazine programmes, but as long as they report the news where it's needed and when it happens. The programme they produced tonight could be shown again in 6 weeks time and no-one would be any of the wiser.
I wish ITN well, but they'll have to sort themselves if London Tonight is going to keep the viewers. Less crime news may be a good thing, but less news isn't!
Many said that LNN's London Tonight was nothing more than Entertainment Tonight, well tonight's efforts made the old LT seem like Newsnight!
Whilst it's always going to be hard finding your feet when you take over a programme with a different news organisation effectively running the show, I was not that impressed with the coverage of the first night.
They didn't really report anything that was particularly news...the rediculous YouGov was something you'd expect to find on page 20 of the Evening Standard and you could tell that by Ken Livingstone's answers when he was interviewed and especially the "Richard Branson as mayor" question.
It seemed like they planned an hour show and forgot to include the first half hour of news.
It's always going to be hard to cover the stories in London - it's a big city, but when the first 10 minutes of the programme were taken up with the YouGov poll then they're not doing themselves any favours. The only particularly news-worthy reports were the Tube strikes, but even then nothing much new was said. And also the two stories that Alastair felt he had to stand up for. If that was ITN's attempt of "more of the days stories" then I dread the day I come to London to watch such a programme!!
Finally, as amusing as Stephen Bayley's own personal opinions on London were - they weren't really neccessary and just more wasted airtime. And then tomorrow we've got the Lonely Planet writer telling us why London is so fantastic.
I mean - what's the point!? The viewers are already there...they have their own opinions. It's not like an official report or national census has been released. It's just not needed. You want to know what's happening in London...not a feature about the city. If you want then they the viewers can switch off and read a tourist guide.
Even though BBC London has made a small faux-pas with their presentation, they lead with the stories that mattered more to London. Including their top story which are the plans to put mobile phone transmitters on the tube.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against magazine programmes, but as long as they report the news where it's needed and when it happens. The programme they produced tonight could be shown again in 6 weeks time and no-one would be any of the wiser.
I wish ITN well, but they'll have to sort themselves if London Tonight is going to keep the viewers. Less crime news may be a good thing, but less news isn't!
AN
I think that basically is the key point. When a new bulletin launches there is often something planned like this, so they know what sort of angle they can take the show on the first day before they know what the day's news is. Reports focussing on the state of the country's Hospitals or Transport etc is another example of this type of thing. I'm sure either BBC LDN or South East Today did a similar thing on their first day
I'd be better to wait until a normal news day to see what happens
Andrew
Founding member
James Hatts posted:
I know that you often get a lot of pre-planned stuff on the first day of any new broadcasting venture, but it just seemed rather thin and unsubstantial.
I think that basically is the key point. When a new bulletin launches there is often something planned like this, so they know what sort of angle they can take the show on the first day before they know what the day's news is. Reports focussing on the state of the country's Hospitals or Transport etc is another example of this type of thing. I'm sure either BBC LDN or South East Today did a similar thing on their first day
I'd be better to wait until a normal news day to see what happens
TVF
TV Forum Team
James Hatts posted:
The LNN version of London Tonight always seemed like a fairly comprehensive roundup of the main London stories.
No, it was always a couple of stories (one a murder) couple of reads and then 10 minutes of sport followed by an entertainment item.
When it was in its original hour-long format it was great, after that it went slowly downhill
LO
I know what you mean, but I don't think that's entirely fair. They certainly managed a much higher story count than ITN did today - they ran with the same four main stories on all their bulletins across the day
In recent times London Tonight had become fairly staid and predictable, I'll give you that.
Larry Scutta posted:
No, it was always a couple of stories (one a murder) couple of reads and then 10 minutes of sport followed by an entertainment item.
I know what you mean, but I don't think that's entirely fair. They certainly managed a much higher story count than ITN did today - they ran with the same four main stories on all their bulletins across the day
In recent times London Tonight had become fairly staid and predictable, I'll give you that.
NG
Yep - though I'm sure Anna Maria did a stint at TVS, presenting the Maidstone Coast to Coast, prior to moving to LWT (I think Liz Wickham replaced her as Mike Debens main co-presenter?)
noggin
Founding member
James Hatts posted:
Anna Maria was at LWT News for a couple of years before the launch of LNN
I can just about remember Christopher Peacock and Liz Wickham from TVS though!
I can just about remember Christopher Peacock and Liz Wickham from TVS though!
Yep - though I'm sure Anna Maria did a stint at TVS, presenting the Maidstone Coast to Coast, prior to moving to LWT (I think Liz Wickham replaced her as Mike Debens main co-presenter?)
NG
noggin
Founding member
Editorially I thought the All New London Tonight was a pretty mixed bag. No real lead, and lots of fabricated stuff. Nice to see Tamzin Sylvester doing a pretty Liquid News style package though.
The studio felt a bit cramped, and the craze for standing-up-for-no-apparent-reason-by-a-plasma seems to have crept in. The fake London skyline looks very nice technically (much better than some of the BBC regions windows). However it is not a patch on the old LNN studio and just looks a bit flat. The low banquette and coffee table looks a bit uncomfortable, and the whole studio just feels enclosed. They have really lost out leaving the South Bank and the best backdrop any London news programme could have wanted.
The whole thing felt a bit flat to be honest - though nice to see an attempt to be less crime driven. (No Christopher Peacock outside a magistrates court tonight)
The studio felt a bit cramped, and the craze for standing-up-for-no-apparent-reason-by-a-plasma seems to have crept in. The fake London skyline looks very nice technically (much better than some of the BBC regions windows). However it is not a patch on the old LNN studio and just looks a bit flat. The low banquette and coffee table looks a bit uncomfortable, and the whole studio just feels enclosed. They have really lost out leaving the South Bank and the best backdrop any London news programme could have wanted.
The whole thing felt a bit flat to be honest - though nice to see an attempt to be less crime driven. (No Christopher Peacock outside a magistrates court tonight)
BE
Yep - though I'm sure Anna Maria did a stint at TVS, presenting the Maidstone Coast to Coast, prior to moving to LWT (I think Liz Wickham replaced her as Mike Debens main co-presenter?)
Yep she certainly did and also did a bit of in-vision continuity too in the mid 80s for TVS, I think TV Ark has a clip of her.
http://files.ben-hale.co.uk/tvsannamarieash.jpg
Ben
Founding member
noggin posted:
James Hatts posted:
Anna Maria was at LWT News for a couple of years before the launch of LNN
I can just about remember Christopher Peacock and Liz Wickham from TVS though!
I can just about remember Christopher Peacock and Liz Wickham from TVS though!
Yep - though I'm sure Anna Maria did a stint at TVS, presenting the Maidstone Coast to Coast, prior to moving to LWT (I think Liz Wickham replaced her as Mike Debens main co-presenter?)
Yep she certainly did and also did a bit of in-vision continuity too in the mid 80s for TVS, I think TV Ark has a clip of her.
http://files.ben-hale.co.uk/tvsannamarieash.jpg