CO
An unusual start to UTV Live at Six, no headline sequence, just Marc and Lynda in the studio reading out the top stories without VTs.
And have to say, it's been nice this week with Paul Clark on holiday, Marc has really shined on the evening bulletin and I've been surprisingly impressed by Lynda's locum stint on UTV Live Tonight.
And have to say, it's been nice this week with Paul Clark on holiday, Marc has really shined on the evening bulletin and I've been surprisingly impressed by Lynda's locum stint on UTV Live Tonight.
SC
It was hilarious! My exact words were "What is he like?!" He certainly had that rabbit in the headlights look about him!
couldn't help but laugh at Aidian on UTV LiveTonight when Lynda handed over for more news stories - did he not look like someone frozen? Some interaction would be nice. Same can be said for Gillian.
It was hilarious! My exact words were "What is he like?!" He certainly had that rabbit in the headlights look about him!
CO
The interaction between the presenter and newsreader/announcer on UTV Live Tonight has been interesting so far. The only time I've seen a handover that seemed natural and mutually friendly has been between Lynda Bryans and Pamela last week.
I can't understand why most of the time there is little interaction between main host and newsreader; unless the editor has brought in a "no banter" rule to heighten the credibility of UTV Live Tonight. It doesn't settle well with me to see virtually no acknowledgement in the handover, and more so the disappearance of the newsreader and even the chair they sat on from the desk; it is hard to watch, I feel it gives the newsreader little respect and status in the role on the programme, and I feel sympathy for whoever is the newsreader.
It's almost an underhand snub to the CAs, especially those who are not trained/qualified journalists; they are wheeled on to read the news and are then dismissed back to their own studio when they are done. Not to mention how the other CAs are also apparently subordinate to La Julie in their announcing capacities; if I was Gillian Porter or Robin Taylor (where has he gone by the way?), I'd feel undermined in my job at UTV.
Mind you, I also think the "let's have moody incidental music on every report" is a weirder editorial decision IMO, I think it's sort of a concession for Sharon O'Neill to make her reports more superficial and fancy-looking. But that's the cynic in me
I can't understand why most of the time there is little interaction between main host and newsreader; unless the editor has brought in a "no banter" rule to heighten the credibility of UTV Live Tonight. It doesn't settle well with me to see virtually no acknowledgement in the handover, and more so the disappearance of the newsreader and even the chair they sat on from the desk; it is hard to watch, I feel it gives the newsreader little respect and status in the role on the programme, and I feel sympathy for whoever is the newsreader.
It's almost an underhand snub to the CAs, especially those who are not trained/qualified journalists; they are wheeled on to read the news and are then dismissed back to their own studio when they are done. Not to mention how the other CAs are also apparently subordinate to La Julie in their announcing capacities; if I was Gillian Porter or Robin Taylor (where has he gone by the way?), I'd feel undermined in my job at UTV.
Mind you, I also think the "let's have moody incidental music on every report" is a weirder editorial decision IMO, I think it's sort of a concession for Sharon O'Neill to make her reports more superficial and fancy-looking. But that's the cynic in me
DV
Geldof 'to bid for NI news role'
Bob Geldof has said his TV production company intends to bid for a role in Northern Ireland when expected reform of regional news suppliers begins.
Mr Geldof made the comments in an interview with the Financial Times.
The media regulator Ofcom has proposed that current TV news suppliers, including UTV, will have to enter a competitive tendering process some time in the next few years.
BBC News
Bob Geldof has said his TV production company intends to bid for a role in Northern Ireland when expected reform of regional news suppliers begins.
Mr Geldof made the comments in an interview with the Financial Times.
The media regulator Ofcom has proposed that current TV news suppliers, including UTV, will have to enter a competitive tendering process some time in the next few years.
BBC News
CO
Thought I'd heard of Below the Radar before - it's the production company started up by Trevor Birney and Ruth O'Reilly when they left UTV a few years ago. I also noticed Fearghal McKinney is involved with them, as is Jim Fitzpatrick from "The Politics Show", so they have a strong base of acclaimed and experienced journalists.
Would certainly be interesting to see what happens in what would be the closest to an ITV franchise battle we'll ever see.
Would certainly be interesting to see what happens in what would be the closest to an ITV franchise battle we'll ever see.
CO
Noticed UTV Live Tonight was extended to cover the publication of the report on abuse in Catholic church institutions.
Am I the only one who is fed up of Sharon O'Neill's hackneyed "investigative" reports? Sticking background music and transitions on all your reports does not make them any better; if anything, it makes them look pretentious and distracts from the substance of the story. A shame her didactic style of journalism is now held in higher regard at Havoc House, it just jars with me; UTV have shot themselves in the foot slightly to let journalists go who now, ironically, could replace them in providing regional news coverage.
How did Newsline cover the story?
And they are still letting Rita McNulty loose on voicing weather forecasts - the one she did on lunchtime contained a lot of dead air, whether done naturally or edited as such. Just because she shares a surname with a main character from "The Wire" doesn't make it right.
Am I the only one who is fed up of Sharon O'Neill's hackneyed "investigative" reports? Sticking background music and transitions on all your reports does not make them any better; if anything, it makes them look pretentious and distracts from the substance of the story. A shame her didactic style of journalism is now held in higher regard at Havoc House, it just jars with me; UTV have shot themselves in the foot slightly to let journalists go who now, ironically, could replace them in providing regional news coverage.
How did Newsline cover the story?
And they are still letting Rita McNulty loose on voicing weather forecasts - the one she did on lunchtime contained a lot of dead air, whether done naturally or edited as such. Just because she shares a surname with a main character from "The Wire" doesn't make it right.
CO
The two Lyndas (Bryans and that Fulford woman) presented UTV Live Tonight last night. No attempt made at a fun handover between the two.
Much better was the studio interview with Jim Allister, which ended up with the Traditional Unionist Voice politician ending up in a diatribe claiming media discrimination by UTV as Lynda Bryans tried to point out he couldn't get a PEB due to an OFCOM ruling.
EDIT: Link expired
Much better was the studio interview with Jim Allister, which ended up with the Traditional Unionist Voice politician ending up in a diatribe claiming media discrimination by UTV as Lynda Bryans tried to point out he couldn't get a PEB due to an OFCOM ruling.
EDIT: Link expired
Last edited by Colm on 10 April 2010 1:41pm
CO
So much for "Catch up with UPlayer" - for the past two Saturdays (and also the case last Sunday), the day's UTV Live bulletin has not been available online.
Mind you, I have noticed the Saturday/Sunday bulletins tended to have most of the sports reports edited out of the u.tv version, so maybe UTV realise there's little point in uploading a half-complete news bulletin.
Mind you, I have noticed the Saturday/Sunday bulletins tended to have most of the sports reports edited out of the u.tv version, so maybe UTV realise there's little point in uploading a half-complete news bulletin.
SC
Niall Donnelly appeared for a live two-way with Alastair on today's ITV Lunchtime News:
http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/images/tvf/niall_itvnews.jpg
Strangely though, on UTV Live Mark McFadden appeared from exactly the same place for a live two-way with Alison:
http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/images/tvf/mark_coleraine.jpg
Why were they both there?!
In other news, the Pollen Count has returned and it now has a short sting before it:
http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/images/tvf/pollencount_sting.jpg
http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/images/tvf/niall_itvnews.jpg
Strangely though, on UTV Live Mark McFadden appeared from exactly the same place for a live two-way with Alison:
http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/images/tvf/mark_coleraine.jpg
Why were they both there?!
In other news, the Pollen Count has returned and it now has a short sting before it:
http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/images/tvf/pollencount_sting.jpg