Do people really think that a relaunch of any channel will have a dramayic effect on the audience figures. What I mean is will people who currently watch news 24 really switch to Sky news just because of a new srudio and some new programmes. I doubt many would even notice. Its just a thought.
With regard to Freeview and News 24 figues, I think Cat has a point, however I think its also got something to do with the fact that people know the BBC News brand more than Sky News and so will naturally turn to them and not Sky.
Maybe the british public prefers a channel which checks the news before it reports it. Which channel was it that did a big breaking news flash stating the Popes heart had stopped last friday night.
Maybe the british public prefers a channel which checks the news before it reports it. Which channel was it that did a big breaking news flash stating the Popes heart had stopped last friday night.
Marcus, for whatever reason, you have probably the biggest chip on your shoulder of anyone on this forum, and I suggest you get over it before making really bizarre and pointless contributions like that.
You're a clever man, I'm sure. It's such a shame you so rarely show it.
As for the above claim re: will people switch to a channel if it's relaunched. I doubt people will switch to a channel if it's relaunching its news bulletins only, but appointment to view shows are a different kettle of fish, and have been shown in the past to work well. Admittedly, Littlejohn was a disaster in terms of viewers, but that's because it was utter ****.
There are still more Sky Digital homes than Freeview homes.
So arguments about Freeview viewers being more loyal to the BBC etc can explain Sky's performance only up to the point of equality of audiences in the figures.
And they're not equal.
News 24 is ahead and pulling clear, regularly getting DOUBLE the audience of Sky News.
So regardless of any "Freeview" effect (where the channels are 1 space apart in the EPG), News 24 is presumably still equal (if not ahead) of Sky News on Sky Digital (where the channels are 2 slots apart- 6 spaces in numerical terms).
Don't know about NTL, but Telewest also place Sky News earlier in the EPG than News 24.
I think however you look at it, believing that News 24's rating dominance is solely down to Freeview is a bit naive.
I fully expect Sky to surge ahead of News 24 after their relaunch on live news hours (Sky News Live presumably- from the Fox model). However, I just have a feeling that any Fox-like evening hours led by the likes of Burley, Thompson et al will flop horribly with the British audience. I think if/when their strategy fails, pressure on Pollard will grow.
I really think that's a very blighted outlook.
I appreciate your best efforts to vilify Nick Pollard, but compare him to the jokes that ITV have running the shop, and the old fools the BBC have got - who can't even bother themselves to come in when the tsunami story breaks - and again I'd say they would be insane to get rid of him.
It isn't naive to think that Freeview has not had as bigger impact as I'm claiming... and you're talking a load of cack about News 24 regularly getting ''double'' the audience of Sky. It doesn't, and hasn't, got the audience double of Sky News.
Again, if you head to the BARB website you can see:
Don't know about NTL, but Telewest also place Sky News earlier in the EPG than News 24.
In the Bromley NTL areas, BBC News 24 is on Channel 10, though the rest of the News/Business channels are in between 120 and 124. (Sky News 120, CNN 121, Bloomberg 122, ITV News 123 and CNBC 124.)
Though I should not BBC News 24 is placed before BBC Three and BBC Four in the EPG. (3 and 4 being on Ch11 & Ch12)
Maybe the british public prefers a channel which checks the news before it reports it. Which channel was it that did a big breaking news flash stating the Popes heart had stopped last friday night.
Marcus, for whatever reason, you have probably the biggest chip on your shoulder of anyone on this forum, and I suggest you get over it before making really bizarre and pointless contributions like that.
You're a clever man, I'm sure. It's such a shame you so rarely show it.
.
And the answer to my point was?
Sky News was reporting that the Pope was Dead on Friday night. News24 checked with other sources and held off reporting it.
That maybe why viewers prefer BBC News. They still check before reporting speculation from dubious sources. It's a valid point.
Flinging insults about does nothing but demean your case. You do seam to be particularly upset about this thread. Has it touched a nerve somewhere?
Have you been taking charm lessons from Alistair Campbell? Having the biggest mouth doesn't make you the most informed.
yes I'm not denying that; just referring to the fact that they had a special results programme on the Tuesday night with Jeff Stelling, replacing their normal programming.
You did not say that at all - if you're going to comment, then write out your thoughts fully. We're not all psychic.
Maybe the british public prefers a channel which checks the news before it reports it. Which channel was it that did a big breaking news flash stating the Popes heart had stopped last friday night.
Out comes my favourite Sky News motto - actually used by stafff.
Maybe the british public prefers a channel which checks the news before it reports it. Which channel was it that did a big breaking news flash stating the Popes heart had stopped last friday night.
Marcus, for whatever reason, you have probably the biggest chip on your shoulder of anyone on this forum, and I suggest you get over it before making really bizarre and pointless contributions like that.
You're a clever man, I'm sure. It's such a shame you so rarely show it.
As for the above claim re: will people switch to a channel if it's relaunched. I doubt people will switch to a channel if it's relaunching its news bulletins only, but appointment to view shows are a different kettle of fish, and have been shown in the past to work well. Admittedly, Littlejohn was a disaster in terms of viewers, but that's because it was utter ****e.
Has Sky News produced an "appointment to view" show that's been a success though- Littlejohn bombed, so did 3D....Boulton's various efforts haven't lasted long. It seems that Sky are going to introduce these programmes without any basis for believing they'll work, other than they "work on Fox". I believe the British audience is very different US News channels- largely due to Sky News....they were first and they defined what we expect from a 24 hour news channel, and it ain't 3D or Littlejohn.
On the figures...look at the figures for primetime hours in the last week, that are kicking about in this thread. .eg.
These are from Tuesday- Sky only took a lead over N24 when the BBC One Ten O'Clock News came on.
And I think Marcus is RIGHT about the "never wrong for long" attitude of Sky News putting off some viewers. One of the reasons why I think Pollard's stay at Sky has been too long is that he oversaw the entire fabrication of a story that this country had launched war against Iraq...and yet managed to scapegoat the reporter alone. It's like something out of "The Day Today". The biggest mistake a news channel can ever make and yet he kept his job (all because of Gilligan/Kelly). And yet the joke of the panel at the RTS believed this performance still merited "News Channel of the Year".
Pollard's got a lot to answer for- and I believe his time will come very soon.
Having just gone and looked at the Digital Spy figures for myself, I notice how the particular figures you are talking about have been specially cherry-picked.
I might throw these into the equation to back up my claim, just as you threw in some to back up yours...
A heavy news day saw figures rise across the board amongst the news channels. Developments in the Michael Jackson case helped Sky News to top place, with its 9.30am court reconstruction pulling in 93,000 viewers (2.5%). News 24's 11pm bulletin had 92,000 (1.15%) for second place, while Sky's News at Ten drew in 86,000 (0.64%).
Once again Sky News held an impressive audience throughout most of the day, with a solid 41,000 (1.08%) between 10am and 1pm; 72,000 (1.31%) between 3pm and 5pm and 65,000 (0.66%) between 5pm and 7pm
I know it's in the nature of some people on here to over-dramatise events, but seriously, give it a rest.
News 24 isn't comprehensively doing anything, let alone comprehensively beating Sky in the ratings. Granted, its figures have gone up, but this has been a gradual upward trend over the past few years, not some massive leap since the relaunch.
Again, I just think your comments about Pollard are ill-informed and daft. Not even going to bother discussing them anymore, because it's really just silly comments.
Why are people so quick to assume that Sky News' relaunch will mimic FOX news. Just because they are creating appointment to view programming is not an indication of them copying the abysmal FOX News. I have seen no report from Sky indicating this. I might add that BBC News 24 and CNN have topical programmes and no one has compared Sky's pending re-launch with either of these channels.
It is pure conjecture at the moment as to what Sky News will be like after it's re-launch, I for one hope it won't be like FOX, but people shouldn't also use Five News as a template to what Sky will look like. Five is a different platform.
The next person that indicates that Sky will be anything like Fox needs a slap. Sky is quite different to Fox news and I doubt they will change so dramatically as to alienate their entire viewing audience.