JA
James, is it too much for you to believe that some of us who watch this stuff actually care about wanting to see broadcasters do better?
Do you actively tell the broadcasters what they're doing wrong? E-mail? Phone? Write? Hell, even visit their newsroom if needs be and ask where to complain.
If enough people do...
cityprod posted:
James Hall posted:
Of course, you could just not watch RTE News.... or ignore the bits of pres.
James, is it too much for you to believe that some of us who watch this stuff actually care about wanting to see broadcasters do better?
Do you actively tell the broadcasters what they're doing wrong? E-mail? Phone? Write? Hell, even visit their newsroom if needs be and ask where to complain.
If enough people do...
PH
I must say this though, it looks like Aengus has finally gotten his wardrobes in order. He left the pinstripes at home and went on air with a grey suit. Whether it was because of the death of Tanaiste O'Leary, I do not know.
Is he changing for the better?
Is he changing for the better?
DI
My earlier point made on the blog which was mentioned in the middle of this thread seems to answer some of the questions people are asking about RTÉ. The answer as to how they constantly fcuk things up is:::: (drumroll) :::: they're civil servants employed in Ireland!!! Tada!
They get their salary scales each year, get their salaries at the end of each month and have no performance-related monitoring. Simply said, all they have to realistically do is show up at the door for 36hours each week and that's it, they get what they came from. I imagine that in a ridiculously management-ridden organisation like RTÉ, people working there are fed up to the teeth of sub-standard production equipment, brutal recruitment managers (hiring crappier and crappier staff and reporters) and of course, the complete lack of initiative and courage. If you don't believe that, imagine an RTÉ News reporter going undercover in Guantanamo Bay prison to expose the human rights debacle.
The solution to the latest round of fcuk ups in RTÉ Newsrooms (i'm taking the bait about the news on two being seperate... NOT!!) is to pre-record the whole show. I know, it's not the way it should be done, but maybe, just maybe, if they did that, they could edit out the fcuk ups before 6 and 9. News at 1 can be live so long as John Finnerty does it (not seen him cock up yet!) but the 6 and 9 news should be recorded. And how do you handle live reports, i hear you say?? Simple - don't bother with them. They don't actually report anything that's happening live anyway, only a reporter in front of a camera asking pre-scripted questions. So just record it. What about breaking news??? Well, the last time they had breaking news was the murder of Denis Donaldson at the beginning of April - and even then, it was just a phone call patch-through to Tommy Gorman. Easily handled, have Dobbo and his partner in crime in the recorded version on hand sitting pretty in a dimly-lit studio and cross over if needs be. It'll give them time to think about how to best repair the brutal production that is the news.
Then, the long term solution, fire the lot of them over the summer and hire in veterans in september with a new layout, studio and graphics suite and pay them well, with performance-related bonuses. Where will they get the money you say??! Simple, scrap the crap programming like the Oireachtas Report which is on far too late for anyone to watch (otherwise, show it during the day). Get rid of the purchasing of out-of-date BBC programming such as Spooks. It's embarrassing to see all the BBC's seconds on RTÉ's plate. Then approach the public and ask them how to improve the network (unlike they've done before, at least, I know of no-one they've asked.. then again, I don't live in Dublin).
That's it... my 2-point plan. Now even RTÉ can't fcuk that up!
They get their salary scales each year, get their salaries at the end of each month and have no performance-related monitoring. Simply said, all they have to realistically do is show up at the door for 36hours each week and that's it, they get what they came from. I imagine that in a ridiculously management-ridden organisation like RTÉ, people working there are fed up to the teeth of sub-standard production equipment, brutal recruitment managers (hiring crappier and crappier staff and reporters) and of course, the complete lack of initiative and courage. If you don't believe that, imagine an RTÉ News reporter going undercover in Guantanamo Bay prison to expose the human rights debacle.
The solution to the latest round of fcuk ups in RTÉ Newsrooms (i'm taking the bait about the news on two being seperate... NOT!!) is to pre-record the whole show. I know, it's not the way it should be done, but maybe, just maybe, if they did that, they could edit out the fcuk ups before 6 and 9. News at 1 can be live so long as John Finnerty does it (not seen him cock up yet!) but the 6 and 9 news should be recorded. And how do you handle live reports, i hear you say?? Simple - don't bother with them. They don't actually report anything that's happening live anyway, only a reporter in front of a camera asking pre-scripted questions. So just record it. What about breaking news??? Well, the last time they had breaking news was the murder of Denis Donaldson at the beginning of April - and even then, it was just a phone call patch-through to Tommy Gorman. Easily handled, have Dobbo and his partner in crime in the recorded version on hand sitting pretty in a dimly-lit studio and cross over if needs be. It'll give them time to think about how to best repair the brutal production that is the news.
Then, the long term solution, fire the lot of them over the summer and hire in veterans in september with a new layout, studio and graphics suite and pay them well, with performance-related bonuses. Where will they get the money you say??! Simple, scrap the crap programming like the Oireachtas Report which is on far too late for anyone to watch (otherwise, show it during the day). Get rid of the purchasing of out-of-date BBC programming such as Spooks. It's embarrassing to see all the BBC's seconds on RTÉ's plate. Then approach the public and ask them how to improve the network (unlike they've done before, at least, I know of no-one they've asked.. then again, I don't live in Dublin).
That's it... my 2-point plan. Now even RTÉ can't fcuk that up!
TV
Don't know if any of you caught the Bryan Dobson web chat this week but changes are in the pipeline:
http://tvpresnews.thetvroomplus.com/
Not much being given away. All we can do is hope!
http://tvpresnews.thetvroomplus.com/
Not much being given away. All we can do is hope!
TE
Indeed:
Jonny : Hi Bryan, you all do a great job. Just wondering are there any plans to give the news studios a face lift? Also, when the news finishes, we see you all talking as the music ends the show - surely there must be times when you have to make up something to say??!! What do you typically talk about?
Bryan : We're planning a new studio set, the current one is due an update! When the news finishes we sometimes talk about stories in the news, our plans for the evening, nothing in particular really!
His use of an exclamation mark after 'due an update' is perhaps suggestive of a wider scoffing at the current pres scheme within the Newsroom?
Also:
David Kennedy : Bryan, when the world is in chaos around you, you still manage to keep a cool exterior and legoman haircut...what's the secret?
Bryan : Industrial strength hairspray!
...followed by...
Anne Doyle : You owe me a jumbo can of hairspray! Buy your own!
Bryan : Sorry about that!
That was good humoured of her.
To think it's only 14 weeks or so away from a relaunch - feels like another year still!
It'll definitely happen in September, along with the wider RTÉ One relaunch, as well as The Week in Politics, Prime Time and even The Late Late Show I reckon, all of which are due both in terms of basic age, and the fact that they're all ghastly in their own rights.
That 2002/03 period really was a low point for RTÉ presentation across the board, also encompassing that monstrous Questions and Answers scheme and a humdrum Election 2002.
Hopefully September 2006 will herald a new era for RTÉ presentation. All we need now as diarmy says are some decent production staff to run the place...
Jonny : Hi Bryan, you all do a great job. Just wondering are there any plans to give the news studios a face lift? Also, when the news finishes, we see you all talking as the music ends the show - surely there must be times when you have to make up something to say??!! What do you typically talk about?
Bryan : We're planning a new studio set, the current one is due an update! When the news finishes we sometimes talk about stories in the news, our plans for the evening, nothing in particular really!
His use of an exclamation mark after 'due an update' is perhaps suggestive of a wider scoffing at the current pres scheme within the Newsroom?
Also:
David Kennedy : Bryan, when the world is in chaos around you, you still manage to keep a cool exterior and legoman haircut...what's the secret?
Bryan : Industrial strength hairspray!
...followed by...
Anne Doyle : You owe me a jumbo can of hairspray! Buy your own!
Bryan : Sorry about that!
That was good humoured of her.
To think it's only 14 weeks or so away from a relaunch - feels like another year still!
It'll definitely happen in September, along with the wider RTÉ One relaunch, as well as The Week in Politics, Prime Time and even The Late Late Show I reckon, all of which are due both in terms of basic age, and the fact that they're all ghastly in their own rights.
That 2002/03 period really was a low point for RTÉ presentation across the board, also encompassing that monstrous Questions and Answers scheme and a humdrum Election 2002.
Hopefully September 2006 will herald a new era for RTÉ presentation. All we need now as diarmy says are some decent production staff to run the place...
TV
The current set and graphics scheme is just simply diabolical by today's standards. I just don't know how it was ever given the green light. My jaw nearly hit the floor when it aired for the first time in 2003. I couldn't believe how bad it was. We're all tired saying this.
Sadly, I fear that RTE have no plans to move out of that studio and for the next four years or so, we're going to be treated to another cramped affair.
The current BBC solution is the type of thing I have wanted RTE to do for years. The setup used by BBC Sport years ago demonstrated how successful virtual backgrounds can be. It would've suited RTE down to the ground - no need to move set furniture about and with a few tweaks to background graphics, you could provide different backgrounds/surroundings for many different programmes.
Problem is, if RTE went down this road, they'd probably go for a cheap solution which looks crap. For a set that is on air for a couple of hours each day, money needs to be spent!!
Sadly, I fear that RTE have no plans to move out of that studio and for the next four years or so, we're going to be treated to another cramped affair.
The current BBC solution is the type of thing I have wanted RTE to do for years. The setup used by BBC Sport years ago demonstrated how successful virtual backgrounds can be. It would've suited RTE down to the ground - no need to move set furniture about and with a few tweaks to background graphics, you could provide different backgrounds/surroundings for many different programmes.
Problem is, if RTE went down this road, they'd probably go for a cheap solution which looks crap. For a set that is on air for a couple of hours each day, money needs to be spent!!
PE
peterrocket
Founding member
I have to admit being quite font of the music, triumphant and the bed just sounds so out of place.
Then there's the top quality graphics of numbers and binary code flicking about that just screams self importance! I do like quite like the TV3 opening. Very nice tune and bed for the headlines!
Then there's the top quality graphics of numbers and binary code flicking about that just screams self importance! I do like quite like the TV3 opening. Very nice tune and bed for the headlines!
TE
Oh I'd say it's as good as gaurunteed that RTÉ News are not going to move from that pokey Studio 3 even in the medium term. With the prospect of DTT starting in August and the potential for expanded news service in a few year's time, I'd say they won't invest a penny in expanding the current setup. Indeed it's a situation akin to the BBC in there now: it's all or nothing. Either a purpose-built newscentre is built in the Montrose campus, or nothing but constant patch-up jobs take place with the current arrangement for the next 4-8 years.
It has to be remembered that RTÉ News started off as little more than a few desks, a couple of cutting rooms, and a broom cupboard studio in 1961. Ever since the Newsroom has been expanding, and in recent years has bloated enormously. So gradually it's taking over the first floor of the Television Centre, something that was never envisaged originally. And so the flagship news studio is still lumped up in cramped office-ceilinged conditions, surrounded by offices and other production administration. This is partly why a massive new television building was built on site around 1999, to help free up space for an expanding News Division (as well as to house production offices previously housed in Portakabins!)
I wonder if there is space to enlarge the studio even somewhat by knocking into adjoining offices or something - not sure.
Yes RTÉ utilising the BBC look is a frightening notion given the limited resources they'd put into it! Also the implications it would have for bulletins on a daily basis, having to compose on-screen graphics, and maintain them cock-up free would be quite a challenge for them, in all seriousness. They've never attempted anything like that before save the odd Election production.
Personally I wouldn't like to see them go so cold and clinical and corporate as the new BBC look - not least as they have to remain distinctive in the increasingly synthetic, plasticy world of news presentation in these islands. RTÉ have been investing heavily in branding of late and this must be maintained.
The TV Room posted:
The current set and graphics scheme is just simply diabolical by today's standards. I just don't know how it was ever given the green light. My jaw nearly hit the floor when it aired for the first time in 2003. I couldn't believe how bad it was. We're all tired saying this.
Sadly, I fear that RTE have no plans to move out of that studio and for the next four years or so, we're going to be treated to another cramped affair.
The current BBC solution is the type of thing I have wanted RTE to do for years. The setup used by BBC Sport years ago demonstrated how successful virtual backgrounds can be. It would've suited RTE down to the ground - no need to move set furniture about and with a few tweaks to background graphics, you could provide different backgrounds/surroundings for many different programmes.
Problem is, if RTE went down this road, they'd probably go for a cheap solution which looks crap. For a set that is on air for a couple of hours each day, money needs to be spent!!
Sadly, I fear that RTE have no plans to move out of that studio and for the next four years or so, we're going to be treated to another cramped affair.
The current BBC solution is the type of thing I have wanted RTE to do for years. The setup used by BBC Sport years ago demonstrated how successful virtual backgrounds can be. It would've suited RTE down to the ground - no need to move set furniture about and with a few tweaks to background graphics, you could provide different backgrounds/surroundings for many different programmes.
Problem is, if RTE went down this road, they'd probably go for a cheap solution which looks crap. For a set that is on air for a couple of hours each day, money needs to be spent!!
Oh I'd say it's as good as gaurunteed that RTÉ News are not going to move from that pokey Studio 3 even in the medium term. With the prospect of DTT starting in August and the potential for expanded news service in a few year's time, I'd say they won't invest a penny in expanding the current setup. Indeed it's a situation akin to the BBC in there now: it's all or nothing. Either a purpose-built newscentre is built in the Montrose campus, or nothing but constant patch-up jobs take place with the current arrangement for the next 4-8 years.
It has to be remembered that RTÉ News started off as little more than a few desks, a couple of cutting rooms, and a broom cupboard studio in 1961. Ever since the Newsroom has been expanding, and in recent years has bloated enormously. So gradually it's taking over the first floor of the Television Centre, something that was never envisaged originally. And so the flagship news studio is still lumped up in cramped office-ceilinged conditions, surrounded by offices and other production administration. This is partly why a massive new television building was built on site around 1999, to help free up space for an expanding News Division (as well as to house production offices previously housed in Portakabins!)
I wonder if there is space to enlarge the studio even somewhat by knocking into adjoining offices or something - not sure.
Yes RTÉ utilising the BBC look is a frightening notion given the limited resources they'd put into it! Also the implications it would have for bulletins on a daily basis, having to compose on-screen graphics, and maintain them cock-up free would be quite a challenge for them, in all seriousness. They've never attempted anything like that before save the odd Election production.
Personally I wouldn't like to see them go so cold and clinical and corporate as the new BBC look - not least as they have to remain distinctive in the increasingly synthetic, plasticy world of news presentation in these islands. RTÉ have been investing heavily in branding of late and this must be maintained.