RTÉ News

On the TV3 newsroom - probably no one else saw the True Lives documentary called "Charity Queens". As part of it, they had brought Miss World across for one of the functions and showed her being led into the the TV3 set for Ireland AM. Got the impression that Ireland AM, news set and sports are all in one studio so that cameras are just moved round. Some good angles to see, sorry didn't tape it, but worth a look if part 2 (last night's ep] is repeated.

Actually I saw a bit of it but I only saw a small bit of the Ireland AM set. If they really are all in just one big studio then that would explain why the news set is so big! Interesting to see Finnerty and Doyle doing the 6.01 today - unusual to see both Dobson and Ni Bheolain gone away. Doyle is just disastrous but Finnerty is well able to handle it.

They're not objects, these presenters, you know!

Please show at least a tiny bit of respect and use their first names. They're there for a reason.

Ok I'm sorry ... I don't mean to be disrespectful its just easier to use second names because not everybody on TVF would know who I'm talking about if I used first names. Anyway I'll try to be more thoughtful in future. Apologies.

Agreed that it is easier to use their surnames on occasion - but no disrespect is intended, but nor should we stop it. It is common in most fields to use surnames - not in a crass soccer-like way - but simply as a means by which to quickly refer to people that often share first names with other newscasters and reporters. In any event, print media uses the method in much greater measure that we do here. Also we don't even know these people - arguably using only their first names is even more disrespectful should you wish to view it as such.


Agreed about the different galleries diarmy - the former certainly seems very snazzy! However a lot of it is just OTT bluster - there's no need for half the monitors present, with all the top ones mainly installed just to look flashy and appeal to commercial users of the facility. They are something RTÉ would never even come close to needing for its current news operations!
But yes the widescreen 'upgrade' (cough) will change all of this. As for flat panels I don't know - broadcast monitors are incredibly high-spec and still tend to be CRTs. Even the current Studio 3 ones are fantastic spec and cost thousands of euro - as frumpy as they may look!
All BBC widescreen galleries seem to use traditional CRTs...


That's very interesting about TV3 News NorthDown2– certainly explains the vast expanse of dead dark flooring and the showing of all the nasty equipment in shot (). Makes things much easier from a production perspective.

But really the TV3 look I think is hideous in all its forms. Graphics generally great, production values second to none, but studio appalling. Over half of the wide shot is complete black! Also unlike other ‘expose all equipment’ setups, the muck TV3 has on display is particularly ugly. And because you see all of this, it also shows up just how flimsy and cardboard-like the set is. Looks horribly temporary, moveable, and cheap. And the screen behind newsreader is not only distracting, but looks terrible too by virtue of all the studio lights on it – it completely desaturates the colour and wipes out any contrast.
Fair enough for a tiny station, but appalling for a nationwide broadcaster.

They all are in the one studio, and that can also accomodate the set for The Political Party with a bit of moving about. It's not that big, but that's all down to wide angle lens on that opening news shot.

From that shot, the Ireland Am sofaset is to the left which you can sometimes see.

I just thought I'd mention that I saw TG4 weather being shown in 14:9L tonight. I don't think it was like that the last time I checked so they're probably preparing to go widescreen. Here's a cap (sorry about the quality):

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/tg4.jpg

Those graphics are most definately set up to be 4:3 safe so that has to be a 16:9 feed in 14:9L. I might also add that their weather graphics are excellent and would give the BBC's a good run for their money!! They're worth a look at least - and if you can't get TG4 here's the live webstream: TG4 Webstream. I wonder if they'll introduce a whole new pres package or do you think the current idents/stings etc. are already in 16:9? They only launched the current look in January 2004 and considering that RTÉ made their idents in 16:9 in 2003 - its quite possible that their idents are already 16:9 ready.

And whats the exact relationship between RTÉ and TG4? I know they have the odd promo on RTÉ for TG4 and their news comes from Montrose but apart from that you'd never guess that they're connected. Does RTÉ want to let TG4 go out on its own? In their annual report for 2005, I think RTÉ says its waiting for some report about TG4 before it decides what to do with it.

I might add that the idents and stings are being shown in 14:9L now so I imagine the switch will be made soon enough - probably in time for when DTT trials (should) start in August. Fair play to TG4 for getting widescreen going so quickly (assuming they do make the switch soon) but I honestly think they wouldn't have bothered only for the other 3 channels have already done so!

TG4 is a wholly owned subsidary of RTÉ (Serbhisí Telefis na Gaelige Teoranta - literally Irish Langauge Television Services Limited). The Broadcasting Act 2001 provided for the establishment of an independent public corporation, Telefis na Gaelige, but that section has never been commenced (a Statutory Instrument is all that is needed to bring it into force) and given that RTÉ's structure is itself under review (with plans to incorporate it as a company) whether it will ever be commenced, I don't know.

While I'm not entirely sure of the background, I would agree with Phen that TG4 is being set out to fallow by RTÉ corporate in the hope they'll prosper. I think that TG4 is coming on leaps and bounds when you compare its current position to that of the Hallowe'en night back in the late 1990s when TnaG first launched!

TnaG was a token tv network back in those days, catering for the 'Gaeltacht' regions as RTÉ would have it. But gradually (diadh ar ndiadh) TG4 as it's now know is becoming a powerful station, with great programmes like Árdán, Ros na Rún and other things such as an excellent News section. While Nuacht TG4 is almost a carbon copy of Six One in terms of main headline content and video, the Nuacht team do great justice to regional news, often neglected by the Six One team, who focus on the Dublin-National stuff mainly.

TG4 would do great on it's own I think. Being a subsidiary of RTÉ is stagnating it's development, but facilitating it none-the-less. TG4 has also spawned greats like Síle Seoige, Gráinne Seoige and other fantastic female personalities who have become leading ladies at various networks here and in Britain.

TG4 seem also to be steaming ahead with their picture formats. I've noticed the 'widescreen-esque' format for a while and I agree whole-heartedly with Phen about their weather graphics being spectacular (almost reminiscent of old TV3 before they got tacky). TG4 I think should be given the freedom to move. You will notice more and more major players in the Irish and international markets advertising on TG4 and this is no co-incidence. TG4 is hugely popular. It's viewers for Cúla 4 and Pop 4 are growing all the time and they also have no hang-ups about showing quality english-language dramas, unlike their cousin Raidió na Gaeltachta, who in the absence of Anocht FM play no english-language content whatsoever - a major stagnation point in my view of the dwindling listenership of RnaG.

Súil Eile - Another View

Certainly come on in leaps and bounds alright - even Rós Na Rún is miles ahead of Fair City with a fraction of their resources!
The flight of talent however diarmy could be viewed as a bad thing

Yes, no doubt the move to widescreen is in anticipation of the digital trial in (hopefully!) September - TG4 is a station that tends to be forgotton about on the technical front!

When/how TG4 gets sliced off will indeed be interesting, not least in terms of how it will be funded as an independent entity expected to fulfill a public service role.
The potential elimination of the RTÉ Authority in favour of the BCI also raises its ugly head as part of this...

and TG4 also caters to other viewers to further enhance it's position e.g broadcasting american shows like The OC and Nip/Tuck