RTÉ News

Well the principal of newswalls are all good & well. But when it comes to the operation of them, it doesnt always work.

We can just hope that RTE decides to make good use of such facility and not leave it as just a backdrop and use it, animate it, and show it off.

Personally I'd only like to see them animate as much as the BBC - not the whole wall in a crass ITV style. A backdrop I do think is best, though certainly yes, it could be activated more for special occasions.

The suggestion of LED (remembering that this tender was subject to change) is interesting. Perhaps someone could fill us in as to the implications of LED use over say, the BBC's projector cubes, or LCD screens - though obviously the pitfalls of LCD are pretty apparent.
Sky's current newswall is comprised of LEDs, though vertical resolution is apparently appallng at close quarters, leading one to wonder about RTÉ's use of it in such a tight space. I thought this was the very reason the BBC went with slimline projector cubes over LED, and N6 is much the same as Studio 3. How does the London Stock Exchange look?

What is also interesting is the measurement given of just under 14 metres - this would match the size of Studio 3 exactly, with say a 6m rear wall, and two 4m side walls. Whether they use all, some or only one part of it for graphics will be interesting - persoanlly I'd favour the latter. Also, given the BBC's use of skyline already, I am intrigued with what RTÉ will come up with as a permanent backdrop. Thank goodness BBC Breakfast has already taken clouds too

But really, it has to be said what farce this is - the BBC launched their new package on the 2nd of May, and like clockwork, in a matter of weeks RTÉ had a tender out looking for almost precisely the same equipment. I mean really...

Still, who cares, as long as they make whatever they're at their own and clearly put their stamp on things. I hope no expense is spared with furniture and fittings also, and that a lighting scheme can be dreamt up too instead of brash house lights on 24-7.

Just regarding the desk, RTÉ are in a rather difficult situation in this regard, as it has to cater for both national bulletins and rolling/breaking news events. So whilst the nationals in the UK rarely ever have to seat more than a single guest, RTÉ often have two, and very rarely even three. As such, it makes things very difficult in designing a compact desk for formatted bulletins, as well as making it large enough to cater for more people during exceptional events - a problem blatently highlighted with the current yoke which is ridiculously over-scaled, and yet still doesn't comfortably fit two guests!

Somehow they must try and get around the parochial situation of having wide shots and seeing guests legs, socks and shoes exposed for the world to see hanging off the edge of the desk. If at all, a narrow but long and elegant counter-like desk similar to SNI's in Mocks ought to be created, that will house guests comfortably – also ideal for more conversational pieces on our new look News on Two (like that’s gonna happen)

Again they’re copying the BBC in relation to multi-purpose use – the screens will be able to change the studio with the flick of a switch for The Week in Politics. Perhaps the desk will also be changeable. Indeed I think it’s been over-looked just how much TWIP influenced the design of the current set – having those boxy elements was essential in allowing the studio to be changed easily in a traditional way by removing the insert panels and sliding in new ones. It would be nearly impossible to do with any other scheme other than perhaps changing the colour of a backlit cyclorama. In this way, the current set is quite clever, also including the addition of the illuminated unit to the front of the desk which also had to be accommodated in the desk design. But there’s no doubting that it was the result of this multi-purpose use that we ended up with such a frumpy set – it was massively constrained in design terms by the dual-role brief given to the designer Bernadette Gaskin, so it can’t all be put on her back.

Hopefully these screens will improve on the multi-purpose design of the current scheme, though personally I’d still like to see TWIP in a separate snazzy studio Lambie Nairn style. The old set (with Sean Duignan) which people may vaguely recall was quite good – downlighters and carpet etc, though hideously small.

One terrible implication of the switch to 16:9 though is going to be the loss of The Week in Politics titles!!! The best ever intor composed for any programme ever made by RTÉ - whatever will we do without it?
I note it was tweaked at the beginning of the last season, with the V/O falling more in line with the text on screen - most impressive.

Hopefully they'll have the sense to have the titles recreated, they really are incredibly atmospheric. If not, they've probably had their last playout. Anyone captured them?

That's really great news about the set though, as long as it's not a total BBC ripoff. The BBC set is nice, but not something spectacular enough to warrant being ripped off. A new set, gallery and playout system will hopefully keep people on their toes and careful to avoid cockups.

Yep, though going by tonight's Six One you'd wonder. Sharon was all a fluster at a cocked up running order at the very top of the programme whichh proved rather amusing. It seems the top story VT had a problem, so they decided beforehand (as Sharon doesn't seem to be getting a director cue) to run with the headline link as normal, but then move on to story number two without showing the headline report, which was a rather daft decision. It is acceptable to run with story No2 first you know! In any event, the gallery staff don't seem to have been able to handle it, with the wrong picture insert coming up and the autocue op not informed as to the change so Shron was forced to look at her notes - a typical lack of crew communication we've come to expect.

Scroll to 0.39:

http://dynamic.rte.ie/quickaxs/6news.smil


Also, on the new set, scroll to 10.40 to see the new lighting in an 'interview' with David Murphy which looks great in this context! - perhaps aided by the dark background which gives it a more muted tone. The lighting is nice and soft, but suitably high contrast in places. Also d really lovely over-the-shoulder shot evident here too that's not acheivable in Studio 3, a pity - it makes all the difference.

And just on Sharon, her typically over-earnest shouty intervewing technique is evident here - as usual trying to give the impression she knows what she's talking about. And rather aptly, David completely contradicting the statement in her question shows her up nicely

That shot actually makes the studio good looking. Only RTE.....

i wonder if RTE News will commission new theme music, the current piece (and the opener) work really well, but whenever RTE News revamps, there's always a new theme (altjough this theme does remind me of the one they used in the late 90's)

Oh yes ABC – everything’s going! New set, new titles, new graphics, the works!
But yes, what about the new titles: anyone want to proffer ideas as to the new look? My guess is that they go for much more movement and visual interest, with stimulating and captivating forms moving/forming/amalgamating to form a distinctive beginning middle and end. The current titles, whilst smart, are very dull, with nothing developing to hold one’s interest.

I imagine they’ll also be a lot brighter, cleaner and sharper than before, not overly dissimilar to one of Sky News Ireland’s previous mocks:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/nightly_james/RTE%20News%20Graphics/rtenewsgraphics_normallogo.jpg
(though less Sky-like )

One suspects they’ve had enough of the dark sultry look. Similarly the blocky lumps of frumpy blue in all their graphics is very dated and will no doubt be ditched and streamlined with white lines wherever possible. Perhaps the DOG will also return to the bottom of the screen and become translucent, especially given the difficulties posed with 16:9 safe areas – otherwise they’d end up with a DOG like on Weather! Indeed just on Weather, the lighting seems different on occasion, at times harsher and from more directly overhead – an indication of changes afoot here too?!


A couple of other things about the temporary news studio – it appears that the DOG is being generated differently as it keeps being cut up or disappearing at the wrong time. Don’t know who control it: Pres or the gallery. And the same with the music beds for headlines and for ad breaks – they’re being played rather oddly at times, or not at all in some cases!

On a positive front, it is very very noticeable how much snappier things have become since this change – the cueing is fantastic! Reports and LVOs and title cuts etc are all much snappier than they were in Studio 3 – this is probably an indication of new vision mixers coming in for the holiday period rather than anything else! It’s really very notable and refreshing.

I had a bit of spare time today and rather then creating a new thread in the mocks forum, I'l post it here
Just some ideas Ive had for the logo:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/southsider-reject/rte%20news%20studio/rtenewslogos.jpg

Most likly RTE will just go for a bar with the words RTE NEWS but it would be intersting to see if they would construct something intersting..in the way sky news has theirs or ITV

The middle one on the right is particularly nice, but the large blocks are perhaps a bit too offbeat and T4-like for RTÉ's tastes
Yes I imagine a line of some description will be employed - a nice neat, thin sleek one is most preferable above all I think.

But on the broader issues of titles, the most important, most crucial element for them to consider in composing them and in making them a success in being smooth and flawless, is how they integrate into the wide shot of the studio - they must mix into the studio much more successfully than the current package. The dissolve we have at the moment just isn't enough, especially with the principal music ending before the mix is even made. The titles and music must seamlessly flow into the studio wide, especially the music. It is this that made the 1997 scheme so very slick and professional, and to an extent the 1994 look. Pulling the titles into the wide shot with an innovative visual mix, or even just a dissolve but with a carrying through of the music is cruical - I really hope they do this. It makes the world of difference.
The dead wide shot with nothing but reptitive beats of a bed is so lifeless and awkward to watch - this also extends to ad breaks.

Watching these 1997 Nine titles again really brings it home, and this doesn't even include the powerful zoom usually employed! It's so tight and professional, whatever about the now-dated graphics.
Also note the dramatic intro headline bars that announce News's arrival on screen - it commands attention, unlike the crappy Pres dissolve to mid-shot we currently get.

http://thetvroom.com/video-10/AR-BE-RTE1-NEWS-1999-01.rm

Yes the one on the right in the middle is the nicest but unfortunately its just too similar to the current RTÉ One style. But all of the individual looks that RTÉ News has had are so different that its impossible to predict what we'll get. I hope they bring the globe into the titles again. The current titles music is the best they've had but it sounds very tinny and screechy like as if it was created very cheaply - it could have sounded much better had they made the effort. I know they never carry the music from one look to the other but they could do worse than to re-use the current theme again - even to just make slight changes to it. The BBC's title music is very similar to what went before it but yet it is sufficiently different to suit a different package.

Regarding the LED screen - its great news but I must admit that I am disappointed that we're going to have another box-shaped set. It makes the studio look so small and pokey. If they have one big and one small screen that would be a help but if it stretches all the way around the studio i.e. two small screens in either side of the set and one big one in the middle it'll just look boxy, small and not an overall improvement in my opinion. Do you think there's any chance they might use a curved screen instead? I hate the new BBC nationals studio. Its so cold, sterile and boxy - not an improvement to be honest so I'd hate to see RTÉ to go down that road.

I really disagree about the current music, Phen. I think it's actually the worst they've had (in my memory anyway). The first time I heard it I could predict the ending; the tune has a very obvious conclusion and lacks any atmosphere. It sounds like cliched generic 'news music' (touches of that in the 97 arrangement aswell, but it got away with it). I don't think that RTÉ should go to the opposite extreme and try to introduce something radical like the BBC; a traditional news theme works best. But they could certainly do far better than what they have now. Look at the series of fantastic arrangements Sky News have had over the last ten years or so. The 2000 music show that it's possible to mix old and new successfully.

Agree with you completely there Telefis about the titles mixing with the wide shot. BBC Breakfast instantly comes to mind as an example of this being carried out perfectly. I can't find any clips of it but I'm sure people on here will be familiar with it. It'd be great to see something like this on RTÉ. I wonder what're the chances though...

Regarding the logo, what I would like to see (and surely the RTÉ Branding Machine can acomplish this?) is a consistant logo being adopted for RTÉ News. Believe it or not, there are currently no less than three RTÉ News logos!

1) The one used on news bulittens, designed as part of the titles.
2) The one used on RTÉ News Online, which is in the style for an RTÉ directorate (or IBD, as RTÉ insists on refering to them).
3) The one used on non-bulitten programming, with "RTÉ NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS", in the style of an RTÉ Commissioning Genre. This is consistant with the other genres, but I've seen a version of it (shortened to "RTÉ NEWS") used on promos.

Surely they could just agree to use one logo for everything?

As for titles, I'd like if they could keep the music. Unfortunately unlike the other major news organisations RTÉ have never kept the same music for more than one look. ITV News have consistantly used "The Awakening" for all bulittens since the mid-1990s (since the 1950s, for News at Ten) and used "Non Stop" before that for thirty years. BBC News has used the pips since 1999 (and the various orchestral pieces used before that dated to the mid-1980s). Sky News had "Good News" for years (a piece I still associate with the channel, even though its' library music) and have been using their current theme for a while. I could go on (the major US news organisations are probably even better examples). Why can't RTÉ stick with one piece?