Scotland Today - Scotland's Most Popular News Programme

Scotland Today is by far the best name in Scottish News. It's certainly a lot better than that publicly funded drival on the other side. Anybody agree with me?

Its a good show with an excellent team.

Can't agree that Reporting Scotland is drivel though - but of the two Scotland Today is the more compelling watch.

Come on, you don't see Rep Scot doing special shows from Barlinnie Prison or sending the Sports Presenter to foreign countries when Scottish Teams are in the Champions League or UEFA Cup.

Well I have no criminal record and an aversion to football, so you're barking up the wrong tree with those selling points.

But I'll tell you what I do like about Scotland Today - John and Louise. Accessible, likeable, warm, funny. That's how I would describe them. Love the video blogs, love that they participate on the STV forums. Love the sense of humour.

Mind you, for all its rostra and lighting, the set looks cheap and the colour is over-saturated. So a change would be nice.

Well I am guessing that ST will have a Set Change in 2009 or 2010 as they seem to change the sets every 3 or 4 years as it stands its been 1993-1996 then 1996-1999 then 1999-2003, 2003-2006, 2006-2007 (they had temporary titles) and 2007 - present.

I think they'll be struggling for space to change it much. It looks tiny on screen. Do they do the 5.30 show from a different studio? I thought they only had the one.

No its the same set. The 5.30 Show is only a few feet away. It used to be the old Scotsport studio. And also Setanta broadcast from Pacific Quay as well.

EDIT - What I mean is that its the same studio but the 5.30 have a different set.

Interesting. I wonder if they could incorporate both together and create a more dynamic multi-purpose set. ST just looks too cramped.

If my memory serves me correctly when ST has the purple set in 2003-2006 with the couches so to speak John didn't like it very much. If they were to get a bigger studio it would be good. But we will need to wait until 2009 or 10 to see if they do a set change.

To be honest all they need to do is change the desk, then move it to run parrallel with a backlit wall. Then invest in a large screen akin to RS along the other wall. If they were canny enough they could move the desk out the studio for the 5.30 show and redress the show with only a 4 or 5 min turnaround time. PN could also come from the studio, and the weather could use the big screen.

If you think STs studio is tiny the NT one at Tullos is a postage stamp. And therein lines the rub. They want unified sets, but such a studio would probably not be possible in Aberdeen.

The graphics need a change too, Im happy with white and blue....but the shapes and the opening titles with the spinning logo are wearing thin. Probably more likely to see a year of a change of grfx then we'll probably see a full refresh in late 2010.

Welcome, ST viewer

OK, despite the name, I think its typical Central Belt bias to describe it as Scotland's Most Popular News Programme, cos it ain't!

Technically nothing can lay claim to that given that no actual award has been handed out. In terms of Scotland as a whole, Reporting Scotland is the most watched and in terms of percentage share, I think North Tonight may beat it on that score.

Oh believe me it is! If you have ever watched The Real Mackay video blogs you will see that Scotland Today gets 410,000 viewers alone and thats not including North Tonight. Rep Scot has nothing on Scotland Today.

EDIT - It has won awards actually, in 2001 in won the RTS Award for best Regional News Programme.