SE
It is a daft title. Why not bring back the established brand Live at 5 ?
As has become the case with things Sky News, it's all very underwhelming.
Square Eyes
Founding member
'
The
news hour' is a slightly odd title for a programme on a 24-hour news channel. What's on for the other 23?
It is a daft title. Why not bring back the established brand Live at 5 ?
As has become the case with things Sky News, it's all very underwhelming.
JR
A bit of a false start for the new line-up, in my opinion.
Firstly, All Out Politics was extended to two hours this morning, differing from the EPG. It feels like those in charge are flexible with whether the show is one or two hours, but I quite like it. There's nice coverage of political stories, lively debate, and obviously coverage of other stories when needed. I don't find Adam Boulton the best of presenters but he's obviously got years of brilliant experience on the scene.
The problems began, for me, with 'Lunchtime Live' if you can even call it that... The programme, which ran from 12-2, was exactly the same as last week. It feels like the name has been rushed through, and maybe that's why we don't have the prominent branding (as we see with TKBS and News Hour). It would've been nice to see a bit of a difference with the studio though. Colin and Jayne standing up for the TOTH maybe, or at the very least a different position for the desk - I hate the current shot with a passion - the views of Sky Central are really nice in comparison, and I'm sure between 12-2, when most of the office is having their lunch, it will look lively.
The Kay Burley Show was nice - Kay has a specific style of presenting and it's about time the bosses recognised that. I loved her walking around the Labour Party Conference as she usually does on OBs - it just feels different. That said, the 3pm hour was a mess, and in general, it feels like the automated system that was brought in is still having problems. So much of the time we see beds stopping and starting, failed pictures, wrong straps, micorophones not being faded up on presenters and correspondents, and for a channel of Sky News' age, it just smacks of unprofessionalism.
Finally, great to see Mark Austin back in the studio. A natural successor to Jeremy Thompson, and a really well thought out bulletin at 5pm on the whole. I would've really liked to see the name Live at 5 come back though - for me, it would've been a no brainer, but Sky's current bosses seem really determined on forgetting the past. It feels comprehensive, lots of lives with correspondents, and a good range of stories. What I wasn't sold on was the side shot of Mark - you could see his legs under the desk (it was in the same position as it is for the Press Preview) and for me, that doesn't suit the bulletin. Mark also seemed a bit too fidgety - first night nerves maybe!
Promising changes to the schedule but Colin & Jayne's programme needs some energy put into it to match the other programmes running throughout the day.
Firstly, All Out Politics was extended to two hours this morning, differing from the EPG. It feels like those in charge are flexible with whether the show is one or two hours, but I quite like it. There's nice coverage of political stories, lively debate, and obviously coverage of other stories when needed. I don't find Adam Boulton the best of presenters but he's obviously got years of brilliant experience on the scene.
The problems began, for me, with 'Lunchtime Live' if you can even call it that... The programme, which ran from 12-2, was exactly the same as last week. It feels like the name has been rushed through, and maybe that's why we don't have the prominent branding (as we see with TKBS and News Hour). It would've been nice to see a bit of a difference with the studio though. Colin and Jayne standing up for the TOTH maybe, or at the very least a different position for the desk - I hate the current shot with a passion - the views of Sky Central are really nice in comparison, and I'm sure between 12-2, when most of the office is having their lunch, it will look lively.
The Kay Burley Show was nice - Kay has a specific style of presenting and it's about time the bosses recognised that. I loved her walking around the Labour Party Conference as she usually does on OBs - it just feels different. That said, the 3pm hour was a mess, and in general, it feels like the automated system that was brought in is still having problems. So much of the time we see beds stopping and starting, failed pictures, wrong straps, micorophones not being faded up on presenters and correspondents, and for a channel of Sky News' age, it just smacks of unprofessionalism.
Finally, great to see Mark Austin back in the studio. A natural successor to Jeremy Thompson, and a really well thought out bulletin at 5pm on the whole. I would've really liked to see the name Live at 5 come back though - for me, it would've been a no brainer, but Sky's current bosses seem really determined on forgetting the past. It feels comprehensive, lots of lives with correspondents, and a good range of stories. What I wasn't sold on was the side shot of Mark - you could see his legs under the desk (it was in the same position as it is for the Press Preview) and for me, that doesn't suit the bulletin. Mark also seemed a bit too fidgety - first night nerves maybe!
Promising changes to the schedule but Colin & Jayne's programme needs some energy put into it to match the other programmes running throughout the day.
DE
What does it say about me that I still haven't forgiven him for what he said when Bruce Forsyth died?
I don't find Adam Boulton the best of presenters but he's obviously got years of brilliant experience on the scene.
What does it say about me that I still haven't forgiven him for what he said when Bruce Forsyth died?
BF
Totally agreed on the view during Colin & Jayne's shift - I've never liked the corridor view. They may as well be broadcasting from the basement if they're using that view - they're in a massive new building which even if it's not got the most interesting views from their studio is still a more visually appealing backdrop than a sodding corridor.
Quite like the look of Mark Austin's show from that brief clip - the red/orange colour they use there is quite nice and the standing up makes it look different and while I didn't watch the show the whole feel of it is slightly more authoritative than a bog standard Sky News bulletin but it's still very much about the news.
The issue as ever is the TOTH - it's just so lacking in anything and doesn't grab your attention at all. I'm not saying it has to be 2005-esque music or that you need to have Kay/Mark abseiling into the studio or anything equally ridiculous but it's just a complete non-event these days.
I think they had it right in 2011. The presentation wasn't over-the-top (no dancing cameras or fancy graphics) but it still had gravitas and grabbed your interest in a way that the current TOTH doesn't and the music was perfect for when there was big breaking news. The clip below is a great example.
. Colin and Jayne standing up for the TOTH maybe, or at the very least a different position for the desk - I
hate
the current shot with a passion - the views of Sky Central are really nice in comparison, and I'm sure between 12-2, when most of the office is having their lunch, it will look lively.
The Kay Burley Show was nice - Kay has a specific style of presenting and it's about time the bosses recognised that. I loved her walking around the Labour Party Conference as she usually does on OBs - it just feels different.
Finally, great to see Mark Austin back in the studio. A natural successor to Jeremy Thompson, and a really well thought out bulletin at 5pm on the whole. I would've really liked to see the name Live at 5 come back though - for me, it would've been a no brainer, but Sky's current bosses seem really determined on forgetting the past. It feels comprehensive, lots of lives with correspondents, and a good range of stories. What I wasn't sold on was the side shot of Mark - you could see his legs under the desk (it was in the same position as it is for the Press Preview) and for me, that doesn't suit the bulletin. Mark also seemed a bit too fidgety - first night nerves maybe!
Promising changes to the schedule but Colin & Jayne's programme needs some energy put into it to match the other programmes running throughout the day.
The Kay Burley Show was nice - Kay has a specific style of presenting and it's about time the bosses recognised that. I loved her walking around the Labour Party Conference as she usually does on OBs - it just feels different.
Finally, great to see Mark Austin back in the studio. A natural successor to Jeremy Thompson, and a really well thought out bulletin at 5pm on the whole. I would've really liked to see the name Live at 5 come back though - for me, it would've been a no brainer, but Sky's current bosses seem really determined on forgetting the past. It feels comprehensive, lots of lives with correspondents, and a good range of stories. What I wasn't sold on was the side shot of Mark - you could see his legs under the desk (it was in the same position as it is for the Press Preview) and for me, that doesn't suit the bulletin. Mark also seemed a bit too fidgety - first night nerves maybe!
Promising changes to the schedule but Colin & Jayne's programme needs some energy put into it to match the other programmes running throughout the day.
Totally agreed on the view during Colin & Jayne's shift - I've never liked the corridor view. They may as well be broadcasting from the basement if they're using that view - they're in a massive new building which even if it's not got the most interesting views from their studio is still a more visually appealing backdrop than a sodding corridor.
Quite like the look of Mark Austin's show from that brief clip - the red/orange colour they use there is quite nice and the standing up makes it look different and while I didn't watch the show the whole feel of it is slightly more authoritative than a bog standard Sky News bulletin but it's still very much about the news.
The issue as ever is the TOTH - it's just so lacking in anything and doesn't grab your attention at all. I'm not saying it has to be 2005-esque music or that you need to have Kay/Mark abseiling into the studio or anything equally ridiculous but it's just a complete non-event these days.
I think they had it right in 2011. The presentation wasn't over-the-top (no dancing cameras or fancy graphics) but it still had gravitas and grabbed your interest in a way that the current TOTH doesn't and the music was perfect for when there was big breaking news. The clip below is a great example.
LL
London Lite
Founding member
I'd like to judge Kay when she's back in the glass box after two weeks of Conference to see how a normal show performs. Politics Live on BBC2 is also different because of the Conference season.