I'll second all that. It's no longer "look at us, we're all flashy and new" any more. Kay was fantastic yesterday presenting from outside Norman Kember's house (that his name?), her programme is certainly becoming more and more watchable. Still to me, the weakest link is the afternoon Sky News Today, the morning version is consistently excellent (probably because of the presenters, they have a really good chemistry and come across well). The afternoon version needs to become a bit more intelligent - a presenting combination of Mark Longhurst, Lucy Alexander and Faye Barker would work well I reckon.
I'll second all that. It's no longer "look at us, we're all flashy and new" any more. Kay was fantastic yesterday presenting from outside Norman Kember's house (that his name?), her programme is certainly becoming more and more watchable. Still to me, the weakest link is the afternoon Sky News Today, the morning version is consistently excellent (probably because of the presenters, they have a really good chemistry and come across well). The afternoon version needs to become a bit more intelligent - a presenting combination of Mark Longhurst, Lucy Alexander and Faye Barker would work well I reckon.
I certainly would have to agree..Lucy is a great presenter, as is Faye Barker. Mark is a cracking anchor, one of the best males on SKY News.
I agree with those who like Rubin's programme - but it seems others don't share that view:
Press Gazette's Axegrinder diary column posted:
Rubin has a big impact on Sky News
It appears that James Rubin is having a huge impact on viewing figures at Sky News — to the despair of his newsroom colleagues.
Bill Clinton's former White House spokesman fronts a worthy "flagship" show each weekday evening on international affairs.
But his performance has left journalists at the network's Osterley HQ with their heads in their hands.
Several are muttering that foreign editor Tim Marshall and presenter Chris Roberts, who occasionally stand in for Rubin, do a far better job.
But their frustration hit a new high last week when Sky left major breaking stories on "cash for peerages" and a crunch education vote in the Commons to switch to Rubin's tedious show.
"The viewing figures fell off a cliff," said a Sky insider. "We lost about half the audience thanks to Rubin."
Staff at the network insist news supremo Nick Pollard is not to blame.
They are directing their anger at managing director Dawn Airey — now dubbed "Dawn Airhead" by her unkind critics.
Anna Botting turned up unexpectedly on SNT AM yesterday. Did she also do the Sky Report last night?
Concur with all of your comments immediately above, by the way. I am especially warming to the Rubin programme.
No. Colin covered on The Sky Report. I always find him watchable, but much prefer Anna. Who thinks they should reunite Julie Etchingham and Martin on SNT , Anna suits the sky report more than Julie does.
I think you're onto something there Greg. Not quite sure why, and can't put my finger on it, but I have always felt that Julie Etchingham is more suited to a programme that has two or more presenters. Anna Botting does well on her own on the Sky Report.
Having said that, the Botting-Thompson pairing is probably the one that most of us will remember with the most fondness on the old Sky News.
Julie Etchingham was also good on BBC Breakfast, but again, she was paired off with someone.
Wonder why they put Anna B on SNT yesterday, and CB on the Sky Report. Why not do it the other way around and minimise disruption? I always wonder why they do this.
I also always wonder why SNT PM frequently only has two presenters instead of three. Sky News has a massive pool of presenters - I find this inconsistency bemusing, when surely they can bring someone in to be the third/missing presenter??
That's a really interesting set of caps actually... when did Sky News Aus start using the red slug graphics? I always thought they still used the weird angled ones.
