Sky News

Have to say, I think Sky are wiping the floor with the BBC today.

They've been quicker with news, more consise, and had better images. The breaking news strap hasn't been to excess because, quite simply, there has been a lot of breaking news. I do think ''Middle East Latest'', which is what they've been using on and off through the past few days, would be more appropriate, but whilst the situation is moving so quickly I don't begrude them for keeping it up. The BBC have been pretty patchy with their coverage; it has mostly been interminable two ways with nothing new in them. And they've been replaying this god awful ''12 year old stranded in Beirut, but we've found his mummy and daddy!'' interview for hours now... and the BBC were criticising Sky a few years ago for tabloid journalism?

I've seen Sky taking breaks for other news fairly infrequently, and most concentrating on the middle east, but I turned over to News 24 at one point whilst Sky were covering yet another missile strike and found the Beeb running a report about an olive grower in Devon or somewhere. Why?

Jeremy Thompson in Haifa has been good, although personally don't think he particularly adds a huge amount to the situation just doing balcony journalism, but Emma Hurd, Tim Marshall, and Jayne Secker in particular have all been excellent. Was also thinking that it is a shame that Hurd's going off to Africa.

Just switched on in the last hour or so, and Sky News is looking really slick. They really know how to perfom when the big stories happen.

Things hopefully on the up again at Sky News. Anyone got any news on viewing figures for last week? I presume it will be a slow increase anyway until people try Sky News again during those previously weak slots.

they've been top notch recently with all this middle east stuff, plus with the g8 summit coverage. its a good job its covered the weekend as well cause all the constant news has meant we havent had to endure the active strap.

and also i really hope they reconsider with emma hurd leaving israel. nothing weak or indecisive about changing your mind - especially in light of the great coverage last few days, it'd be madness to move her i think. i really hope she stays.

and it would really annoy me if they agree with this point of view as well, but are too stubborn and dont want to be seen changing their minds!

Do the right thing!

and ive just noticed something as well, have they added a more prominent drum beat to the background music as headlines are being read?

Yeh, they are using a different variation I think. Also God is getting a bit confussed, apparently its 'Sky News at 10' at 11pm TOTH

Ever considered that - god forbid - she may want to leave Israel for pastures new?

Thought not.

i did consider that actually, but it's sort of irrelevant to the conversation in a way. If that is indeed the case then fine, theres not much you can do about that - as opposed to it being a decision from the top in which case you can have a moan and a plea to them, and deabte the logical reason for moving a highly capable reporter, currently in full flow, from a key area.

if she does want to move of her own accord then good luck to her i suppose, it's just somewhat disappointing that's all.

Seeing a bit of zest back in Sky News again. I must have been the only fan of the three-presenter style of programming - I actually thought that the concept was innovative and refreshing. It was the inconsistency of the presenters that was a bit annoying actually.

Good to see Botting and Thompson back together again. Like an old school reunion. They really DO work well together.

But, where is Allan King? I am only seeing Brazier and Popplewell in my time zones during weekend programming. Has Allan left?

Oops. Forgot to mention that I saw John Suchet presenting on Sky News last week, handling an OB from Central London during the 7/7 anniversary.

Is he permanently with Sky now, or just standing-in?

Not quite. I miss it too. It was ok in the AM version. It was the PM with our lovely ginney that let it down a bit. The probelm was it was used for too longer period on air. It should just be used in one segment, like Just SNT AM for example. Now its just a mess of presenters having a go at presenting the news.

Id like to see the format return in one way or another.

Yeah,I wish it would return for at least one show.

it was good if you liked style over substance.