I don't mean to be facetious, but would they not be better spending the money on improving the 24 hours that they actually broadcast on TV?
They must be backing on these web-exclusives massively increasing the website traffic to make anything like the amount of advertising revenue that improving the television audience would achieve.
I would say that at the very best such "unplugged" online-only shows are a niche market. A fairer description would be pissing money down the drain.
Major hiccup at the half-hour junction - they cut from the break with BSL signing to see a stream of BBC2 - which was showing an excerpt from Radio 1's Big Weekend, this all had Lorna Dunkley reading the headline over the top. Then, an image came of the Sky News website - the BSL signing came in and out a couple of times in that time, then normal imaging came for a live telephone interview with a man from Save the Children. Very odd. They have cut to a break after 4 minutes.
Just saw HIGNFY with Kirsty Young. Very funny reference to Sky News. Apparently there's a piece of research that the best way of teaching children is to give them facts for 8 minutes, let them have a play for a few minutes and then repeat the facts for 8 minutes, etc. An idea from the schedulers at Sky News according to Ms Young!
Looks as though Unplugged may be the first of many.
Sounds like they may be going down the Fox route of streaming exclusive content online either before or after programs. e.g. Fox and Friends has the rather cool 'After the Show Show' which streams from 2-2:15 our time. Basically the presenters just chat and you see some rather interesting 'behind the scenes' views of the set, sometimes guests from earlier in the show join the group too. Greta van Sustren's 'On the Record' also does a live 15 minute prview which streams 15 minutes before her show goes live on FNC.
Of course it'll work better at Fox, partly because these shows are already very popular and have a large following. Their distinct style (e.g. laid back in F&F's case) comes across really well online, if you forget the bias, and accept the idea that it is not supposed to be a hard news show. I think that sky will struggle to build a following with programs that are different to the ones shown on tv. Realistically ask yourself this, if say Sunrise and Afternoon Live did a webcast after they went off air, would there be any difference in the two? No. On Sunrise you'd have Holmes, Beltrao and Hawkins and on Afternoon Live, Burley, Dessy and de la Pena (who seems to be on all the time now). In terms of dynamics the teams are very much similar.
I'm sorry but I don't think so, why did they keep harping on about colours?
They could have asked far more intriguing questions such as;
'What are the advantages of using the newsdesk as a focal point of coverage at Sky News Centre?'
'Your channel has recently invested in business coverage in Jeff Randall Live and the Sky News Money Panel, yet channels that aim to bring business news to the masses such as Fox Business (FBN) have flopped. It's obviously an important issue but doesn't this stand against commercial sensibilities and a traditionally young audience?'
'What advantages are found in an experienced minority (such as Dermot Murnaghan and Kay Burley) working with younger and less experienced majority (such as Jason de la Pena, Mark Stone, Alistair Bunkall)?
'Is Sky News Active a pointless extra today, given that Sky news online receives far more promotion?
I'd ask those type of questions aswell - certainly that one about why the desk is central to most bulletins.
On another subject, a few weeks ago Michael Wilson was at the desk presenting some business news, however, at first his mic didn't work, then it came on. You could
clearly
hear the newsroom, people coughing, laughing, talking. But then, it all just stopped - and we just heard Michael. For many month's, I had just thought other area's of the news centre had been used, more so than the main newsroom - especially since the relaunch, when you could hear the newsroom clearly. But it seems the mic's are played with until you just cannot hear the newsroom - which is a real shame, and I don't see why they would want to do it. It's just stupid!
