Sky News

If they're in a virtual studio, how have they done this...?
(Tim seems to know the answer to my question! Please Sir! Please Sir! )


Or have they got several virtual positions rigged up?

Is there something wrong with the normal studio or are they doing a refresh? Seems a strange time of year to do it. They'll be paying contractors loads of double-time this time of year!

Moz - I think they moved into the virtual studio at 2 when Sascha took over, as they were definitely in the real studio this morning, because they were using the jib, ever since 2 the v/o has had a simple camera zoom.

And although it is costly to do work at this time of year the news scene is (relatively - after today) quiet. They haven't got a full workforce in, and the operation is slowing down now. The renovations will be done in time for the return after New Year. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Sunrise tomorrow morning.

EDIT: As for the mystery of the printed backdrop, that does look familiar. I have a feeling it is something that they used for rehearsals in 2005. If I remember correctly there was a lot of moving around with most people doing double shifts and as a result, I think two shows may have been rehearsing at the same time, one in the real studio and one in the virtual studio. Of course they then went to 'live' rehearsals two weeks before where in effect there was an entire separate and broadcaster channel.

That is what gut instinct is telling me anyway :

Your tone suggests you know what's going on. But you clearly don't.

I think while the work on the desk area may be done in time for the return of regular programming in the New Year but from what we have heard I very much doubt the "shoe-box" work will be done by then. Someone said earlier in the post that the goal was to have the changes on-air by the end of January,and that sounds about right to me.

What is a CSO? Can someone explain the current setup in simpler terms?

I'm no fool. I know that it does not take that long to reorganise a studio, especially at this time of year with a quiet newscentre. Anybody who has at least one ounce of experience in any broadcast industry coould tell you that. Take a look back over this thread, things have been happening now for a couple of weeks and there will no doubt be a rapid progression.

My time at sky news - as I've said before - is over now, but that doesn't mean to say that I don't know the tricks and mindset etc, that said as my previous posts show I wouldn't bet on what I say when predicting the actions of Mr Ryley and Birkett. Not that you would anyway.

Sky News is currently boradcasting out of Studio B. This is just down the corridor from the main Sky News centre that we all know and love (Studio A).

In Studio B, they have erected a picture background of the fins (the right hand side of the screen). The left hand side of the screen (newswall etc) is a CSO - a green screen.

All I'll say is don't assume all the work will be completed for January....

so the sky centre studio will look different from January, then a new look sunrise in the spring?

lets hope they don't bodge the studio up.

I prefer the weather keyed like it is at the moment, but the quality of the key itself is ****... as is the forecast but then again when has Francis' forecasts ever been accurate.

The "new look Sunrise" is I gather nothing to do with graphics,i.e there are no graphics changes planned in the near future. And the studio is not going to be ready come New Years Day or the return to regular programming,some parts may be earlier than others but I would not expect everything to be ready until late Jan/early February.

On another note there really is way too many ads on SN these days and it seems so much time is taken up with stings and "coming up" information. I often wondered why they tell you what is coming up at the toth just before :55 past and then again at :58 past.

thats another problem, how many times can you have "coming up" segments in an hour?

my count is usually 7:

1. :59 TOTH graphics
2. :00
3. :20
4. :29 (between weather)
5. :45
6. :55
7. :58 (before weather)

Also at the TOTH, how many times do you say this is Sky News...

1. on SKY NEWS AT TEN tonight...
2. live from the SKY NEWS centre this is SKY NEWS AT TEN...
3. good evening this is SKY NEWS AT TEN...

my favourite tagline though is "in 15 minutes, every 15 minutes"