South West England news thread (part 2)

Southampton. At least, it did last time I saw it, but that was only a few months ago and I can't imagine they changed it.

Yes Southampton still uses CSO. They usually do a bit of waffle on the sofa and then show "Weather pictures" while they walk to the screen.

They used a rear projection screen for a while but the quality was awful. Personally I think it looks much clearer!

Some regional weather is truly awful to view when projectors are used - the colours just get drown out from the bright lights. CSO is much better with the BBC weather maps that are currently used.

I watched the Southampton 'flavoured' version of South Today last night and they do seem to waste the fact that they have two back-projection screens in that tiny studio:

http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/SouthToday-1.jpg http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/SouthToday-2.jpg http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/SouthToday-3.jpg



The weather on Spotlight doesn't look too bad on the back-projection screen. But then again, on South Today the CSO looks alot better as it doesn't have the green 'fuzz':

http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/SouthToday-4.jpg

Three back projection screens, in fact.

What what!!!!!!
Well, one of them looks like either a 42" Plasma/LCD screen, or may be a lightbox since it never does anything but show the logo....tsk!

I know BBC South West is going to move to Sutton Quay in 2010, but that's no excuse for leaving them behind technologically in the regional news stakes while they are at Seymour Road.

However, they do remarkably well with the space they have, post sofa-shuffling is even better ....(and the new snazzy up-lighters from B&Q)

http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/Spotlight-4.jpg http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/Spotlight-5.jpg http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/Spotlight-6.jpg http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/Spotlight-7.jpg

But apart from that back-projection screen, the rest is just fixed-positioned cameras showing CSO images/videos (and they are mainly fuzzy close up)

That thing behind Sally showing the newsroom is back projection I believe.

You would think so watching the timelapse construction video....but apparently not.

Really? I haven't seen that video actually - have you a link?

I'm surprised, but pleased in a way because it feels a bit of a waste IMO when you could have a view.

Yeah it is just a static image. It was originally a CSO curtain showing a view of Southampton (in the yellow walled, 2 presenter phase). Then it was just a blank red wall with the South Today web address on. Then it was turned into the static image you see now. It used to have vertical blinds in front of it but they were removed in another one of their "bodge it" rehashes of the original set to what we have now.

They're called "Par Cans", and whilst they are cheap and nasty, you don't buy them from B&Q.

[/pedant]

Doesn't look too bad, IMO.

What's the names of those two news presenters in the various shots, above?

I quite like the Par Cans, always have. Personal taste I guess.