STV News

I doubt if it will trouble our beloved politicians very much. Most of them probably don't even know the GMTV bulletins exist.

Given that we're talking here about the briefest of summaries illustrated mostly by library pics, one can hardly make it a great issue of principle. Will the new look bulletins really be much different or any worse?

I'm surprised GMTV hasn't tried to get out of its regional commitments completely to tell you the truth.

I think that things are heading that way.

I'm sure I recall (correct me if I'm wrong) that at GMTV's launch in 1993, there was originally more than the current 3 regional bulletins (possibly 4 or 5?) across the course of the morning.

And, of course, those ITV regions which happen to run two or more "news sub-regions" were forced to start providing a single pan-regional service during GMTV, a few years ago.

And now this news about STV.

Regional bulletins within GMTV are definately on the way out, by my reckoning.

I remember when there were at 06.30, 07.30, and 08.30

I think they used to be at 6.10, 6.40, 7.10, 8.10, but the 6.10 one was dropped around 5 years ago.

I have been working in Scotland regularly and was shocked to see how poor the programme has become, and how poorly it compares to other regions - notably BBC Midlands Today (both west and east).

The presenters in the west - Nick Owen, Suzanne Virdee, sometimes Michael Collie, and the doyenne herself Kay Alexander (she has been presenting there for 30 years) sit on a stylish red sofa with a huge floor to ceiling window to the rear: they far excel, and the links to features and weather as well as backdrop to the Birmingham Mailbox, are superb. And the banter is fun, unlike the stiff, claustrophobic feel to Scotland Today - it doesn't flow in any way at all.

UTV Live in Belfast (Lynda Bryans, Kate Smith, Pamela Ballantyne) also excellent, with an hour-long format that works very well. Lots of feature links and friendly banter, more fun... love the first half devoted to local life then the handover to serious issues.

Reporting Scotland is far superior - I have read numerous posts and have to say that Sally Magnusson and Jackie Bird are excellent newsreaders, as is David Robertson. And the stylishly well-spoken Fiona Henderson (plug) is lovely as is Alison Walker. I think the plans for the open-plan Pacific Quay are excellent, I have had a quick wander round already.

That's my take on it - can;t say I like any of the STV presenters at all I'm afraid. Bring back Viv Lumsden (or the stylish political editor Fiona Ross to front it.) It needs a more charismatic anchor (in the Kaye Adams or Hazel Irvine style I'm afraid). What happened to Angus Simpson? Or Alan Douglas? And the opt out presenters aren't much better either.

You never seem Scotland today have you

I fed up with all that softly crap English Newsroom with is story about cats, and oap makes cake sales!

I like STV and its HARD hitting stories!

Angus Simpson was sack 6 years ago, i shall leave the reply about BBC to someone else who can a much better reply than me!

Oh dear. I would have to say that you are very wrong.
Perhaps your comments would be received better if you actually knew what you were taking about. David and Jackie are good as solo anchors but are terrible as a double act.

I disagree with you .Scotland Today is streets ahead of RPS.I always find RPS far to twee people aren't interested in boring stories from Orkney in the central belt and vice versa .STV have it right with their news agenda if i were to change one thing i would bring Shereen back where she belongs .

also RPS: has stories like

OAP finds her own 'lost' portrait

so informative!

This is the type of story you'd expect to see on Border's Lookaround - not on a national news programme such as Reporting Scotland. It's also the type of drivel that Lookaround's viewers have to put up with on a nightly basis.

You guys in the central belt have it so lucky.

I recently emailed stv, asking if it was true that GMTV had sacked them as the supplier of early morning Scottish news bulletins.

So it's true.

Does this mean more redundancies? Didn't think there was anyone left?!