: Steven Godden
GC
This from broadcast this week: "SMG will also continue investing programming for its core STV business.
It will launch a news magazine programme for 5.30pm-6pm early next year that will broadcast across Scotland, ahead of the 6pm national news bulletin. The show is expected to increase the group 9% share of audience at this time.
It will launch a news magazine programme for 5.30pm-6pm early next year that will broadcast across Scotland, ahead of the 6pm national news bulletin. The show is expected to increase the group 9% share of audience at this time.
ST
They're going all UTV on us
Hope the programme isn't just a crafty way of replacing both shows. Something a bit like the old "Room at the top" broadcast from Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow ages ago would be nice with Stephen Jardine.
GaryC posted:
This from broadcast this week: "SMG will also continue investing programming for its core STV business.
It will launch a news magazine programme for 5.30pm-6pm early next year that will broadcast across Scotland, ahead of the 6pm national news bulletin. The show is expected to increase the group 9% share of audience at this time.
It will launch a news magazine programme for 5.30pm-6pm early next year that will broadcast across Scotland, ahead of the 6pm national news bulletin. The show is expected to increase the group 9% share of audience at this time.
They're going all UTV on us
Hope the programme isn't just a crafty way of replacing both shows. Something a bit like the old "Room at the top" broadcast from Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow ages ago would be nice with Stephen Jardine.
AB
Indeed...
The Herald this morning implies the new programme will incorporate both Scotland Today and North Tonight. Does anyone know if this is actually the case? Or will the new 5.30pm programme be completely separate?
Whatever happens, it'll be interesting to see where it's actually presented from. There isn't much room in the studio at SMG HQ!
And I'd be curious to know if the new programme will actually mean an EXTRA two and a half hours a week of Scottish output - or if they'll get rid of some of their other programmes such as Politics Now to balance it out.
Given SMG's current financial position, it would be very brave indeed to actually increase investment in so-called regional production. Their profits have plunged - and the share price yesterday fell to 33.5p which is its lowest in modern times. Indeed the WHOLE of SMG (ie STV plus "Grampian" plus Virgin Radio) is now worth virtually the same as the price STV paid for Grampian in 1997. Changed days.
(I hope I'm not being cynical. If the new 5.30pm programme really represents extra Scottish output and is properly produced and resourced then it's very welcome indeed. But I fear there's a bit of spinning going on...)
The Herald this morning implies the new programme will incorporate both Scotland Today and North Tonight. Does anyone know if this is actually the case? Or will the new 5.30pm programme be completely separate?
Whatever happens, it'll be interesting to see where it's actually presented from. There isn't much room in the studio at SMG HQ!
And I'd be curious to know if the new programme will actually mean an EXTRA two and a half hours a week of Scottish output - or if they'll get rid of some of their other programmes such as Politics Now to balance it out.
Given SMG's current financial position, it would be very brave indeed to actually increase investment in so-called regional production. Their profits have plunged - and the share price yesterday fell to 33.5p which is its lowest in modern times. Indeed the WHOLE of SMG (ie STV plus "Grampian" plus Virgin Radio) is now worth virtually the same as the price STV paid for Grampian in 1997. Changed days.
(I hope I'm not being cynical. If the new 5.30pm programme really represents extra Scottish output and is properly produced and resourced then it's very welcome indeed. But I fear there's a bit of spinning going on...)
SM
I believe the plan is to create a seperate 5.30pm 'national' programme which would then end with 'now here's your news' or something llike this. Basically, it will be divorced from North Today/Scotland Today. However, don't be surprised if SMG jump on the ITV bandwagon and create one STV News show in the future. It's all down to Ofcom's decision on ITV PLC in England. If they approve this it'll set the ball rolling. And re. your question on cutting other shows - SMG made a promise in their annual review that the 5.30 programme would be in addition to what they already do. However, the 5.25am bulletins will definitely go as these are only done at the moment for quota reasons.
SO
I assume that South Scotland will have to continue to sustain watching the joke that is Border's Lookaround, then - unless it's handed over to STV when Border and Tyne Tees merge.
smgboi posted:
I believe the plan is to create a seperate 5.30pm 'national' programme which would then end with 'now here's your news' or something llike this. Basically, it will be divorced from North Today/Scotland Today. However, don't be surprised if SMG jump on the ITV bandwagon and create one STV News show in the future. It's all down to Ofcom's decision on ITV PLC in England. If they approve this it'll set the ball rolling. And re. your question on cutting other shows - SMG made a promise in their annual review that the 5.30 programme would be in addition to what they already do. However, the 5.25am bulletins will definitely go as these are only done at the moment for quota reasons.
I assume that South Scotland will have to continue to sustain watching the joke that is Border's Lookaround, then - unless it's handed over to STV when Border and Tyne Tees merge.
AB
Cheers smgboi. It's sounding promising.
Assuming Ofcom gives the green light to itvplc's plans for the English regions, it would be very hard to force STV to keep separate bulletins for the North and Central regions.
In fairness though, you could easily argue that a 60 minute "national" programme with substantial sub-opts would be a genuinely better service.
As I've always said, people are interested in Scottish national news and their own local news - but not in the news of the largely artificial regions defined by the old Scottish/Grampian boundary.
(I'm more worried at the moment about whether SMGplc will make it to January as an independent company. Have you seen their share price today? Down another 2p. And the value of the group has dipped below £100 million. ITVplc and UTV must be looking on with interest. Rob Woodward may have laudable ambitions but the value of the group has more than halved since he took over)
Assuming Ofcom gives the green light to itvplc's plans for the English regions, it would be very hard to force STV to keep separate bulletins for the North and Central regions.
In fairness though, you could easily argue that a 60 minute "national" programme with substantial sub-opts would be a genuinely better service.
As I've always said, people are interested in Scottish national news and their own local news - but not in the news of the largely artificial regions defined by the old Scottish/Grampian boundary.
(I'm more worried at the moment about whether SMGplc will make it to January as an independent company. Have you seen their share price today? Down another 2p. And the value of the group has dipped below £100 million. ITVplc and UTV must be looking on with interest. Rob Woodward may have laudable ambitions but the value of the group has more than halved since he took over)
GM
John MacKay interviews head of stv News, Gordon McMillan, about the new 5.30 programme for today's The Real MacKay. He said it should launch at the beginning of next year.
JO
A few changes were implemented within North Tonight yesterday. There is now a wholly unnecessary sting at the start and end of the opt, with the stv.tv/news looking totally out of place. The weatherman was also in the Aberdeen studio, instead of Glasgow.
The whole programme has now become cluttered with unnecessary branding all over the place. I am now also becoming dizzy with all these people wandering around the studio.
Too much coverage is being given to Glasgow Rangers and Celtic within the regional sports package. On several occasions recently the “old firm” have actually been the top story. It is easy for Aberdeen to grab a Glasgow story to fill, but they should be giving more coverage to local sport.
The whole programme has now become cluttered with unnecessary branding all over the place. I am now also becoming dizzy with all these people wandering around the studio.
Too much coverage is being given to Glasgow Rangers and Celtic within the regional sports package. On several occasions recently the “old firm” have actually been the top story. It is easy for Aberdeen to grab a Glasgow story to fill, but they should be giving more coverage to local sport.