TalkRADIO

I came here to make a comment about TalkRADIO's presentation but there didn't appear to be a thread, so I thought I'd create one.

I find it a bit weird how their backdrop looks like a jumble of screens when it is actually on big screen (like in their previous studio now occupied by Times Radio). For example, the screen is normally presented as seen here:

However, it is evident that the screen is actually one entity (not lots of smaller screens) in this PMQs video:

It appears that the lines have been added in. Has anyone got an idea of why they make it look like a collection of screens instead of one big one? IMHO it looks better just as one big backdrop, like they used to have in their old studio.

Is it the same studio though? The bottom video has terrible lighting on the host but the top one is OK.

EDIT: The desk looks identical so maybe it is the same... weird!

Definitely the same studio - happened with the inauguration too when they had a live feed of that on the big screen. It is really strange as having one big backdrop would look nicer.

Assuming it's the same studio and set, could it be an inverse authenticity thing? Where somewhere like the BBC wants viewers to think the programme originates from the heart of a newsroom or a-top a skyscraper (without having to control for lighting or personnel issues, or inflexibility), is TalkRadio actually *trying* to convince you they're in a proper studio? As a relatively unestablished/smaller operation that puts out a lot of video on social media and YouTube that's predominantly a presenter looking to camera with the screen in the background, perhaps they don't want viewers to think it's either a green screen or virtual background, but a real studio (albeit a crap one)?

That doesn't sound likely, but I honestly can't think of another reason you'd deliberately try to make it look like you were using rather dated screens if you weren't using them anywhere?

That's a fair point, and may well be why they're doing it.

talkRADIO have basically three main studios - the main one is of course the main radio studio with I believe three cameras in it, one focusing on the presenter, a wide shot camera and one camera which focuses on guests who sit in the studio for interviews.

They also have a green screen virtual studio, which was used for their US election coverage, and is also now used for the appalling "Plank of the Week" uploads from Mike Graham who is usually joined by two other media commentators or talkRADIO guests/hosts.

Finally, talkRADIO had been using a room at the top of the News UK building for Plank of the Week, which actually looked very nice, indeed when they had the Christmas trees up it did look nice on screen. Three socially distanced chairs spaced out, with a nice real view of the London skyline, just a shame they moved away from there in early January and into the crap green screen studio.

I find it interesting that the overnight programming on talkRADIO from 1.00am is never seen onscreen, why?

Could it be because overnights are now shared with TalkSport?

https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/06/talkradio-and-talksport-to-share-overnight-shows/

Yes Talkradio basically takes Talksport overnight so Paul Ross is at TS.

talkRADIO had a really bad Christmas schedule for 2020, I noticed they simply abandoned Christmas Day and Boxing Day and just had archive repeats of previous programmes. Yes I know it was Christmas, but did LBC Radio do the same or did they have live programming over Christmas Day and Boxing Day?

LBC was a mix of live and pre-recorded specials. talkSPORT is also largely pre-recorded on Christmas Day as well.

As was most of 5Live, with just the breakfast slot live then 3 30 minute round ups spread through the day.

As much as I probably strongly disagree with the views of anybody who produces or presents content on talkRADIO, I certainly don't begrudge them being able to spend Christmas with their families, rather than being forced to work when very few people are actually listening.