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BBC and ITV (west) midlands

(August 2001)

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SO
SittingOvation
I've been abroad since Wednesday 18th July, and have JUST got back.

Has anything exiting happened to Midlands Today or Carlton (Central) in my absence?

Any more news on rumoured Central News (East)-style revamp for Central News (West)?

Thanx people!!!Wink
AS
Asa Admin
http://www.tvhome.co.uk/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=1&topic=1586
AN
Andrew Founding member
SittingOvation posted:
I've been abroad since Wednesday 18th July, and have JUST got back.

Has anything exiting happened to Midlands Today or Carlton (Central) in my absence?

Thanx people!!!Wink


Well it depends...

Is Carlton Central falling off air, then reappearing, broadcasting London Tonight followed by a generic 'itv' service for 2 hours with the hearts idents, exiting?

See the thread somewhere in this forum detailed 'Carlton Central Off Air' for more details

In realtion to Central News, as an observer from outside the region with only realvideos, They've had far too many new looks anyway haven't they?
SO
SittingOvation
I agree that Central News (West) has got through 'looks' like there's no tomorrow, moreso as the years roll by, but I'm quite happy for them to continue to do so until they find one that's actually half decent!

As far as I'm concerned the circa 1997 look (even after it was adapted from the central 'cake' to squares, to accompany the Carltonised CENTRAL logo) should still be in place and I wouldn't be bored of it... especially the wonderful theme music!
IS
Isonstine Founding member
Agreed!

The 1997 theme was a great one, its one of the best regional news themes that we've had in this region and why it was dumped is beyond me!

Central News has gone through lots of looks in recent times, but so many of them have been pants and it only really pulled back its audience share in about 1996, only to lose to the BBC soon after. The programme was hit by the split of the Midlands Today service.

Now, Midlands Today has the higher audience share again (especially since the corporate rebrand) and Central News East beats East Midlands Today and it has done for a long time. I think East Midlands Today edged ahead slightly in 1992, when more people knew about it but it quickly losts its audience again.
AN
Andrew Founding member
From looking at Realvideos, you've got the following on Central News West

1997 (Round the Regions) titles based on Cake logo
1998 (Round the Regions) 1997 titles slightly shortened with squares look.(Good ident used before it)
1999 (TV Ark) New music and titles, same set
2000 (The TV Room/TV Ark) Star titles, new set, same music.

South seem to have changed as often too, But Central News East material between 1996-1998 is non-exsitant on the internet.
SO
SittingOvation
If Central News (West) doesn't completely and utterly revamp this Autumn, I will be forced to take myself along to the tiny Carlton facility in Birmingham's Gas Street... AND THROW BRICKS THROUGH THE WINDOWS!!!!!

And if it does revamp, but is once again still UTTER PANTS, I'll do the whole brick thing anyway!!!!!
IS
Isonstine Founding member
Its about time Carlton Central West got something that looks decent again.

We used to have really good sets and music but recently they've made it absolutely awful.

I vote for a big studio, a return for that plasma screen (so they can copy Midlands Today and display Birmingham behind the desk) and also a big desk with room for two presenters so that Bob has got some company, he's very good at banter, he just hasn't got anyone to do it with at the moment Sad

Although, I wouldn't mind if they had exactly the same format and same style studio as Central News East as I think they've got a much better programme. Then again ANYTHING would be better than Bob in that broom cupboard!

Rant over! Smile
SO
SittingOvation
Having been inside the microscopic Carlton building in B'ham, it appears to me that there is no space for Central News (West) to have a big studio like before. The tiny studio it shares with CITV wouldn't allow it (and that seems to be the only studio in the building at all).

So, unless CITV is moved to Carlton Nottingham, we're stuck with a broom cupboard for news here in the west midlands...

(Edited by SittingOvation at 12:01 am on Aug. 4, 2001)

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