BBC News Interactive

Just seen that the Live Plus option on BBC News Interactive is doing something quite nice.

Rageh Omaar is answering questions put by BBC News viewers by e-mail, apparently News 24 asked for questions earlier today.

It looks like it is coming from the Liquid News studio, and being presented by Susannah Reid.  

Nicely done, and a good different use of facilities.

Also - is it me or is the picture quality of the feeds on BBC News Interactive slightly better than on Sky News active.  The picture seems to be a bit less jagged on BBCi.

Quite a nice simple trail running as well on Live Plus, sounds like the Parliament megamix music being used?

(That said - the Live Plus service is often showing recorded stuff - perhaps News Plus would be a better name?)

(Edited by noggin at 3:27 pm on Nov. 20, 2001)

I was questioning my eyesight when I looked at BBC wotsit thingy i News. It's blurred, like a big blurry thing, and the picture is smaller than Sky's.

Didn't see this Liquid News studio thingy. Sounds like a slightly adapted version of Sky's Your Call - which they should bring back!

c@t are you watching in 4:3 or widescreen?

I am watching in 16:9 (on a 16:9 set) and the BBC i Video is marginally bigger in screen area terms than Sky News Active (which is only 4:3)

I agree that the BBCi 'studio' seems to be a bit blurry - but the real pictures seem far less jaggy than Sky News Active.

(I also see that if you are watching in 4:3 everyone is tall and thin!)

Widescreen - 16:9

Sky News is only 4:3, and god knows when they're going widescreen, they didn't say anything to me the other day. Other than 'HHmm... no plans that we know of!'. Thorough and detailed reply, thanks Sky.

I'd rather have a sharp image on Sky than a blurred one on News 24. I'm still finding it amazing anyone can like it! The first time I saw it I just laughed.

How on Earth people can say it's quicker to load is beyond me. Maybe to load at first, yes, but flicking from text to videois just an arse. It's not BBC News Interactive IMO, it's just BBC Text with a few ideas nicked from Sky and hashed together in Powerpoint.

Hmm - seems quickest to get into if you go via BBCi on BBC One or Two rather than pressing red on News 24.

Press Text, go to the BBCi Home, this allows quick access to BBC Text as well as all the BBCi video feeds, all BBC networks (cept Parly and National Twos) and the 4 Latest in Videos, using the Red Change TV option.

I think that using the 'Latest In Video' option is a bit klunky in comparison.

In Ariel a couple of weeks ago the screenshot said 'News Plus' - but I suppose they thought they weren't emphasising their coverage of live events enough..

The Sports option is heavily plugging BBC online + BBC text after each item. I note they've also gone to the trouble of producing captions with large type so you can read them quarter-screen.

William

I think they should have keep BBC News Interactive separate from BBCi text, because when I come out of the system, my widescreent TV goes into 4:3 mode then back to 16:9, which is worrying, and BBCi Text keeps getting interuppted for updates which never happened before this!

has anyone got any pics please