BBC Pres on Points Of View

It looks like I was the only person to catch Points Of View this afternoon (well, no-one else has mentioned it!), featuring the most red-hot footage of modern BBC continuity to date.

In response to a rant about loud announcements over programme credits, POV returned to BBC1 playout and we saw Duncan Newmarch making announcements in and out of programmes. The director was seen counting him in to an end credit promotion - she controlled his fader, not him. We also got a c/u of Duncan's script; though it wasn't clear if this was in print or on a computer screen.

Sadly Duncan wasn't interviewed, just some woman who trotted out all the usual excuses for ECPs. And I didn't record it I'm afraid.

Come on, I can't have been the only person to have seen this?

Nope, I watched it when it was broadcast and kept it on Sky + too!

Excellent Paul, any chance of a video?

I'll try and upload something in a bit (probably on MHP), if someone else hasn't done so.

I saw it too, in a break in the cricket, but it didn't actually say anything, beyond a bit of media puff, so I didn't think it significant enough to bother mentioning.

IMO the BBC should do what C4 does - instead of ECPs and the announcer being forced to blabber over the credits by marketing, they should put the slugs over the credits - not as distracting as during the programmes, allows the music to play us out, and gives people a gentle pointer as to what's on next.

The announcer should be given back control of the faders and vision mixers as well.

Yep, C4 are especially very respectful of The Simpsons credits. Even with the umpteenth showing of the Stonecutter's episode, they still do the "Who wants to watch Hollyoaks next...?", "WE DO!" caption over the music.

As to the loudness of trails, one yesterday must have been a mistake. I think it was the end of Diagnosis Murder into a Life on Mars trail which was bellowing out! I doubt anyone who caught that junction didn't reach for the remote.

And thanks to POV, it's nice to see into the world of BBC Playout.

I'm disappointed that they don't do a webcast of POV, they do for so many other "short" programmes such as Click and NewsWatch

I thought I was the only one who did THAT!

Why does there need to be any form of visuals accompanying end credit announcements when just the voiceover sufficed for almost 40 years?


Without question!

It would stop the announcer blabbering over the credits - surely a small visual in the corner of the screen would be better than having an announcer bursting in over the music saying "And don't forget to watch next week, when Mr Smith discovers his wife's handkerchief in the prime suspect's sock drawer and gets all jealous."



And not forgetting the fact that announcement styling guidelines need to be flushed down the toilet or recycled as firelighters.

What also concerns me about the anno not having control over his own fader is that it might be a deliberate strategy to "censor" him by Marketing or Media Planning. Not so much about keeping the sound of faders clonking off the air, but making sure announcements follow their rules to the letter.