I have to get this off my chest. Is it me, or does the Scottish BBC1 & 2 announcer, Stephanie Sabine, waste any ident time? I've not seen a single BBC1 ident that she's spoken over last more than 7 seconds. She dubbs the ident audio and speaks straight away and it really annoys me. Why is this? I read somewhere else on this forum that it's not the announcer who decides when to speak, but it's too much of a coincidence.
I have to get this off my chest. Is it me, or does the Scottish BBC1 & 2 announcer, Stephanie Sabine, waste any ident time? I've not seen a single BBC1 ident that she's spoken over last more than 7 seconds. She dubbs the ident audio and speaks straight away and it really annoys me. Why is this? I read somewhere else on this forum that it's not the announcer who decides when to speak, but it's too much of a coincidence.
It's not the announcer who decides the duration of the symbols.
I suppose the only reasonable explanation is the use of time available. As Dan said, the announcer doesn't choose the length but they have the timing so will want to fit as much into an announcement as possible - so Stephanie is making full use of the time she has before each programme.
It's just style. Some speak faster, some slower, more comedy, etc etc.
It's just style. Some speak faster, some slower, more comedy, etc etc.
I think it was into '24', two different announcers had the same script, they were both in different nations, one in Scotland, one in NI. The NI announcer, along with having to mention a slight late running, decided to take a bit more time and ad-libbed a bit as well, whereas Scotland did not, and it didn't sound as good.
I suppose the only reasonable explanation is the use of time available. As Dan said, the announcer doesn't choose the length but they have the timing so will want to fit as much into an announcement as possible - so Stephanie is making full use of the time she has before each programme.
It's just style. Some speak faster, some slower, more comedy, etc etc.
Yep here's how it works:
- Announcer is told what to write about;
- Announcer writes script and times it;
- Announcer gives timings to Network Director;
- Network Director puts symbol durations into automation system.
If the announcer's written a 12" script the director will normally allow at least 15" for the symbol, but if that would mean not getting to the next fixed point in the schedule (e.g. 21:59:50 for the regional symbol into the ten o'clock news) on time then he may only let it run for 13", or might have to ask the announcer to shorten her script. Alternatively if there's spare time you might see 20" symbols for a 12" script.
It can be more noticeable, for example, on Friday nights when the duration of something like HIGNFY probably isn't known until shortly before it goes on air, so if it comes in slightly shorter than expected you'd see long symbols in the junctions either side of it.