More Changes Ahead for ITV News

A full 30-minute bulletin today with Andrea and Felicity - but no window graphics. Interestingly, as Felicity had the right seat, Andrea interviewed someone in the studio sitting on the left side of the screen, so all close up shots of them had the globe on the big screen behind him, and it looked quite good.

I wonder why we got a full 30-minute bulletin today. A couple of years ago I'd have suggested revamping the Weekend News into 30-min bulletins with news, sport and regional news (Late Fri, Sat/Sun evening), but as ITV1 seem to prefer a 5-minute late update now on Sunday nights, maybe a full 30-minute early-evening bulletin with a late 5-min summary would work better at weekends.

Maybe its getting people ready for an extended sports section when ITV lose the rights to the Premiership and others later this/next year?

I quite liked the 30 minute bulletin on a Saturday - and presented by two woman aswell - how refreshing! Some decent sports coverage in the programme aswell!

It's because it has to accommodate the football results now that the Goal Rush has been dropped.

I was quite surprised to learn that the Goal Rush has been dropped from ITV1 is it still continuing on ITV2 or is it stopping altogether.
Ah well it was nice to see Andrea and Felicity working together, speaking of double acts i wonder what an evening news bulletin would be like with mary and katie presenting together

The Goal Rush has been scaled down somewhat recently. It certainly wasnt on today, but what's the point of it when you have the far superior Soccer Saturday on Sky?

And yes, the terrible Judy Aslett was back on today - looking as camera friendly as ever

It has stopped altogether, they said it was the last show just before Christmas, they showed some highlights and bloopers from the show, including when it was known as "Football First" and went out only on ITV2.

I guess it's stopped due to them losing the Premiership rights, and the fact that BBC's Final Score & Sky Sports Soccer Saturday have the market well covered anyway. It's made way for the Omnibus edition of Corrie, which will probably deliver more in terms of ratings. Sad, but there you go.

I'm not keen on some of sky sports programmes seems to rushed at times
I don't Judy is awful maybe if she got more experience presenting she will get better, but she will never be itv1 material

I happen to think ITV's football coverage is substandard anyway - its always looked cheap and ill-thought out, and they were always chasing the coat-tails of Sky Sports anyway., I suppose they've realised that now. its still surprising they've dropped it mid-season tho.

And Judy Aslett is terrible and not particularly photogenic either!

I have to agree that she is not photogenic. I wonder is she is being kept on for news channel when it relaunches, before the demise of the itn nc she was on at a regular basis after alison bell and some of the others went to the beeb and sky
It would be nice if the newschannel had dedicated presenters and have it as a seperate feature like sky and bbc

Thankyou Simon. I agree with you.

Now regarding the Knowledge Mr. Harvey appears to have the "I told you sp". If you feel you know something about what is going to happen on February 2nd then please share it with us.

I have been in Granada's Manchester Studios on many occasions, I am sure many others who contribute to this Forum have been in Studios around the country too.

Now, if anybody has any Fresh Information, please disclose it. I spoke to a lady at Yorkshire TV ans she confirmed a change with Calandar News but din't know much anout it.

Well, no idea what Simon Owen's "sources" are, but it has always been a rumour on here (and fact to some no doubt) that ITN (at least the ITV News bit of ITN) would be moving to 16:9 widescreen production sometime in 2004. In fact, I think that Central West and perhaps some other regions/subregions are capable of 16:9 production already, but are waiting for ITN to move to 16:9, so their you have it.

As for the move to 6.00 for the ITV Evening News, I think Nick has already said that he was misinformed about that. Perhaps it was planned, but has been canned for one reason or another.

It's a shame to see the goal rush go, although the programme wasn't very good I think Angus Scott was - anyone know what he's going to do?