Channel 4

"via the internet" would be just as good a generic excuse for picture quality. I always assumed there was some kind of clause in Skype's terms of use that a mention was required for commercial/broadcast purposes, otherwise why do it?

David

There is: http://www.skype.com/en/legal/broadcast/

Gok's Fashion Fix featured the Instagram logo during a section where they showed viewers photographers. I don't believe it had a product placement logo on screen going in to and out of the breaks either side of that part of the programme. I wonder if the viewers actually used Instagram to submit their photographs or if they just used the logo to appear trendy.

Is anyone else watching The Murder Trial on Channel 4 at the moment? As a programme it's quite interesting, it would certainly make a good drama. It does seem to be reducing a court case to a piece of entertainment though, something that broadcasters have claimed they wouldn't do if they were allowed to broadcast footage from courts. I think it has mainly been Sky calling for this rather than Channel 4 though.

They haven't just been showing straight footage from the court, they have inserted home movie footage of the victim and the accused, inserted interviews ("Do you think he killed her?") with the people featured and have played background music during some scenes. There also seems to be lots of occasions when someone is talking and they cut away to someone else or a close up of someones hands before cutting back to the original person talking. Normally a sign of editing.

There is a danger of trivialising this but if cameras ever do end up in court rooms I do think live streaming of trials should be banned and that no footage should be able to be aired until after the verdict is given, whether in the form of news clips or documentaries such as this.

I think the danger of that is that there will be lots of editing, and there could be potential skewing of proceedings.

If this doesn't happen, then people are still welcome to pop down to their local court and watch a case in the public gallery.

If you're going to do it in London, may I recommend the Royal Courts of Justice over the Old Bailey, simply because the Old Bailey is more likely to be packed. Some of the cases at the RCJ might not be as juicy for some people though.

At least editing though after the trial can not affect the outcome. Airing portions, whether live or in reports, while the trial is continuing could in theory influence the outcome, but then again I guess standard reporting can too.

The first Ramadan call to prayer was on Channel 4 early this morning. Wasn't great, if I am honest. It was pre-recorded and showed a man walking around London singing while cupping his ear for a few minutes. Presentation wise it was preceded by Ramadan Reflections, a 4thought style programme with a Muslim speaking about being a Muslim and Ramadan etc. which itself was preceded by the CA explaining a bit about Ramadan and a graphic telling us 'Prayer times based on UPT London'. Neither Ramadan Reflections or the call to prayer had any credits or endcap. They both just ended with a Channel 4 logo.

How would you have improved it, David?

I wouldn't have put it on, I'm not sure a call to prayer is ever going to make great television. Although, they could have made it live, that always improves things. Considering this was the first episode, it was very poor indeed. If it was just a publicity stunt like many people suggested then what they have is fine, it cheaply fills up a few minutes at a time when there are hardly any adverts anyway.

8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown When will it appear?

26th July.

Cheers