Daybreak - the launch onwards

I'd be surprised if the contracts weren't quite specific about the programmes, and right of veto, that the talent has. Any agent worth their salt would want some kind of say (for them or their talent) over the programmes that a contract requirest them to present (to avoid ITV parking them on some show they don't want to present).

It will equally be likely to have a get-out clause for the presenters that means ITV have a requirement to release people from contracts with a pay-off if they don't guarantee to provide them with suitable outlets - as being off-air (even if paid) is not good for a career. (i.e. ITV may not be able to take Christine off-air and not give her something else - that she agrees with - to present, and may not just be able to pay her to sit at home)

Contracts are usually beneficial to both parties - and ITV were desperate to get Adrian, and then desperate to get Christine to present with him. They both have the same, famously hard-ball-playing agent. I suspect they have very good contracts...

I think you always have to treat these kinds of stories with a pinch of salt but it is interesting that ITV executives are considering axing Adrian and Christine following on from earlier reports that Adrian might get axed. In reality senior bosses are probably looking at a range of options for the future of the show however ratings have stabilised at around 800,000 mark. For me it's not the presenters that are the problem (however everybody is entitled to their own opinion) it is fundamentally the content of the programme i.e. the lack of agenda setting news and too much lighthearted features (as previously discussed on the forum).

In reference to their contracts, we are already aware of how water-tight they can be. Remember how before January Christine was only allowed to present with Adrian on Daybreak because there was a specific clause on their contracts. Therefore when Adrian had football presenting duties Christine couldn't present hence Kate and Dan presented the show together. Since then producers managed to get around that arguing because Kate and Dan where the main relief presenters they could present alongside Adrian and Christine. As a result I think the show has to certain extent improved because Adrian and Kate / Christine and Dan make better presenting duo's.

I'd agree that Adrian and Christine have completely lost their chemistry. The Kate/Adrian, Christine/Dan chemistry is much better. Yesterday, Adrian was patting Kate on the back and laughing with her. I can see that there is an atmosphere or awkardness between Adrian and Christine. She feels she has become too big for him perhaps.

If they can't get them out of their contracts then the logical solution is to just not pair Adrian & Christine and have a similar set up to GMTV with Adrian & Kate and Christine & Dan. A newsreader with more gravitas is desperately needed too, they should never have ditched Helen from GMTV.

Obviously the usual made up story, quoting 'sources' and mentioning how it slumped to 300,000 viewers in January. Wasn't that on Bank Holiday Monday? I'd be surprised if GMTV 'consistantly got 800,000 viewers' on Bank Holidays

I wonder if that London centric view also has a part to play, I have to admit I like it though but of course in the winter it doesn't work.

Noticed that Adrian and Kate are presenting, they make for a better presenting team then Adrian and Christine.

You're absolutely correct the ratings slump occurred during the festive bank holidays. GMTV also use to suffer a decline in ratings although not to the same extent as Daybreak. In terms of year on year performance Daybreak coupled with Lorraine is performing in line or roughly thereabouts with GMTV compared to the same period last year. It was about May / June last year that GMTV's average fell to around 750,000. But you never really hear that in the media coverage about the programme.

Also with regards to the presenting duo's there is a lot of consensus on the forum about Adrian & Kate / Dan & Christine. It is interesting over the past few weeks Christine has presented mostly with Dan while Adrian has been presenting with Kate . They might make these pairings a more permanent feature on the programme so in effect we would see a lot less of Adrian and Christine together.

They already have a very good team of presenters and correspondents (as previously discussed) so there is more scope to improve the programme. I agree with Badger 264 I really liked Helen Fospero they should have kept her on but I think Tasmin has improved immensely as the news anchor over the past few months (although everybody has their own opinions).

I don't think the studio or the London centric view has been the major problem, now there is daylight the panoramic views of London are fantastic. It's only in mid-winter when it is pitch black outside that there is the problem with the set.

why not use a projector and outside camera in the winter to project the night view, or is there not enough space for that

Theres also nothing stopping them from having different sections of the studio like This Morning do, and they simply don't present from the window when its dark outside. There is a lot of space that isn't utilised properly, for example the area with the random TV with 5 screens and sports desk could be changed, neither are necessary.

In slightly different news the audience index figures are still at rock bottom even with the new frequency of presenting pairings, so it might not be even worth them attempting to fix Daybreak. Maybe they should just scrap it completely instead of worrying about changes and try and get GMTV back on air.

Why not put part of the sofa on the wall previously used as the weather map when it's dark, then for music and items that take part there, just use the Lorraine performance area?

It's easy to say axe daybreak, but what do you put in place? My suggestion may be to have an early morning news programme, produced by ITN, running from 06:00-08:00, with half hourly regional updates. Then at 08:00, each region, including STV and UTV, has a half hourly news programme of its own. with a small lifestyle report as well, before handing over to Lorraine at 08:30.

As regards a news show, only one presenter would be required IMO.

The title of the ITN produced show could be News AM.

But then, If you wanted to watch a straight forward news show, you'd watch BBC, ITV has always taken note that not everybody wants to wake up to that and produced shows with a bit on fun thrown in.