Daybreak - the launch onwards

For the political interviews it's no different to the current 'down the line' conversations from Westminster to TVC, surely: with the same number of staff employed, but just running the feed to Salford.

If they can do them for the normal BBC NC broadcasts between Westminster and TVC, then I'm sure it's acceptable during Breakfast to Salford.

Your claim that it "is just not the same as a live interview" is poppycock and you know it.

The viewer doesn't see anything different, and I can assure you that when I chat to my sister on Skype, it's as scary as being in the same room as her! So how is it different for politicians against a BBC interviewer?

I'm sorry but you're wrong on that. There is always a big difference when interviewing someone face to face. It's easier to interact and read body language and rarely do presenters have to repeat the question more slowly while someone keeps fiddling with their ear piece if they're sitting next to them.
I'm more interested in which of the presenters will be going up to Manchester. What's the point of packing them all up north to present the same show; surely they should be looking for "northern presenters" to give the programme a new feel?

Just to be a thorn in the side, I'm not agreeing with either side, but you wonder how different exchanges such as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDBRjKva74
might have been if it was done in the studio rather than as a live two-way.

(Apologies for the quality of picture and sound, there didn't seem to be a proper TV rip on YouTube)

Fiddling with earpieces is a production matter! I have absolutely no problem with seeing DTL interviews on news broadcasts. I see no disadvantage whatsoever.


The presenters are unimportant.

I don't believe BBC Breakfast ever actively sought 'southern presenters' for BBC Breakfast in the past, so why would they change following the move? I'm happy to be proved wrong, if you have proof of something otherwise.

Are you expecting Breakfast to come from beside a pigeon loft at Salford Docks, together with clog-wearing locals greeting you with 'Eee, It's a grand day' at 6am in the style of Peter Sallis as 'Wallace'?

If so, then the only stereotype being confirmed is of some rather naive southerners.

That's rather a tame DTL, really!

Most politicians would gladly smack Burley in the face if she said 'hello' to them down a dark alley, I'm sure!

Paxo has done far worse to politicians from the other side of a four-foot wide table, and would so it just as easily over a 400 mile gap, I'm sure!

Wow, a slightly agressive and unecessary retort there! It's certainly not "poppycock" and I definitely don't "know it". The net effect may be the same to you and some other viewers, but ask a programme editor or presenter whether they'd choose to have a guest in the studio or down the line, and the vast majority would always rather do a face-to-face interview.

It's like the difference between conducting an interview on the phone or in a room: you can gauge more reaction, body language, inference and inflection from a face-to-face interview. And of course, there's no satellite delay too. So, like I say, it's not the same.

Was I properly awake at 7am this morning? Did they cut straight from the titles to the post title backing bed skipping out the tag and long shot?

I think they do that now. I don't blame you for questioning though. Daybreak, like GMTV, seem to be changing things almost daily.

They seem to do this at times and then stop. Last week they skipped from the last shot of the titles to the presenters, yet the day after they did the Tag and wide shot.

A down-the-line interview is vastly different to a telephone conversation, most obviously because you can actually see the person.

Aside from the almost imperceptible satellite delay, there is nothing to prevent the interviewer from picking up "reaction, body language, inference and inflection".

Its just not the same, Stuart. I don't think, anyway, and lots of others seem to feel the same way.

There's clearly mileage from DTL interviews to be had, but not for a natter on the couch with a big star.

Cindi Lauper did an interview on Breakfast recently and commented on the video wall showing a picture of her in her house. She said she felt like she was in her kitchen - and was in an altogether playful mood.

If she'd been staring square on down a camera lens it wouldn't have had that "feel".

Sometimes its those moments that make a charming interview.

(I have a sister in NZ, and Skype may be terrific, but its not the same as having her in the room)

One thing I do wonder is with Breakfast being a 7 day a week program has this helped it flourish with more viewers? It's been 7 days a week since it launched in 2000 and if im correct its been since the early 2000's that Breakfast viewing figures started catching up and eventually over took GMTV. Breakfast has little competition at weekends for audiences and I wonder if people who perhaps tuned into GMTV in the week would watch Breakfast at weekends (as it's kids stuff on ITV) and may be just gradually migrated over to watching Breakfast every day of the week?!