GMTV (1993 - 2010)

Couldn't remember my previous login details for 'theblokewhatwritesthenews', so here's me in different incarnation.
A few questions, and a few answers...
- New website launch is to simplify look and user experience, not connected with any planned programme changes
- still NO relaunch planned for all except LK, NO major changes to set in September, NO changes to titles, minor changes to on-screen captions and graphics.
- editorial changes making it through to air - more serious tone, a little more relevant to viewer's lives. Less emphasis on faraway international stories that have little impact on real people.

How'd you know all this? Don't mean to be rude and i might be missing the obvious

In a word, yes. The licence is for a certain amount of news and current affairs - which will be calculated across the week.

Exactly. Although the dippy blonde from Channel 5 has been mentioned - in the context that she is Martin Lewis' girlfriend - and wouldn't it be typical.
Which brings me to the 'money saving expert', or 'money making expert' as he's nicknamed by staff.

I don't see why people are so hung up about a change of set or graphics.

The graphics currently, while very Americanised, serve their purpose, and the set was only tweaked with recently.

Don't make them spend money they already have to save thanks to bosses' and phone-in incompetence.

Amen x 100

Glad you agree, but it's true. People on this forum demand relaunches every five minutes because graphics look "stale" or sets look "tired". The majority of the public probably wouldn't notice even the most obvious change of set because - as most mothers would testify to - it's mostly on in the background while they get the kids ready, make breakfast, take the kids to school. And for most men, they'd prefer to watch something a little less fluffy - maybe? So they're unlikely to pay that much attention. We'd be the only ones really who'd notice. So, should GMTV, which is a company already tight for cash on executives' big bonuses and phone-ikn cockups, have to shell out hundreds, even thousands of pounds on new sets and graphics just to make a few Aspergers suffering presentation fanbois on an internet site happy? Get a bloody sense of perspective.

Editorial must always come first. Then you can start putting the style on the substance. And it is substance which GMTV desperately needs to improve at the moment.

Amen, again. You talk a lot of sense - good for you.

Bumped into Ben Sheppard in Richmond Park yesterday afternoon, but didn't think to ask him about the new look, as I have no idea if he still works for GMTV!

Nice guy isn't he? Have a chat then or pass by? He returned today to co-anchor GMTV Today.

It would be nice to see a highlights show at the weekend... or something like "Saturday KItchen" or "Something for the Weekend" , but I guess they'd be too expensive.

I've certainly noticed the difference in weekday content over recent weeks, much more interesting news items.
I've enjoyed Danny Wallace doing the TV Preview too.

I'd still like to see Lorriane presenting GMTV Today ...

Impractical. She pre-records most of her shows so she can divide her time between London and Scotland better to be with her family. If she was to go live with GMTV Today, she wouldn't be able to achieve this - would she?

I was just thinking about all of the history of relaunches and the presenter rotas and what not for GMTV - and I am trying to think of other television programmes (well, GMTV is deemed a "station...") that are as affected by school holidays. I mean, when the end of term comes, GMTV's editorials change, presenters and shows change - and on return they relaunch with new graphics and new sets! It is definitely a contrast from BBC Breakfast, where there is much more of a consistency throughout the year. I mean, differentiation at Christmas is understandable, and common practically everywhere - however, summers at GMTV really do stick out like a sore thumb.

Ah yes, one programme that does come to mind that differs a little during the summer months is This Morning. I am struggling to think of any others, bar the children's programmes, of course.