GMTV

So, the studio is being redesigned, does this mean things will change 'on screen' or is it a behind the scenes change. I guess what I'm coming down to is are we getting a new set ? New look GMTV ? I wouldn't have thought they would have unveiled a new set midweek.

I don't know if its live butclick here to see the GMTV set

Well if it is live, there ain't a lot going on. I guess the changes they are making must be behind the scenes. So, they moved the whole operation to London Tonight Studios for the time being (till Wednesday apparently ??!)

At 8:05pm the GMTV sofa has a white cover on it and a ladder is squeezed between the sofa and the table. Anyone remember the time when they broadcast live from the southbank - as in directly on the southbank - like BBC Breakfast Weather?

Also - does this mean GMTV is going to become a news based programme? I mean it doesn't make much sense for them to get 'the most technologically advanced news centre in Europe' if they're not going to use it - although their old GMTV News 'set' was pathetic, a desk and a chromakey background shoved in a corner.

Slightly OT but does anyone know anything about C4's new breakfast show? Maybe the time is right for bringing back Good Morning Britain!

Apparently, C5 are considering using the name TV-AM, which will be interesting.
From the screen grab it looks rather good. London's skyline is fantastic and it would certainly be worth putting it as a backdrop to GMTV.
I honestly cannot see GMTV becoming a news based programme. But it would appear now it the time for big relaunches so who knows!
I would be a little confused as to why GMTV would be building the most advanced news centre in Europe, as their news is provided by ITN.
But it certainly needs a revamp, I hope they keep that shot of London though.

I think Penny Smith was still doing the GMTV News in the usual place this morning.
Also, where is London Today during GMTV coming from then?, or do they have a self-opt style broomcupboard for this?

Just a note, London Today doesn't exactly own the studios.
They are just part of the LWT studios, which are quite tall, hence the good view.

I have mate who still works at GMTV as a freelance sound tech so here's what I understand is going on:

Basically it is a technical upgrade.

The old Sony Betacart videotape playback system is being give the elbow

In comes a Quantel Clipbox 14 channel server system to playback all the news reports and titles etc..

The vision mixer is also being upgraded to a digital one (sorry don't know which one but the industry currently likes the Philips, Sony 7000 series or the new Grass Valley desk, who's name escapes me.)

The cirra 1990's analogue cameras are also be upgrades to 21st century digital ones.

I Have not heard if they are doing up the set to any great extent or not, but this would not normally require any studio downtime as they only broadcast for 3 1/2 hrs a day.  They can do this in a weekend where the can set up some temp set for the Sunday show and then its cartoons all they way.  Well that's what we did when I worked for them in London a few years back.

The fact that they are putting new cameras in must explain what the 'ladder' is doing in there ... to me it looks liek it is some kind of test card and they are registering or lining up the cameras on that picture! It doesn't look as though there is any work going on 'on high'.

Would you think that GMTV might go 16:9 now then with new cameras?

Cheers,

They could well do. All new cameras are 16:9 comaptible nowadays, so it's certainly possible.

GMTV IS getting a new look, Kate Garroway said so at 8.00

Good news I say!