Having compared the BBC News output, with ITV's I have noticed how tacky the set is. OK, so it might have every colour of the spectrum splattered across it, but when they finally do re-vamp it (The amount of time ITV devotes to news is becoming less and less, will Trevor McDonald still be in work come 2005? - anyway that perhaps is another topic) ITV/ITN need to go more simplistic.
I have created a mock-news title just give you an idea of what they could do...
I agree with you about the ITV news studio. I would prefer it if they took the studio back into the newsroom. They have a very impressive glass building at Grays Inn Road which could be utilised rather than the closed set we have at the moment. So much of the set is just wasted space, and that large screen is hardly utilised at all. Do you remember when they first relaunched ITV News, that after the ad's, Trevor McDonald used to be stood up next to that screen away from the desk. That lasted about a week, ever since he's been firmly tucked away behind that desk.
Also, I actually preferred the old News at Ten set than the current one we have. I like it because it was dark and futuristic looking, with lot's of screens behind the presenter. Now the set is just too garish, with too many colours which just don't complement each other.
The main problem with the itv news is it is a blue screen studio. The background of the news room is so boring as it is a still caption. Even at the start where you can see people moving at the top is fake as the people are always in the same place at the same time all the time. They should have a live feed of the news room like the bbc.
MV
Mr Voiceover
INDEED!!!!
I loved the old News At Ten set. It reminded me of a spaceship , even though the NAT studio was in the newsroom (which was shown on the opening titles until the mid-1990s).
They could use the Who wants to be a millionaire set for the news, as it is quite newsy in its appearance. although Chris Tarrant and hard-hitting journalism don't quite mix, he could ask the audience whether to read todays top stories, or simply phone-a-friend
I like the BBC generic look because the colour scheme works and it still manages to look like a news programme. News 24 has a wicked set in my opinion. I also quite like Channel 4 News but not sure about that huge long red table splitting up the presenter from the guest, what's all that about ? But ITV News, is trying to be too cosy, comfy looking, it lacks authority and effect. Channel 5 I think is just the pits, totally bland, again they had a fantastic in the newsroom set and dumped it to go all white. It was great when Kirsty Young used to wonder all over the newsroom, and go in the politics corner and the sport corner.
MV
Mr Voiceover
Yes, the current BBC 1 and News 24 both have great sets (don't like the music though). But I must say the Newyddion (Pronounced: New-ithion), has a cosy, but well-made set, and in my opinion the best BBC News music AND set.
Here is a screengrab from April 11th's programme:
I have the main late edition theme tune if anyone wants it too.
Mmmm, where's the desk ? And that rail ? It looks like a branch of Dorothy Perkins !
ND
Nick D
Choice Wales looks a lot like that.
SD
Sam Davis
Does anyone remember the ITV Early Evening News with this very quick frenzied theme tune with a load of notes, and the camera panned down from the top of the ITN glass news building, and focused on John Suchet on one of the floor in the studio - I liked that!
The Newyddion studio is the same one used by BBC Wales. The big screen/sofa is used for the 6:00 update as Wales Today are in the main one (just a few feet away!)
When the main 7:30 bulletin is on, they use the main Wales Today set but the backdrop points at the Millennium Stadium rather than the view of Cardiff Bay.
Newyddion is very well presented, but it is limited due to my poor knowledge of Welsh. I do know a bit though!
MV
Mr Voiceover
Re: ITV Evening News
Ahh yes - that was used in the early 1990s until about 1994/5? Anyway, I thought it was very unusual music, which was well suited to the style of the programme, coming from inside the newsroom.
(Edited by Mr Voiceover at 4:15 pm on April 13, 2001)
, even though the NAT studio was in the newsroom (which was shown on the opening titles until the mid-1990s).