Jill Dando verdict - BBC NEWSflash?

'The BBC and Sky News say the plane has crashed, but AP and the Interfax News Agency say it has disappeared.'

Nice to see conflicting reports once in a while

What a load of nonsense! The concorde crash was a perfect example because it was a 25 minute bulletin unlike the BBC One one which was only 5. All BBC One viewers needed was the main details, a quick OB for more information then back to Wimbledon. The Concorde crash was far more important than the verdict therefore warranted an extended programme. Why should N24 presenters be twiddling their thumbs while waiting for BBC One to join, especially when they're trying to increase the breaking/rolling news theme (regardless of whether you agree with that or not, it's the case.) No, let BBC One do their own thing.

Cheers, Asa

And - people like you would then be critisising BBC News 24 if they were 'breaking off' during Breaking News! What does this mean? Run a few trailers? Basically all they have to do for BBC ONE is switch on one camera, and the lights for all of 2/3 mins for a quick News Report.

No I wouldn't, CNN manage it very well all of the time, regardless of the news.

The fact is the BBC said they would be 'doing this in future' and they haven't.
And I cannot see why they couldn't have just put a ticker on the bottom of the screen, would have been much easier to do.

It would not take long for BBC One to join at all, they could play the ident then BBC One would play the ident and then both rejoin at the same time.
News 24 could have done a simple, 'Now to recap for BBC One viewers' which would not have affected the coverage at all as after that sort bulletin BBC One could have returned.
The fact is that when analouge is switched off the news on BBC One will gradually be reduced anyway, the BBC have themselves said that.
So why not get used to it now.
The BBC are desperatly trying to cut costs, a little forward thinking would have allowed them to save a few quid, instead they jump headlong into a news report that could just have easily have been done on News 24.
There was only a limited amount of news that could be reported on the Concorde crash.. the plane crashed, near Paris, 113 people died, that's your lot, but they still went to News 24.
Sky One joined Sky News, and they didn't have to do anything special at all, just let Sky One play out a short Sky News sting.
It doesn't require too much and would have saved them money.
And BBC One does not just turn on the lights and the camera, there is far more work that goes into it than that.

i think that the argument has been well made that for short interrupts then BBC One should prepare their own news reports. it certainly is slicker, and allows the viewer to switch to News 24 if they want to see continuing coverage.

i take the point that the BBC are accountable to the licence fee payer for their spending, but am forced to ask (knowing the average age of forum users) if you in fact pay one Chesh.

I do, and think it is value for money in the truest sense.

cheers

You really think that your money is being well spent when 3 BBC channels are providing exactly the same service??
I'm sorry but that strikes me as rather odd!

those moments are just that - moments.  large news stories like that don't happen every day, do they?

i must admit though, there do seem to be more and more of them lately, but i think all reporting has moved the way of 'exclusives', sensationalism and a rush to be first.  its just a reflection of our times i guess.

honestly though, ive seen television around the world and we are truly lucky to have such a fine service.  im quite proud of it really. some may think that is sad.  others will understand what i mean.

cheers

(Edited by Gavin Scott at 10:14 pm on July 3, 2001)

Also, I think there is a question of tradition in this argument. BBC ONE has had News Reports for years and years. Why change now? Many people do not even know of News 24. Why should they be subject to two new presenters, studio etc., when they can have a more well known person such as Anna Ford or Huw Edwards.

Also, a News Report interupts a programme. You'd never be able to opt to News 24, as it would go on for ages, when the BBC want to return to scheduled programming.

News 24 is not well known, all the more reason for the BBC to put it on their main channel.
The idea of tradition is long gone, eventually service will be broken down and you will get entertainment from BBC 1, Factual from BBC 2, news from News 24, etc etc.

Gavin, I fully understand what you mean.
As usual, I have just been in a CNN Chat Debate.
The topic gradually moved onto coverage of tonight's plane crash (I didn't see the coverage so i'm not sure about what happened really) but...
In the room there are people from London to New Zealand (literally) and one of the members from southern India was asking for the BBC World Service website address for South India, which I gladly gave him.
And it does make me pround to think that we have such excellent broadcasters over here, especially when compared to the US.
I also watched a full BBC World bulletin tonight, because of the plane crash, and having just watched CNN World News Europe I found the BBC one to be far far better.
I think that the vast majority of programming from the BBC is excellent, drama especially, but News 24 is just something I do not like.
I suggest making News 24 like FiveLive, calling it BBC 5 and then I would love it.
But at the moment it is too serious and treats everything as an extended 6 o'clock news bulletin, this is not the point of a 24 hour news channel.

Where you getting 3 network services from? News24...BBC One/Two, and surely BBC World can't be counted because it's not funded by us lot!

I like what Kay did on Sky News today. Just before fading out (eventually....) at 4.30, she said something like 'Henman poised to take the fifth set. Fingers crossed' and crossed her fingers to camera! A perfect way to round off the bulletin into the ads.

Cheers, Asa

[quote="cheshirec"]
I also believe this to be true of ITV plans, which is why I expect they want to launch their own News Channel. ITV1 for Entertainment, ITV2 for Repeats, ITV News for err News, ITV Sports Channel for Sport. The moment analogue is switched off, the 30 minute news bulletin on mainstream TV is dead.

cheers chesh, i appreciate your comments. you never know - this digital revolution is in its infancy - things may evolve as the years pass and we all get used to multiple-channel choice. i too would like to see another original BBC Channel - as opposed to re-run central BBC Choice. The best thing about that Channel is Christopher Price. and im proud to say i know him.

cheers