NickyS UKTODAY

I thought I would watch BBC this morning cos NickyS (is that his user) was on - albeit only for 5 mins!

Just a couple of points:
in BREAKFAST why don't they call the regional opt-outs UK breakfast & NORTH WEST breakfast etc?

I'm sure more people must watch Sky News Sunrise throughout the world than BREAKFAST anyway.

Why would people around the world watch Sky News. It's pretty much only British news. Why would people just want to watch that?????? I'd much rather watch BBC World, CNN International, or some other INT'L news channel.

As an American you wouldn't necessarily, since you'd prefer to see an American (on CNN). From the countries I've been to, many people around the world often prefer Sky News' content & diversity compared to BBC & CNN which are often dry & dull

(Edited by SkyNews at 4:58 pm on June 15, 2001)

Sky News is actually well ahead of BBC World in Europe and very close to both CNNi and Euronews.
The fact that it is Europe's first news channel, and often called 'premier' news channel, probably plays quite an important role.
Euronews is only so popular because of the fact that it is in so many different languages.

Read this from an article talking about viewing figures of news channels in Europe ::

'The Sky News result is near-remarkable given that it is very much a domestic UK service, although evidently much appreciated by expatriate residents living in Europe. Domestically Sky News is consistently BARB-rated at around one per cent, and since August 11 is being full time web-streamed. Sky has boosted its overseas bureaux to seven, nothing compared to CNN's 39, but somehow managing to appeal to audiences as far afield as Turkey (where it's now on the Teleon and Digital Platform bouquets) and in its home market can hit a rating share of 3.25 per cent on a good day.'

Thanks for watching - at least there are no screen grabs up here! As to Breakfast it is not shown around the World - only on News 24 and BBC1. BBC World does its own output during what is UK Breakfast time. I'm sure most regions say good morning from wherever - I know I did when I was in Plymouth ... and they do on Look East.

I presume that by saying Plymouth you mean you worked on Spotlight?
Hopefully then you will be able to explain this to me!

Why is it that Spotlight is the most successful regional news programme in the UK?
More national newsreaders have come from there than any other regional station and it just seems to be at the bery top of the regional news tree.
Do you know what I am getting at?
Take for example the special Spotlight Vote 2001 programme, AFAIK no other regions had this, it just seems to be the BBC's special little brother and they nurture it....
Do you see my point?

Yeah I know what you mean, but North West Today have a great team though. They are all professioal, yet relaxed at the same time. I'm not fussed on the South Today presenters, or Look East.

Also, despite the fact that Spotlight seems to be the best one, hardly anyone who visits this forum lives under it, as we only have the opening titles, no sting or end sting, which may be very hard to get! The least likely which will appear on TV Home is Spotlight Channel Islands!!

(Edited by itsrobert at 8:37 pm on June 15, 2001)

Yeah I worked at Spotlight. There are I think a number of reasons as to why it is so successful ... firstly the South West is very community based and so Spotlight is seen as part of that - I know that I used to get recognised in Tesco's etc because the show was so popular. Craig the weatherman is probably one of the biggest stars in the South West. The programme understands it's community and knows when to go big on a story (like foot and mouth) but also knows it has to sometimes take a different view than say the national news. It doesn't take itself too seriously and can have a laugh and a joke when it has to. The management team are very good and more importantly so are the people - plus so many people at Spotlight have been there for years and years - they know how to do it and know their audience. I would happily go back to Plymouth - and always have in the back of my mind to do that when I'm older. Plymouth can also get away with doing things because they are so far from the centre that perhaps other regions that bosses can see wouldn't do.
I could go on but it's no surprise that Plymouth does so well and other BBC regions have now tried to copy it.

I thought I'd sent Asa some stuff - certainly I've sent some to other sites like Channel Islands and other bits.
Spotlight always tend to end on a shot of the studio with a caption ... it's legendary that Craig the weatherman walks over and joins the other presenters and tends to wave at the camera!!!!!

Oh you never know then, maybe it'll show up in the next update.

actually, if we're talking audience terms, Points West does best ...

Something like a 45 to 20% share to HTV West ...

Better even than Spotlight ...

Nicky did UK Today again this morning. I dont normally see breakfast for the simple reason that mum and dad watch GMTV (which i hate) and secondly i am gone by 07.00. I wasnt expecting him to be on but i heard him say his name and of course was watching with interest then. Nicky do UK Today at 18.30. You are a wasted talent on breakfast bulletins.