Sky News

I hate Sky News, I hate everything about it. I know it is about to relaunch, but at the moment it is dreadful, and presentation wise it's a disaster. So here is my rant.

The music is awful, and not at all fitting to the channel or even a news programme. The attempt at a countdown at the top of the hour is just feeble. It's supposed to be the big build up towards the main headlines however it fails to generate any interest in what is about to arrive, unlike the funky BBC Countdown and dramatic thunder claps.

The screen graphics are dreadful, blocky, imposing and the text is HUGE. The astons don't fit in at all with the look of the channel. What is all that flashing and flickering with logo about at the top of the hour, it looks crap.

The presenters are awful, very 2nd rate. The camera is too close in, I don't want to see some of these people that close up. The female presenters aren't too bad, but the male presenters are the most wooden, dull, uninteresting people I have ever seen.

The weather is shocking, the worst graphics I have seen in my entire life on a weather map, you can't make out at all what they are actually trying to show ! They have endless arrows all over the place, and the weather presenters just don't really care. They clearly have no enthusiasm or interest for what they are presenting, so why should I. Also, Francis Wilson, sort the hair out for gods sake. The weather DOG during the breakfast time is a complete waste of time, the FTSE graphics are blocky and awful.

I hate the way they just fade in and out of the adverts without an ident or anything.

They don't cover nearly as many stories during the hour as BBC News 24, the business reporting is very poor.

The logo is unimaginative, the desk is the worst I have seen in TV News, too small, amateurish, very MFI. The sport presenter just wheels up a chair around an already cramped desk.

The studio is tiny, dark, dingy and depressing. Where as BBC have a large sweeeping desk, in very light, airy surroundings. I know where I'd rather present. They are really in desperate need of this relaunch.

I feel so much better for that.

I think the quote on Sky News, the camera too close to the presenters are brilliant, it should be further away and the graphics are a very big disaster, can you get them any worser?:

Definitely agree that the new onscreen graphics and music are terrible. It's really going down hill......I'm THAT close to stopping watching, it's not funny!!!

And also what irritates me with the presenters is the way Bob Friend (who I remember way back from Breakfast Time as a competent and professional journalist) and Anna Botting just seem to constantly fall over their words and take the mickey. I don't mind a bit of banter, but puhhhhhleeeeaaaassse.....just boff her and get on with it!!!

oh come on! please! the weather isn't THAT bad! What about Lisa Burke?

Going backwards and forwards through Europe as I do, I find it quite frustrating when the only English news channel is Sky News -- I'd much rather have CNN (or BBC World at a push). Heck, even China Central's news in English is better.

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Just my opinion!!

(Edited by Andrew Wood at 11:09 pm on July 11, 2001)

Right being as though Chesh isn't here to stick up for Sky, I'll do it for him.

I do agree with some of your points but remember that the studio and desk are only temporary and they will have a much better set when they relaunch in a few weeks time.

Be careful not to look into the bad things too much. Just because you like a certain thing doesn't mean you can't like a different style of presentation.

Sky News has been going strong for 12 years now and is still a VERY popular channel. Some people don't like the way certain things are done but there will always be that problem.

I like Sky News, I have grown up with it as its always on when my dad is watching the TV. BBC News 24 is a very good channel and I do indeed like it but to tell you the truth, I much preferred the flags and a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.

I think the relaunch so far is good because anything is better than what they had before. I still prefer a lot of the other looks of Sky. I think they have all been good. In 1998 they made it look rubbish, but now I think they are trying to make up for it.

Wait for the relaunch, if you still don't like it then thats your choice but don't just dislike something because you like the opposition.

There is life outside of BBC News 24 you know.

I don't dislike Sky News because I like News 24. I dislike it because I think it is a very poor quality service, mainly in presentation. I think many regional TV stations news programmes have better presentation than Sky News. It is stale, dull and boring in terms of presentation, of course comparisons will be made to other channels and that is healthy. Keeps the broadcasters on their toes. As you say, the relaunch may put all of this right. I have no reason to be pro-BBC, I have no affiliation with them, but as a viewer of both channels I know which style and presentation I prefer, it is a personal choice. If the BBC did something I hated I would also be quick to point this out, as I did recently with the BREAKING NEWS astons.

Oh and another thing that annoys me about Sky News, the constant flogging of the active service, somebody should tell them to put that flippin remote control away.

News 24's studio isnt that big you know its just helped by the fact widescreen cameras give a big environment impression.

A very good point and well justified!

I personally think that SNA active is promoted TOO MUCH! I know that over 5 million can enjoy it.

What about the other 75 million? They must get sick and tired of seeing it advertised all the time.

I await the relaunch, if its no better than the last look or no real improvement on what they have now, then I will be VERY angry!

of course, silly me!!!!!!

I don't prefer N24 - I've watched Sky News since I got cable 5 years ago, when it was either that, CNN (too international) and EuroNews (bluegh).

I took into account the fact that there was to be a relaunch till someone on here (sorry, I've forgotten who!) said the onscreen graphics and new music was here to stay. And then there's the dropping of some of my favourite stuff, like Technofile, and I assume, Media Monthly has gone too.

And yes, they promote Active too much.....I know every trail verbatim practically. Mind you, after a night on the town, the flying remote control can give you a shock.....

Yes, SKY, please shut up about the active thing. I don't have digital and don't want it really. What do you think teletext is for?

Oh come on, how can anyone seriously prefer dull and unoriginal News 24 to the fast-moving, friendly and professional Sky News? The ratings of the two channels say it all- News 24 is available in more homes in the UK, yet Sky still beats it hands down.

I'm sure we've had this debate before, but anyway, I feel like contributing. Sky have got some of the best presenters on TV. Sure, some of them are not quite as good as the others, but if I (and in fact most people) were to think of some good and popular presenters, there would simply be none from News 24 mentioned. My Dad, for example, loves Sky News. He knows nothing about presentation and all that, but only yesterday he was saying how horrible and dull News 24 looks. His favourite news presenter is Kay Burleigh, and I'm telling you, he's definitely not one to remember the names of most newsreaders.

And so we move on to Sky News Active. Why on Earth shouldn't they promote it? God knows what News 24 would be like if they had an interactive service. They'd probably stick a big DOG in the corner of the screen or something. And don't you think that the millions of people who don't have digital in this country get fed up with the constant promotion of News 24 on the BBC One news? Of course, this cross-promotion gives the BBC another unfair advantage. Sky have had to build up their audiences over the year, whereas the BBC can simply direct viewers to News 24. Interestingly though, this still doesn't seem to be working.

Well I don't like News 24 anyway. Cheshirec, you must be proud of me.