Sky News is dying...

I really can't be the only one who's amazed at what's happened to Sky News over the past few weeks, can I? As the majority of people in here know, I've always been an avid supporter of Sky News but after watching it today I'm seriously considering turning off for good.

I was sitting down doing some work, this afternoon, and had Sky on in the background...

#swish swish bop# 'SKY NEWS FLASH - BREAKING NEWS'

I get drawn away from my work to find out about a bus crash. I watched for a few minutes and then returned to my work.

#swish swish bop# 'SKY NEWS FLASH - BREAKING NEWS'

What now? Oh, bus crash... again. This carries on for about 5 mins and I'm ignoring it now because they're just repeating themselves over and over again.

#swish swish bop# 'SKY NEWS FLASH - BREAKING NEWS'

Am starting to get annoyed now. They have nothing new to report but won't stop reminding me about this bus crash. They start to talk to someone 'on the scene' and then some live pictures arrive. After hearing exactly the same thing from the reporter as Kay Burley I start to get annoyed. About 5 mins passes and they stop the report and carry on.

#swish swish bop# 'SKY NEWS FLASH - BREAKING NEWS'

Bloody hell, what now? It's a doctor at the hospital. Great. Can he tell me anything they haven't already said? No.

A few more mins passes and I've turned the sound down now because I'm getting quite seriously annoyed.

This stupid lark of reporting the same thing, whilst calling it BREAKING NEWS, went on and on for about 2 hours.

'NOW - NEWS ALERT - BLAIR SPEECH TO PARTY'

No? Really? As if I couldn't work this out for myself, what with Tony standing at the microphone and his mouth moving up and down.

News at Ten is now just another bulletin, likewise with Sunrise, Today, Live at Five etc.

My point is this. Over the past week or so, since the relaunch of the graphics, Sky News has simply gone downhill. These stupidly sized graphics, sensationalist reporting, pathetic production values and programmes that are all identical. The style of reporting appears to have shifted more towards L!VE TV, instead of the Sky News of old. Perhaps they're training Bob Friend up as News Bunny.

We all know that Sky News and News 24 are currently fighting for ratings and whilst it does appear that Sky is currently winning, it can't last much longer. With this sort of presenting style they're heading for disaster and it can't be long until they slip away into the abyss of broadcasting history.

Am I on my own in thinking that they need a serious rethink of what they've done to the channel over the past week or so?

On an unrelated note, I was watching Fox News at around lunchtime and this over the top DJ was speaking live from his radio station on a split screen with (what I assume) was the Fox News breakfast crew.

He was so unbelievable, you just wanted to punch him. Every split second he said 'right' or 'yeah' and tried to interrupt the person speaking with some inane comment like 'yeah, yeah, yeah, i agree with you'. They just couldn't shut him up. I switched off in the end because I just couldn't put up with him speaking. He was banging on about someone that phoned his show saying he wanted the country to turn communist! The DJ just ripped into him and started getting all emotional (in a sick way) over the US flag, which was 'proudly' displayed behind him.

Cheers, Asa
(Currently ill - and being subjected to Fox News and some bizarre version of Blockbusters on the Czech channels!!)

I can't believe what I've just read, c@t!

But I agree, Sky News has really mucked up with this relaunch. It's the worst one they've done. They're now as bad as their 'partner' Fox News which is terrible.

Oh and just as I was getting to like Sky News, oh well I guess you can't please everyone.

Well I am a BBC News fan and never watch Sky News, but I have to ask what the hell's happened to their studio. I'm sorry but it's disgusting!

I'd have to agree with you c@t.

Sky News has been pretty good but recently, I would have to say Sky News makes me reach for my remote at the moment.

There are just so many annoying things, their avid promotion of Fox News is getting to me very much and I wish they would stop doing it! They even try to mimic Fox News by adding that SKY NEWS LIVE swoosh and very big & nasty graphics. Sorry not needed.

Is it aimed at the elderly, so those who can't see very well, can still make out the amazing Sky News coverage? Also, a sound is needed every 5 seconds, so we don't fall asleep and miss some 'Breaking' News.

Sorry, but Sky News, you need to sort yourself out! Frankly at the moment, its hard to tell just what you are doing.
Even my dad, who has been a Sky News devotee for the last 12 years has said how poorly designed it is and how is gone 'All American.'

Don't get me wrong, I've always liked Sky News, but I hope Sky News sort themselves out soon, else they are going to be losing viewers, very quickly!

Well welcome to American news. Yep, it's ****. There's more an emphasis on the news channels on fancy graphics, live pictures, and the presenters than the news. Some of you've seen FNC -- can you believe that it was, up until this latest crisis, the highest rated news channel in America. We've got problems. BTW, Asa I think the guy you were talking about was Sean Hannity. He's a conservative radio show host -- he's also on Fox's political debate show at 9 ET -- he's a major asshole…it makes me cringe when he tries to make a point…erggggg!

Those of you that are upset should seriously write to Sky News -- some of you probably will but at least you have a media, from what I've been able to tell, listen to the public! You brits are so lucky tv wise.

Well said Alec - I would urge everyone to send a quick polite email to Sky asking them to tone down the gfx.

They really have got to get rid of that huge red blob on the edge of the captions.

Currently showing an England football press conference with 'NOW - News Alert' above the caption.

Both of which are totally unnecessary given they've got a LIVE caption in the top left.

More to the point, all these graphics and the larger font sizes and capitals mean that they can only put very brief descriptions in the captions anyway, unlike news 24.

Its almost as if Sky News have decided that they want you to be able to tell what's going on if you're a long, long way away from the screen.

They got all of these ideas from American TV news channels -- the capitals, BIG ugly graphics - HUGE live DOGS at the top of the screen -- how did they think that they could get away with all of that!? From what I can tell, British audiences are VERY sensitive about their TV channels.

Agree totally - it really is pretty naff now. The interim style was much better. I have to say I wasn't very impressed when I saw the new desk and video wall a couple of weeks ago, but thought 'OK, i can live with that'.

But these new graphics are awful. Up to the hour - what's going on there? The headline bed sounds like nothing on earth, and those big swooshes are possibly the worst thing I have ever heard.

Come on Sky - downsize those graphics, get rid of the swooshes, and get back viewers!

(And this is from someone who, admittedly, prefers N24 - but watches Sky as well...)



And thanks for that c@t - you cheered up a pretty unwell db!

get well soon db!!

I don't like SKY News, I never have. I used to have SKY Analogue since 1993, and I never watched SKY News. When I got SKY Digital, I got hooked on News 24, as its better presentation wise, and in news content, I feel. I hate ITN News! That is even worse!