UTV, Channel, Scottish and Grampian

Is anything changing at the non-ITVplc regions when all the ex Carlton/Granada regions get their regional news relaunched on Monday?

Who said the ex Carlton/Granada regions will get their relaunches on Monday? The only definiate relaunch is HTV West News to loose the HTV branding. That and there are rumours that Granada Reports will at some point in the not too distant future take on a prototype new ITV regional corporate look.

I have heard nothing to suggest that all regions will relaunch with the same look on Monday.

Well maybe I'm worng, but that's the impression I got from the ITV News thread.

Perhaps the fact that several regional programmes said they're getting a bit of a refresh. And it is KNOWN that all the programmes are getting new graphics, titles and music to match the national programmes and to tie in more closely for the ITV Newshour.

I am wrong about the incorporated news, I didn't realise it was happening every at once.

But I doubt we'll be saying many 'relaunches', it'll more than likely just be new graphics and very minor alterations. No way can the likes of YTV justify replacing a set they only introduced 7 months ago. The amortisation time won't be anywhere near up yet. And even if all regions had mature looks in need of replacement, no way can the centralised ownership justify the comissioning of entire new looks for all of their stations at once - even the BBC (which might have had the resources to do so) didn't try doing that, but phased the regional corporate looks in gradually.

Doubtless within a year to 18 months every region will have an identical set and thus look the same, but I don't see it happening tomorrow.

If I'm proved wrong, I will admit it, but it would also make ITV plc very stupid if their first move is to initiate a blanket revamp of all regional news operations within their control.

As for SMG/UTV/Channel? I wouldn't know. Channel have just got a new set, they'll probably take the new ITV graphics on (the only ones have more than had their day now), SMG may or may not participate, but no way in hell can I say UTV having anything to do with it.

I believe the plan is to "bring the sets closer together" - and for many that just means a quick change of colour scheme so it doesn't look completely rediculous against the new titles and graphics. Some programmes are also having some minor name changes too...but nothing major.

I can't see Grampian changing. They've just moved building and got new graphics & a set... there isn't room for a bigger set than what they've got AFAIK. (Which at the mo is a Desk with a plasma on one side and chair for doing the sport in a few feet away. It's like the size of a cupboard that studio.

Border Television are getting a new studio. Fiona said 'Just time to tell you there will be a new look programme on Monday, these chairs will be no more (the big grey ones), so take a good look!' All other Granada regions have more or less relaunched over the past year, so I would expect Lookaround and Meridian Tonight to get a new look. I don't expect Granada, Anglia and Yorkshire to relaunch, maybe just the adoption of the new titles, graphics and a slight tweak of the sets.

I would have thought that Meridian are unlikely to make any major set changes until all three news services relocate to Fareham.

It's the same set - it's just got a blue backdrop instead of an orange one.

Noodle

Friday's edition of Westcountry Live, which came from the Plymouth City Council building, ended with something similar to: "We'll be back on Monday, with a new look Westcountry Live".

It was said on Calendar on Friday that the set will have a new colour. I expect this will apply to many regions, so therefore the word 'relaunch' doesn't apply to most regions. I wouldn't be surprised if Central West and Granada Reports just keep the same studio but just change the background