BB
Hmm, I think "awful" is a bit unfair, but I agree it's not exactly mind-blowing. Although there have been a number of variations - the downstairs soft-area, the 'news-bar', addition of more frosted glass and red panels, and the introduction of the News Tray and the big-screen - there's no getting away from the fact that the set is still a wide area in an office space.
A decidedly sparse BBC LDN, back in 2001:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-4/451-a/main-13.jpg
BBC London, with 'news-bar' from 2004:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-5/501-b/main-17.jpg
News Tray + the stupid 'LONDON' table-cube:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-f/f-006/main-004-18.jpg
...and arguably looking much better than it's ever done, the present set:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-f/f-053/main-001-50.jpg
The tight camera angles certainly betray the amount of space available there, and to be honest I think they've done a pretty good job of working with what they've got. Not the most inspiring or amazing of sets, I grant you, but it's attractive in a fairly functional way, and nothing about it is particularly distracting or intrusive - so in that sense, I'd say it does the trick pretty well.
Still, one hopes that something with at least a bit more flair is in store for when they move to BH.
Edit: All images courtesy of The TV Room.
God, totally over my head. Let's talk about the presentation instead. Where will the new studio be? It's about time BBC london had a better studio. The current one really does look awful compared to other regions.
Hmm, I think "awful" is a bit unfair, but I agree it's not exactly mind-blowing. Although there have been a number of variations - the downstairs soft-area, the 'news-bar', addition of more frosted glass and red panels, and the introduction of the News Tray and the big-screen - there's no getting away from the fact that the set is still a wide area in an office space.
A decidedly sparse BBC LDN, back in 2001:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-4/451-a/main-13.jpg
BBC London, with 'news-bar' from 2004:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-5/501-b/main-17.jpg
News Tray + the stupid 'LONDON' table-cube:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-f/f-006/main-004-18.jpg
...and arguably looking much better than it's ever done, the present set:
http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-f/f-053/main-001-50.jpg
The tight camera angles certainly betray the amount of space available there, and to be honest I think they've done a pretty good job of working with what they've got. Not the most inspiring or amazing of sets, I grant you, but it's attractive in a fairly functional way, and nothing about it is particularly distracting or intrusive - so in that sense, I'd say it does the trick pretty well.
Still, one hopes that something with at least a bit more flair is in store for when they move to BH.
Edit: All images courtesy of The TV Room.
IS
Yes, now that the back of the set is covered with frosted perspex it's easy to forget that there's a big hole behind the studio which constrains it's size (as well as the corridor to the left and wall to the right. As always in telly, the camera angles do make it look bigger than it is. It has got bigger, what you can't see in the 2001 shot are 4 or 5 desks just off the right of the photo.
Although the plasma screens look small by today's standards I still think the original 'set' looks very good. At the time it was quite revolutionary and certainly helped to create an impact to distinguish it from it's predessesor. It was also a nice way to show off their nice clean, shiny new facilities. The original titles and branding were excellent, and they got even better once the 'LDN' was dropped. I agree about the current one - it's quite nice, especially now they've got rid of the odd 'London' table
The 'newsbar' set had a second set to the right where discussions were held but it never looked right, especially when their new branding meant it looked like a 1980's teenagers bedroom (red, grey and white diagonal stripes)
The new studio in BH can't be any smaller, but it'll still be essentially part of an office space (but then again that's not really unusual these days and isn't always a bad thing). They're in the same bit as Persian and they have a nice view down Regents Street behind their newsreaders it would be nice if London were able to do the same
Although the plasma screens look small by today's standards I still think the original 'set' looks very good. At the time it was quite revolutionary and certainly helped to create an impact to distinguish it from it's predessesor. It was also a nice way to show off their nice clean, shiny new facilities. The original titles and branding were excellent, and they got even better once the 'LDN' was dropped. I agree about the current one - it's quite nice, especially now they've got rid of the odd 'London' table
The 'newsbar' set had a second set to the right where discussions were held but it never looked right, especially when their new branding meant it looked like a 1980's teenagers bedroom (red, grey and white diagonal stripes)
The new studio in BH can't be any smaller, but it'll still be essentially part of an office space (but then again that's not really unusual these days and isn't always a bad thing). They're in the same bit as Persian and they have a nice view down Regents Street behind their newsreaders it would be nice if London were able to do the same
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 26 August 2009 11:05pm
KI
Who are the presenters? Except for Riz...
First pic is Gillian Joseph- now with Sky News
Then it's Emily Maitlis- now with BBC national news/ Newsnight
Then Riz!
Who are the presenters? Except for Riz...
First pic is Gillian Joseph- now with Sky News
Then it's Emily Maitlis- now with BBC national news/ Newsnight
Then Riz!
IS
The soft area in that photo was on the floor below the main news studio, they'd present the first half of the programme upstairs and then go downstairs for the second half with a short sting illustrating them walking-down the spiral staircase. They'd also often point a camera down from one floor to the other.
The big problem with the downstairs set was that the office behind was much closer than the one upstairs so you'd see them getting up and putting coats on etc. One of Danny Baker's co-presenters, Baylen, once told a story about how he was sat at his desk eating a take-away and was phoned by a friend to tell him he could be seen scoffing his food very prominently on BBC1. It was quite distracting for the viewer
When they changed the set and went from LDN to 'LONDON' in 2004 this bit stopped being used and a new 'soft area' was set up (but rarely used) upstairs.
All good comments. Just think the lighting makes the current studio look less sparkly than other regions. I really like the soft area - never seen that before!
The soft area in that photo was on the floor below the main news studio, they'd present the first half of the programme upstairs and then go downstairs for the second half with a short sting illustrating them walking-down the spiral staircase. They'd also often point a camera down from one floor to the other.
The big problem with the downstairs set was that the office behind was much closer than the one upstairs so you'd see them getting up and putting coats on etc. One of Danny Baker's co-presenters, Baylen, once told a story about how he was sat at his desk eating a take-away and was phoned by a friend to tell him he could be seen scoffing his food very prominently on BBC1. It was quite distracting for the viewer
When they changed the set and went from LDN to 'LONDON' in 2004 this bit stopped being used and a new 'soft area' was set up (but rarely used) upstairs.
LO
New London radio trail
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8236000/8236785.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8236000/8236785.stm
NG
Hmm, I think "awful" is a bit unfair, but I agree it's not exactly mind-blowing. Although there have been a number of variations - the downstairs soft-area, the 'news-bar', addition of more frosted glass and red panels, and the introduction of the News Tray and the big-screen - there's no getting away from the fact that the set is still a wide area in an office space.
Certainly wouldn't describe it as a "wide area in an office space" - it's a tiny area... Thank goodness for wide angle lenses...
noggin
Founding member
God, totally over my head. Let's talk about the presentation instead. Where will the new studio be? It's about time BBC london had a better studio. The current one really does look awful compared to other regions.
Hmm, I think "awful" is a bit unfair, but I agree it's not exactly mind-blowing. Although there have been a number of variations - the downstairs soft-area, the 'news-bar', addition of more frosted glass and red panels, and the introduction of the News Tray and the big-screen - there's no getting away from the fact that the set is still a wide area in an office space.
Certainly wouldn't describe it as a "wide area in an office space" - it's a tiny area... Thank goodness for wide angle lenses...
IS
Indeed, I think people would be surprised how small that studio is. If you look at the wide shots in 'BBC LDN's screen grabs above, the camera is right up as far as it can go against the back wall
Incidently for those (both) of you who get 'Stage Screen and Radio' (the BECTU members magazine) the bottom picture on page 17 of this month's is what the old Newsroom South East studio/newsroom looks like now
Certainly wouldn't describe it as a "wide area in an office space" - it's a tiny area... Thank goodness for wide angle lenses...
Indeed, I think people would be surprised how small that studio is. If you look at the wide shots in 'BBC LDN's screen grabs above, the camera is right up as far as it can go against the back wall
Incidently for those (both) of you who get 'Stage Screen and Radio' (the BECTU members magazine) the bottom picture on page 17 of this month's is what the old Newsroom South East studio/newsroom looks like now
MW
Any set can look large, when it is small.
http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/bbc_midlands/bbcmidlands_images/news/bbcmidtodaylunch251004b-01.jpg
The Shoebox does it.
http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/bbc_southwest/images/news/bbcspotlight21042008c_large.jpg
Spotlight do it.
http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/bbc_midlands/bbcmidlands_images/news/bbcmidtodaylunch251004b-01.jpg
The Shoebox does it.
http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/bbc_southwest/images/news/bbcspotlight21042008c_large.jpg
Spotlight do it.