BBC Points West's Revamp

http://www.thetvroom.com/area-b/images-bbc-west/images-2004/main-9.jpg
Aren't those laptops going to overheat rather quickly, because being on a soft surface, it means that they will sink down into the sofa, and block off the airflow on the bottom? I did it once with mine, and it turned off quite a lot.

It is, but we all love it. Perhaps they should have used the County Ground and magic roundabout instead, since they are both right next to each other.

I'm writing off-the-cuff here, so this post may be rambling and inconclusive...



Those chairs at the white desk are hideously 60s/70s. Yuk!

The sofabench looks like it's been nicked from London Tonight.

And the walls looked nicked (and repainted) from an old BBC Three News look. Actually, my first thought upon seeing the noughts-and-crosses wall, was Countdown circa late 1980s - if you change the colours from red and white to brown and beige!

Having both black (floor) and white (desk/walls) in the set is too much of a contrast IMHO.

I like the wider "window", but the angle at which each seperate plasma meets draws too much attention to the seams.

I'm intrigued by the shape of the white desk, I either love it or hate it (there's no middle ground) but haven't decided yet.

I hate the transparent desk by the sofa bench. Surely either both desks should be white, or both transparent? Again, too much contrast/inconsistency. All of which make it looks very hotchpotch.

It's also quite sleek in some ways - but nevertheless hotchpotch!

I must say i quite like the new look actually. The music is much more dramatic than the old ones.

Good points

Sofa and backdrop of Bristolo is tip top!
Astons look good on screen (flip down national)
Titles are very good (BBC London style, thank god music is nowhere near like BBC London!)
Use of BBC 3 News set gives the Points West set a good feel, especially the use of red and white!
Different use of astons for sport round up (perhaps they should do that on News 24)
Screen showing the main story is very useful

Bad points

Desk too small to accomodate two people (Space in the set is wasted loads)!
Screen for weather round up is too small, makes the text on screen hard to read!

I'll get me coat!

looks like money has been spent!

As one of the top rated and most valued BBC regional services, it more than deserved it.

But a look like that needs good direction to make it work on screen - and for the viewer. This lunchtimes edition was poor.

It was so basic, even itv west's automation could have done it better.

Badly framed shots, the use of the waterside webcam in the main bachground mini screens as opposed to the mosaic. Bad cutting and timing in the OB at ashton gate (whoever the reporter was, though she was great, if a little excited)

Indead it looked like the shot list and running order from an old points west lunchtime: down the the very bad, OTT, wipe between headlines and sting - far to long and clumsy a transition into such a short element.

10-10 for concept
9-10 for content
4-10 for execution

ok....

Murry John Tower
Brunel Shopping Center
Littlewoods
Debenhams
Tesco
Woolworths
Thistle Hotel
Iceland
LaserQuest*
The Bedroom*
Walkabout*

having looked at the in more detail, that isnt a recent shot of Swindon, that has to be atleast 3 years old, if not more. it's missing a new development that was being built when I was working in Town, that was completed around 2 years ago, and that shot doesnt even show the construction work!

* = premisis that didnt exist at the time of that fottage

Surely a flying Concorde is going to make the titles date very quickly.

Good job! But you missed McDonalds and House of Fraser

Well they're already dated then aren't they?! Bit of a weird thing to say if it's common knowledge that Concorde no longer flies... it's just a West connection they obviously wanted to keep.

House of Frasier wasnt there when that was taken, I dont think.

As for McD's, I didnt see the need to advertise them. lol

The top of the brunel shopping center is great for sunbathing in the summer!

Well, yes they are dated already if you like, and the common knowledge that it no longer flies makes the image instantly look very obviously old, which surely isn't what you want for a news programme?