The 'Victoria Derbyshire' Programme

Thinking about it more the only UK news programme I can think of that shows 'films' (or long special reports) is Channel 4 news. The difference is the C4 news is only an hour long and more importantly doesn't attempt to lead with the film, instead it appears about halfway through the programme.

With this in mind I dare say the Victoria Derbyshire programme could probably still get away with showing two films over the 1hr 45min if they were moved to further into the programme. Personally I feel the first film shouldn't be shown until after the 9:30am headlines (between 9:30 & 10am), and the second film after 10:30am. This would mean the programme could begin by covering the main news, and if something major breaks one (or both) of the films could be dropped (and shown at a later date) to allow for more coverage of that news event.

Newsnight certainly used to commission and broadcast longer (10+ minute long) films, though their reduced budget in recent years may mean they are less regular features than they once were?

Are these films produced by the BBC or outside firm? When I here commission I think of outside hire.

Not always. Newsnight did used to work (and may still work) with third party film makers and independent production companies, but "commissioning" is a function of both in-house and independent production. An editor of a programme will commission a film from a director/producer in his team, or from the wider BBC News operation as well.

In the wider BBC, commissioners handle programmes from both in-house teams and independent production companies.

I know the majority seem to dislike this programme: but from what I've seen of it this week while I've been on leave, it's not that bad.

It's not perfect, and many programmes take time to find their feet when they first start, but it's certainly not as bad as many seem to suggest IMO. It's certainly better than the programmes shown on ITV(1) at that time of day, and more interesting than 'Homes Under the Hammer' on BBC One or the latest Dominic Littlewood dumbed-down vehicle.

However, I do have a question for those with a more musical ear than mine. It has puzzled me as to whether the theme music is one of David Lowe's adaptations of the BBC News theme (he has done many such wonderful masterpieces). To my 'tone deaf ear' I am sure I can detect elements of it . . .

I don't think people dislike the programme per se, they dislike that it's being shown on the News Channel in place of rolling news.

Put it out on bbc2 only while the News Channel does news and there would be few complaints.

I'm not sure whether the majority dislike the programme per se., just like me think it is poorly scheduled and a tad contradictory with talk of budget cuts.

I think if the programme was on BBC Two only, or even at a later point in the day, it would work better. It's just a 1 3/4 hour programme with a semi-fixed running order doesn't work best in the mornings on the news channel which is when most Breaking News comes in.

My main criticism of the programme itself is the fact that it is essentially two different programmes - some days it'll be really human interesty and others it'll spend the whole programme on one debate.

On the theme, I expect it is David Lowe but just hasn't been uploaded onto his website like Outside Source or Business Live.

Just to add to this viewpoint, I personally don't have a problem with the programme being shown on the News Channel instead of rolling news but rather with it's seemingly inability to drop its running order for breaking news especially when every other news channel is covering it, for example.

Steve, I think it's supposed to be a filler for the BBC Two morning schedule, the same as the 11:00-12:00 hour, rather than a cheap option for the NC. I think it probably costs more than rolling news, and it is apparently funded by the NC budget.

If there are important developments that can't be handled on this programme, the NC always has the option to simulcast WN.

Yes, I did notice this morning that they cut away from the 9am bulletin on the NC to change to VD at 9:15, even though it was an important live speech by Jeremy Hunt. They did, however, report on it later.

Today, they had no option to just broadcast VD on BBC Two, as the golf was taking that slot.

Thanks. So I'm not as tone deaf as I thought!

Yes, I'm aware that the programme's primary purpose is to be a cheap BBC 2 show, but that doesn't necessarily make it appropriate as a News Channel morning show.

The World simulcast option is a reasonable one, assuming the developing news is of interest to a worldwide audience.

Have we established how the ratings compare to a straight News Channel simulcast?