New Meridian, BBC South & South East Thread

It IS quite appalling isn't it? I saw Ian even put his feet up on the desk the other night - not what you want to see at tea-time is it?

They just haven't got the balance right and Ian and Sangeeta just don't work together. Andy Steggal and Helen James are far better.

You can go from reporting on a story such as the bodies found in Margate to Martyn suddenly turning up on the sofa with nothing more to say except, "there's rain on the way" cue Sangeeta.. "Ooh better not put my washing out to dry then... in fact, that reminds me, I've left my washing machine on at home and its been on rather a long time aha aha aha ha...zzzZZZZZZ zZZZZ.."

There are ways of keeping a happy outlook throughout the programme but its obsurd at the moment.

Any reason as to why South Today is broadcasting its bulletins from Oxford?

That's not Oxford, that's Southampton's second studio. They often relocate there for a weekend when maintenance is being done in the main studio. It was all back to normal for 6.30pm (I imagine for lunch too) so clearly nothing too sinister had happened!

Anybody got any captures? I don't think I've seen the second studio.

Shame really... thanks for correcting me though

Yes I did'nt see all this, must have a look at itv local. It sounds cringing, they are just getting just too laid back I guess. Gemma playing sticks (?)the other night with Ian / Sengeta that was a first !

is that the tall thin one who shouts the weather forcast ? She is absolutely dire. Get her off ! No one comes anywhere near Gemma...

Proper 16:9 from Dec 2nd at last, will this affect any studio setups at Meridian ?

Can't imagine that it will have much impact on any of the studio centres built since the late 90s/early 00s - nobody would have been stupid enough to install 4:3-only cameras by this point, and ARCing OSs and VT archive is pretty trivial these days.

AIUI all ITV regions with the exception of Channel (still broadcasting ITV in 4:3 and with no Freeview to worry about) and Westcountry (not re-equipping as they are expecting to close their studio centre) can now do 16:9. (The old London Tonight pre-ITN studio was 16:9 capable years ago in expectation of a switch far earlier)

I suspect the main issue for many of the "new" ITV operations is that their studios are so small that shooting in 16:9 but framing for something that doesn't look ridiculous in 4:3 might be a bit of a challenge. (People have to sit further apart, you need a bit more shoot-off protection either side, or you have to compromise shots)

Indeed, I'm going to step away from confirming or denying this particular bit of news on this occasion.

It's come back and bitten me on the bum too many times in the past.

I shall enjoy it when and if it happens and say no more.

The recent (accidental) appearance of 16:9 captions on the national news is a pretty good indication that things might actually switch this time though.