CO
My take on the new look UTV Live:
- The set is different. The backdrop makes the presenters look a bit washed-out. Don't like the white floor in the desk area and the 2D logos on the floor. The desk looks like a Newsline cast-off but at least it's not the one they've had for seven years. Looks like the only thing kept from the old set is the chairs! Not sure of what the point of the TV screens at the far side of the desk area are for either. I like the sweeping shot going into and out of a break, more effective than cutting to a graphics sequence. And interesting to see Logie demoted to a podium with no chair on another part of the set for the sport, the handover back to Paul and Lynda was clunky though - and what was the deal with having Logie back at the desk at the end of the programme?
- Graphics: the red/blue is a bit Sky News from a few years ago but it makes a change from the blue looks UTV have went with for the past few looks. Don't like the DOG animation with astons either, especially the "Live" part popping out from under the logo, maybe OK for proper live two-ways but looks iffy when it happens each time. And I see they *still* haven't got the Aston and plasma fonts matched up! Same with the headline font. And they've sorted out the picture format on the two-way graphics at long last!!!
There's a new weather sting as well (and I don't mean the return of Frank Mitchell); Laura Hughes has done a new voiceover mentioning hourly bulletins on U105 but not on u.tv.
On the whole, an improvement on the awful previous look; good to see some of the nags sorted out (the two-ways, no lens flare Photoshop effect in the title sequence!) but others not (still too many "coming up" filler parts, Belfast bias again) and new ones (the DOG); but I think the new look will grow on me over time, I reckon.
Paul and Lynda co-ordinated their outfits tonight, too. And those pictures of cackling Iris in the Sunday Mirror they showed... shudder.
- The set is different. The backdrop makes the presenters look a bit washed-out. Don't like the white floor in the desk area and the 2D logos on the floor. The desk looks like a Newsline cast-off but at least it's not the one they've had for seven years. Looks like the only thing kept from the old set is the chairs! Not sure of what the point of the TV screens at the far side of the desk area are for either. I like the sweeping shot going into and out of a break, more effective than cutting to a graphics sequence. And interesting to see Logie demoted to a podium with no chair on another part of the set for the sport, the handover back to Paul and Lynda was clunky though - and what was the deal with having Logie back at the desk at the end of the programme?
- Graphics: the red/blue is a bit Sky News from a few years ago but it makes a change from the blue looks UTV have went with for the past few looks. Don't like the DOG animation with astons either, especially the "Live" part popping out from under the logo, maybe OK for proper live two-ways but looks iffy when it happens each time. And I see they *still* haven't got the Aston and plasma fonts matched up! Same with the headline font. And they've sorted out the picture format on the two-way graphics at long last!!!
There's a new weather sting as well (and I don't mean the return of Frank Mitchell); Laura Hughes has done a new voiceover mentioning hourly bulletins on U105 but not on u.tv.
On the whole, an improvement on the awful previous look; good to see some of the nags sorted out (the two-ways, no lens flare Photoshop effect in the title sequence!) but others not (still too many "coming up" filler parts, Belfast bias again) and new ones (the DOG); but I think the new look will grow on me over time, I reckon.
Paul and Lynda co-ordinated their outfits tonight, too. And those pictures of cackling Iris in the Sunday Mirror they showed... shudder.
But I suppose that's only a temporary measure until the new UTV Live Tonight starts because obviously it will be coming from the main studio.