After catching up on the BBC Spotlight decamp to Bristol, I watched the lunchtime edition of BBC Points West out of interest to see if a dual region programme would be broadcast again. As soon as it started I thought generic regional titles were being used to cover both Spotlight and Points West areas, but no, it seems Points West have refreshed their opening titles. The grey footage of landmarks have been replaced with less iconic coloured footage. All three bulletins today have had different versions.
I did notice this on Monday that they started using the coloured titles before all the Spotlight fiasco had gone on. I think the main edition ends with the titles on Gloucester Docks. Not as iconic as the Severn Bridge imo.
one thing that isn't clear is where the weather came from in Spotlight. David Braine was using a very distinctive clicker with an aerial sticking out of the top, if that helps to identify where he might have been.
Apparently, according to information that I've found online, the work going on at Plymouth Broadcasting House in Seymour Road is running behind schedule. Midas Group are doing the work at Seymour Road, and according to the press release that they put out before work started, BBC TV were supposed to be back in their new studios in October. It's December and they're still in their 'temporary' studio, which has been on the air for about 8 months or so, making it a very long term 'temporary' studio.
Grrrr.....! I was rather hoping to see the new studio on air by the end of the year: but it seems increasingly unlikely that is going to happen.
Even if they managed to start testing it now, it couldn't be a good time to go live just before the Christmas break, with fewer staff available. Perhaps they could go for a mid/late January launch, complete with a 'BBC One SW HD' channel available on Sky, Freesat & Freeview.
I'll write to Santa about that!
I suppose the 'temporary studio' has served its purpose very well: although it was no half-hearted effort. The Breakfast bulletins actually look better from there than they did from the old studio. The nice orange LED strips and big plasma screen look quite good next to the sofa, and make it seem cosy and welcoming at 6:26am.
