Angry with BBC News Thread

You know...I really don't get why nobody else ever has a fire/power-outage except the BBC. Maybe these sorts of events are reserved for "world-class" broadcasters who have trashy electricians.

And I don't see why it has to make the entire news operation go kaput.

And I don't see why different divisions of BBC News have to fight over who gets to use the Millbank studios.

And I don't see why it makes any difference if they've done 25 or 26 rehearsals on the new set before relaunch.

In fact, I think this whole thing is just a little bit boring and slow...private channels move like cheetas, the BBC moves like an elephant.

This is gearing up to be the most anti-climactic relaunch I've ever experienced.

And what's with all the red in the new set designs anyway? I'm starting to think that Popescu was brought up in a Burmese red light district...or perhaps he has some aesthetic affinity for them. Why is it that news sets have to be choc-full of electronic kitsch and colourfulness?

That sort of peripheral junk doesn't really matter. Whoever breaks the news fastest, in the most informative and comprehensive way wins--even if they're broadcasting out of a broom closet (remember the Benny Hill skit about Thames TV?).

This is why I think all these endless rebrands, revamps, switch-ups, etc. are really beside the point. Spam is still spam even if it's served on a doily or in a tin. You'd think the BBC and other British news broadcasters would realise that.

Someone who isn't interested in TV presentation posting to a TV presentation forum, there.

And this is classic exaggeration to the point of absurdity to try and make a point. Clearly it wasn't a case of one extra rehearsal - it's a case of a weekend of rehearsals right before the launch, which were vital because (from the hints we keep getting) things were a *very* tight squeeze.

I really don't see why people are so annoyed at the delay - if they'd gone ahead with the launch, and it had been a shambles (very likely, seeing as the power wasn't fully restored for a couple of days!), then everyone would have said "They should have waited! Idiots!"

I do think people might have a point about the Beeb suffering one power faliure too many - but I suppose they use a hell of a lot of power, have a hell of a lot of equipment, and so there is a hell of a lot more things to go wrong. And backup systems are all well and good - but if you have backup systems of *everything*, you're spending a hell of a lot of money just to stop the odd day every two years being a bit dodgy. Not really worth it - I'd rather it was spent on more programmes...

And in fact isn't fully restored now. The News Centre is still on reduced power.

Still on reduced power? How much longer is this likely to carry on for?

The plan is to switch back overnight Wednesday/Thursday.

And yet some people still seem to think N24 should have relaunched on Monday. Fools.

I can't be bothered to reply to your other comments (it comes across as though you know those comments will stir things up) but I think the above quote does an incredible disservice to everyone involved in the operation. You obviously don't have a clue about what is involved (neither do I but I can at least use my noggin and guess about what's involved)

Any why are you "Angry with the BBC News Thread"? I'm still weighing up whether to continue the BBC News thread after next week, it does seem to be getting pointlessly big. But for the meantime, please post in there.

Cheers, Asa