Its to allow the DOGs on digital satelite. But it looks truely awful! Why can't they be provided with the same graphics for the national news to make it look good.
Midlands Today need help with their graphics and quick!
MD
mdta
that sidebar looks better on screen, and is the best of all the regional sidebars i have seen
earlster on 7:04 pm on Jan. 29, 2002
Its to allow the DOGs on digital satelite. But it looks truely awful! Why can't they be provided with the same graphics for the national news to make it look good.
Midlands Today need help with their graphics and quick!
National news relaunched their insets to tie in with the new look studio - they gained metal effect edges to complement the metal bits added to the set. At the same time the BBC News was moved to the bottom of the screen so as not to clash with any added top left dog.
Midlands Today did the same yesterday, and have also adopted the National red strip (though not sure why red as the regions are blue and yellow, not red and cream as Nationals)
I see Look North seem to have also moved their logo to the bottom of the inset today, though they hadn't yesterday.
Yes, using the Regional News active service by tuning into Midlands Today (when my area is LDN) tonight on Sky Digital, I couldn't help but notice how tacky this looked - something quickly knocked up in PSP by the look of things!
Ryan on 8:00 pm on Jan. 29, 2002
Yes, using the Regional News active service by tuning into Midlands Today (when my area is LDN) tonight on Sky Digital, I couldn't help but notice how tacky this looked - something quickly knocked up in PSP by the look of things!
i dont agree entirely(not that im a fan of bbc midlad's graphics dept), i think the problem is that the studio is too round for the graphic. the sidebar is nice, simple and clean - i think midlands today should break way from the generic looking studio, think up something that fits the studio space better
the midlands today graphics have been poor in recent years.
i've not really liked it.
i watch central news at six instead. better graphics and presenters.
CO
Cornerstone
From about the time that MidsTdy adopted the 'patchwork quilt/stained glass' look (1997?) it has looked like it is produced on a budget of about 10 pence per bulletin. That set was microscopic, and when they swapped it for the generic look they were still in the microscopic studio.
They've also buggered about with generic look numerous times since its introduction:
Astons:
Initially, the cyan ones like every other region. Within months changed to orangey-red ones that went across full width of screen, and containing the programme name/logo left. After a few more months, returned to ones with the original dimensions, but cream not cyan (i.e. like current Breakfast astons). Still using cream ones at present AFAIK.
Window:
Originally tiny one made up of two small wide screen TVs sideways side-by-side, and a window frame with a central vertical bar to cover the seam between the two screens. After a few months, they swapped this for one comparatively big screen with no window frame whatsoever. The new window's overall size was/is bigger than the initial one, but is still amongst the smallest when compared to other regions' windows.
View in window:
Originally the view from the Pebble Mill rooftop, of the tops of the tallest buildings in B'ham city centre in the distance, a sea of trees (of the suburbs) between 'us' and the aforementioned skyline. December 2000 they started using a new view - of Victoria Square in the city centre - during bulletins occurring when it's dark outside, whilst retaining the old view during daylight hours. (Don't know where camera showing Vic Sq was located). As days got longer, therefore, the balance between how often each view was respectively used shifted. But then suddenly and without warning MidsTdy dropped the old view altogether in the middle of 2001, favouring using the Vic Sq view all the time. Most recently (only a couple of month's ago) they completely abandoned the Vic Sq view in favour of a view of the one edge of the city centre from a camera I think is on the roof of the recently opened “Millennium Point” building.
Desk:
Original oval desk lasted from launch of generic look (March 2000) to very recently, so that's at least 18 months, then. The desk is now like a cross between an oval and an ‘eye' shape. It basically looks like the front's been extended slightly.
They've also buggered around with the weather CSO window in recent months and have buggered about with the sidebars countless times. Plus the set has at some point been moved from a ‘proper' studio to the foyer (which has studio capabilities e.g. a lighting rig, power points for cameras etc) – hence why in long shots the room looks long and thin like a corridor.
