UTV sell TV business to ITV

Julian even decided to go to Cathedral Eye Clinic, than Optilase.

I know it isn't. What I said was, that to give the news service the physical overhaul required, surely all they need to do is have the desk and floor in place, and the background/other elements are all green screen and added in, so, whilst UTV's current news set is all physical, if they were able to erect the desk and floor over the weekend and put up the green screen, they could quickly transition to a new look news service if they wanted to.

They do have a second studio... currently fitted with CSO green screen floor and ceiling... if they really wanted to, a new set could built there, and the news could switch to itv branding overnight.

Is that the pres studio? When they moved there due to the sound desk badly crashing in the main studio it was a bit of a mess with all cameras having the same background keyed in which made cuts look silly.

I guess with some notice they could do something that looks better.

Just to ask does UTV Ireland have the rights to The voice UK and BGT? from 2017?

The Voice is an ITV Studios production now so yes. Can't remember how long TV3's deal with Fremantle was so it could still be on there.

Of course ITV has only just renewed its own contract this year, so I doubt TV3 would have been able to go beyond 2016 I get the feeling IF the X factors back it to will also be on UTV ireland.

Nope. Havelock House has two main studios (Studio 1 and Studio 2) and a small CSO studio (used for IVC and short news programmes). IIRC, Studio 1 is the largest studio - it used to be home to the Kelly chat show, in its later years. For the last ten years or so, Studio 1 has been home to UTV Live and some other current affairs output. Not sure whether or not Studio 2 is being used for UTV Life - that programme could well be based in another section of Studio 1.

Studio 2 became a green screen studio - CSO all round, curved base for infinity stuff

It's a bad size of image, but you can see it here

UTV life is in the far corner of the main studio, opposite the main set.

That's correct - TV3's rights to the X Factor currently end after the next season. That's not to say they won't be renewed. It seems they are part of a wider deal with Fremantlemedia/Thames for a number of shows.

The Voice UK in theory will go to UTV Ireland but there is a potential spanner in the works because this is a licenced format and there is already an Irish licencee. That said I do know that auditions were to be held in Dublin so it may not be a problem.

Ah yes, I recall reading about this on the old UTV Facilities website a number of years back. That site has since disappeared - but, still a number of online references to the green studio - including this one:

http://www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/481/utv-launch-green-screen-studio.aspx

It'd be interesting to know if the studio has been put to much use and what spec it is. Given the technical quality of UTV-produced output on their HD channel, I'd doubt that any of their studio gear is HD.

I think it was used quite a bit for commercials and local companies hiring it out and I seem to remember it was quite cheap.

Had all the lighting, you just brought your camera - hence no facilities needed.

Since then more 'smaller' studios have appeared and people use their own kit... Plus cameras have got cheaper so it's probably used less and less now.