BBC South Today, South East Today & ITV Meridian

[AlfieMulcahy]

Is Meridian pan-regional tonight?


The programme began with what appeared to be the Thames Valley titles and Fred introduced it with 'Welcome to the programme' without reference to 'headlines in the South East' as normal.

[Meridian MR]

Is Meridian pan-regional tonight?


The programme began with what appeared to be the Thames Valley titles and Fred introduced it with 'Welcome to the programme' without reference to 'headlines in the South East' as normal.

The titles were the 'mash up' version, featuring scenes from all 3 variants of the regular titles.
The headlines and first 4 minutes were pan regional for the live report from Westminster re the PM's press conference.
Then there were 6 minutes of sub-regional news (T. Valley was live for this section, with South and South East pre-recorded).
Then all 3 sub-regions joined up live again at 6.10pm until the end of the programme. This section included live reports from Dartford, Banbury, Salisbury and Southampton - all related to the elections.
(The weather was sub-regional and pre-recorded, as usual)

The first part of Central was West Mids and East Mids pan regional too.

This is what they have to do when the PM holds his big press conferences containing announcements at the same time they would normally be recording bulletins!

[IanJRedman]

During tonight's South Today late bulletin, I noticed that the astons were animating on and off during a report. Very similar to how they appear on network. This surprised me, as for years the graphics have only ever dissolved in and out. I suspect they were pre-rendered and baked into the VT rather than being generated live, as other graphics were still in the old style. Time will tell if this is a new norm for Southampton, or just a weird one off?

[JakeTVFan]

Is Meridian pan-regional tonight?


The programme began with what appeared to be the Thames Valley titles and Fred introduced it with 'Welcome to the programme' without reference to 'headlines in the South East' as normal.

Friday they did Thames Valley and South together, South East was on its own tho, Meridian have been inactive on the website on the catch up part, Fridays still there

[JakeTVFan]

https://youtu.be/SMEf_EovGWs

Behind the Scenes of ITV News Meridian in the gallery

[Meridian MR]

During tonight's South Today late bulletin, I noticed that the astons were animating on and off during a report. Very similar to how they appear on network. This surprised me, as for years the graphics have only ever dissolved in and out. I suspect they were pre-rendered and baked into the VT rather than being generated live, as other graphics were still in the old style. Time will tell if this is a new norm for Southampton, or just a weird one off?

It was just the report about the freemasons. The astons in that report were also lighter than the usual 'official' ones too (ie the black was more transparent). They were most likely 'burnt in'. Probably just a 'look' for that particular special report than an upgrade of their equipment.

[IanJRedman]

During tonight's South Today late bulletin, I noticed that the astons were animating on and off during a report. Very similar to how they appear on network. This surprised me, as for years the graphics have only ever dissolved in and out. I suspect they were pre-rendered and baked into the VT rather than being generated live, as other graphics were still in the old style. Time will tell if this is a new norm for Southampton, or just a weird one off?

It was just the report about the freemasons. The astons in that report were also lighter than the usual 'official' ones too (ie the black was more transparent). They were most likely 'burnt in'. Probably just a 'look' for that particular special report than an upgrade of their equipment.

I must admit, I wouldn't mind seeing this adopted full-time, even if it's only on the pre-edited packages. The static, dissolving astons have always bugged me* - they stand out like a sore thumb when you've just spent the last half-hour watching the fully-animated ones on the national bulletin. In fairness, they're almost certainly still using decades-old equipment which is in dire need of an update!

* Clearly I'm easily 'bugged'

[Markymark]

I wasn't paying proper attention, but on Monday night there was something different about some of the captions on South Today. I assumed as it was a report regarding the Wiltshire Police Commissioner issue that looked like it had been produced by Bristol, that they were baked in Points West captions. Perhaps not?

[DTV]

I must admit, I wouldn't mind seeing this adopted full-time, even if it's only on the pre-edited packages. The static, dissolving astons have always bugged me* - they stand out like a sore thumb when you've just spent the last half-hour watching the fully-animated ones on the national bulletin. In fairness, they're almost certainly still using decades-old equipment which is in dire need of an update!

To be honest, it's not just the astons that bother me from South Today - the whole picture quality is poor, even for SD. As you mentioned this is due to very outdated equipment and one would hope that, with BBC One regional HD being introduced by the end of 2022, the regions are slowly going to get a technical refurb (though probably staggered over about 5 years) and surely Southampton is near the top of the list.

[Ballyboy]

I wonder if South Today might scrap the desk all together and use the sofa for all bulletins like Points West with their old desk?

[Ballyboy]

David Braine of Spotlight doing the weather for South Today yesterday and Monday

[HarryB]

Where has Sally Taylor disappeared to?

[Meridian MR]

Where has Sally Taylor disappeared to?

Sick leave. Back soon.

[WMD]

No Oxford opt tonight - Southampton edition was pan-regional.

[Ballyboy]

Technical issues in Oxford maybe