Sky News: 2021 Refresh

[valley]

I like how the ident for the Climate Live pop-up channel uses the more dramatic mix of the theme which normally only gets used for Sky News at Ten.

https://vimeo.com/642400256

[sky ) LYNX]

On the skynews online simulcast the old logo appeared top left corner during the ToTH of Sky News at Ten

[Solari]

The post about ratings in the GB News thread got me thinking - I don't think Sky News has ever really recovered from that 2005 relaunch, has it? ISTR that until 24 October 2005, it was the highest-rating news channel in the UK - and from that date onwards, it's played second fiddle to BBC News (24). Even after the ITV News Channel shut down, I don't think Sky picked up that many viewers, did they? ISTR most ITV NC viewers switched to News 24. In any case it just seems that relaunch was the undoing of Sky News.

Indeed I wonder how things would have gone had they kept the schedule the same when they moved in 2005 - no appointment to view stuff, no three-presenter bulletins (such folly!), no gimmicks - just the same style of coverage as before, but in that new studio.

It often seems to me that before (and indeed during) that relaunch, Sky News was very bold, very energetic - but since they 'undid' the relaunch with their tails between their legs, they've been very meek, very timid, very afraid to say 'boo' to a goose. It's a shame, really - a once-vibrant news channel, reduced to a shadow of its former self.

[Solari]

The post about ratings in the GB News thread got me thinking - I don't think Sky News has ever really recovered from that 2005 relaunch, has it? ISTR that until 24 October 2005, it was the highest-rating news channel in the UK - and from that date onwards, it's played second fiddle to BBC News (24). Even after the ITV News Channel shut down, I don't think Sky picked up that many viewers, did they? ISTR most ITV NC viewers switched to News 24. In any case it just seems that relaunch was the undoing of Sky News.

Indeed I wonder how things would have gone had they kept the schedule the same when they moved in 2005 - no appointment to view stuff, no three-presenter bulletins (such folly!), no gimmicks - just the same style of coverage as before, but in that new studio.

It often seems to me that before (and indeed during) that relaunch, Sky News was very bold, very energetic - but since they 'undid' the relaunch with their tails between their legs, they've been very meek, very timid, very afraid to say 'boo' to a goose. It's a shame, really - a once-vibrant news channel, reduced to a shadow of its former self.

[Gibsy]

Ironically, that was favourite Sky News era. Such energy as you say and different ways of presenting the news, just great

[Brekkie]

Yes - I loved what they tried to do then and thought beforehand their presentation was quite stale and the studio quite outdated. They made mistakes for sure, but probably overcorrected them.

The bigger problem is the here and now - the news content is good, arguably stronger than ever, but the presentation is very boring to watch, especially in the soulless glass box - and they've gone a bit too niche with some of their shows. I imagine with news channels you need to capture your audience early in the day to get them coming back to the channel throughout the day - and an hour focused on business then an hour on politics isn't the greatest way to do that.

[Luc]

I think Sky has a whole new corporate focus since then though and has modernised (climate change, net zero, data journalism etc). The repositioning is very deliberate - the focus is on online and their app I think. The brash Murdoch days are well and truly over for the entire brand.
Also they were losing viewers to BBC NC well before 2005 relaunch - hence the relaunch. Take a look back at the TV Forum threads at the time - good nostalgic reading!

[valley]

I think Sky has a whole new corporate focus since then though and has modernised (climate change, net zero, data journalism etc). The repositioning is very deliberate - the focus is on online and their app I think. The brash Murdoch days are well and truly over for the entire brand.

Yep. The TV channel is definitely the secondary focus, but still an important one. It still has a significant worldwide impact, much more so than the digital offering, and definitely gives the service overall credibility which it might not have without a dedicated channel.

The bigger problem is the here and now - the news content is good, arguably stronger than ever, but the presentation is very boring to watch, especially in the soulless glass box - and they've gone a bit too niche with some of their shows. I imagine with news channels you need to capture your audience early in the day to get them coming back to the channel throughout the day - and an hour focused on business then an hour on politics isn't the greatest way to do that.

Considering that the majority of in-vision content on news channels are links to VTs or interviews, I don't think the presentation is the highest priority. And I don't think they've gone too niche in the morning - IKL and AOP have quite a dedicated viewership, particularly by those in the City and Westminster. Does sometimes feel like the Daily Climate Show is a digital show which has been shoe-horned onto the channel.

[bfgarmy]

Hopefully not going too far into rota chat but slight surprise to turn on Sky News at 10 and see Sarah-Jane Mee anchoring given she has her afternoon programme

[Scratch_Perry]

Leah Boleto is joining Sky News as a bulletin presenter from November 2021.

Leah - known mostly for BBC Newsround - has also recently freelanced for ITN 5 News.

Probably most likely to be on the midnight graveyard shift...

As predicted, on now as I type.

[ShinyBat]

I think Sky has a whole new corporate focus since then though and has modernised (climate change, net zero, data journalism etc). The repositioning is very deliberate - the focus is on online and their app I think. The brash Murdoch days are well and truly over for the entire brand.

Certainly they're very keen to push the "news with no agenda" line, and it's worth noting that Comcast have previous when it comes to defining a news channel against the Murdoch brand - although of course MSNBC was and still is actually competing against FNC, whereas here Comcast is literally inheriting a Murdoch channel.

As a commercial station, it makes complete sense for Sky to go for those "insider" shows in the morning slots - it's a clear point of separation from any other channel at that time and creates an audience that's both loyal and about as defined and upscale as you'll ever get. I'm presuming they get some distinctive advertisers in those slots? Certainly from when I used to dip into CNN and CNBC they had some niche but likely lucrative adverts aimed squarely at senior-management types, and I'm guessing Sky News can get some of those for their own serious business content.

[fusionlad]

Kay does have a habbit of leaving her takeaway coffee cup lying around the set. Normally on the ledge in front of the screen.

Not a biggie but always catches my eye. :roll:

[CantGetIn]

Kay does have a habbit of leaving her takeaway coffee cup lying around the set. Normally on the ledge in front of the screen.

Not a biggie but always catches my eye. :roll:

I thought Sky were all about the climate...... another case of do as I say not as I do. In all seriousness, I'd would have expected Sky to be on top of stuff like that. Insisting that non-disposable cups are used on site and disposable plastic is not taken into the building where possible. I know other broadcasters are making similar requests. Sky spend half the day making big deal out of the issue, so they need to get their house in order. A very small thing to notice but that is what it is all about, small choices we make.

[PATV Scunthorpe]

I think Kay is still using her Kay Burley@Breakfast branded reusable cup, the ones that they made a big deal of when they launched her breakfast slot.

https://twitter.com/kayburley/status/120...7135401984

[CantGetIn]

If she is using a non-disposable cup fair enough. Otherwise it s a "cup gate" :lol: