Sky News: 2021 Refresh

[Brekkie]

I wouldn't read too much into the departures at Sky at the moment - they're far from unique in the industry for losing a few long term figures at the moment. As with us all I suspect the last 18 months have seen some people make decisions in their lives to make a change.

[valley]

Looks like a new background behind Dermot tonight. More contrast and higher quality image.

[Gibsy]

With a number of Sky anchors moving to GB News and the general criticism Sky News receives for its bland presentation, not withstanding the journalism which is still first class, is it time for John Ryley to step aside?

I would venture that anyone who thinks the main Sky board are saying to themselves: "The breaking news straps don't whoosh quite as loudly as they used to - therefore heads must roll!" is sorely mistaken.

I wasn’t saying that at all and thanks for the attitude

[Rob]

thanks for the attitude

There's no need to be so rude.

[Gibsy]

thanks for the attitude

There's no need to be so rude.

I'm the one being rude...wow

[Craigwills]

Haven’t seen that weekend slot in a while - I assumed Stephen still anchored it pre his GB News move. Who anchors it these days - can’t be Gillian as she now does Anna Jones’s old weekend evening slot.

Yes - he did still anchor it. Maybe the poster got confused as in the GB News release it says he anchored Sunrise until 2019 (which he did) but doesn't mention that he continued on with weekend mornings until present day.

IIRC, at the turn of the year - coinciding with new lockdown measures and Kay Burley’s absence - double headed presentation was dropped, Jayne & Colin seemed to share Sky News Today duties (until he departed for GB News), Gillian did weekend & Friday breakfast, Stephen and Niall Patterson shared duties of doing 07:00-10:00 slot and Early Rundown.
In June, Kay returned so Stephen went back to his original home of weekend breakfast, freeing up Gillian to move into Friday-Sunday evening slot.

[TVViewer256]

Haven’t seen that weekend slot in a while - I assumed Stephen still anchored it pre his GB News move. Who anchors it these days - can’t be Gillian as she now does Anna Jones’s old weekend evening slot.

Yes - he did still anchor it. Maybe the poster got confused as in the GB News release it says he anchored Sunrise until 2019 (which he did) but doesn't mention that he continued on with weekend mornings until present day.

IIRC, at the turn of the year - coinciding with new lockdown measures and Kay Burley’s absence - double headed presentation was dropped, Jayne & Colin seemed to share Sky News Today duties (until he departed for GB News), Gillian did weekend & Friday breakfast, Stephen and Niall Patterson shared duties of doing 07:00-10:00 slot and Early Rundown.
In June, Kay returned so Stephen went back to his original home of weekend breakfast, freeing up Gillian to move into Friday-Sunday evening slot.

Yes - at the first lockdown Stephen and Gillian stayed together (but with Stephen from his home studio as I think he was shielding or something), after which they were both in the studio for a short while until the whole Kay thing kicked off, when the partnership was split up and they never returned to double-headed weekends for some reason.

[Aaron.TV]

With a number of Sky anchors moving to GB News and the general criticism Sky News receives for its bland presentation, not withstanding the journalism which is still first class, is it time for John Ryley to step aside?

I would venture that anyone who thinks the main Sky board are saying to themselves: "The breaking news straps don't whoosh quite as loudly as they used to - therefore heads must roll!" is sorely mistaken.

Is someone allowed to raise a point about Sky News without being absolutely leapt on, just out of interest?

It seemed like a fairly reasonable point to be allowed to make, even if I don’t necessarily agree with the sentiments.

[Craigwills]

With a number of Sky anchors moving to GB News and the general criticism Sky News receives for its bland presentation, not withstanding the journalism which is still first class, is it time for John Ryley to step aside?

I would venture that anyone who thinks the main Sky board are saying to themselves: "The breaking news straps don't whoosh quite as loudly as they used to - therefore heads must roll!" is sorely mistaken.

Is someone allowed to raise a point about Sky News without being absolutely leapt on, just out of interest?

It seemed like a fairly reasonable point to be allowed to make, even if I don’t necessarily agree with the sentiments.

Well I think people should be able to make free comments on here, although as with anything there is parameters to that. I do think it’s no wonder certain people get annoyed on this forum, as it feels like every other dish someone is wanting to take Sky News back to 2005. The world has changed. The early to mid 2000s were pretty trashy at times, that was reflected in some of the reality time of the time, even some of the drama content would look so out of place today, the gimmicky Sky News presentation and ITV News’ tabloid style back then too. 2005 Sky News is done.

What I would say, while I think it’s a fair comment to make, I think it’s about a wider perspective. I just spoke a few weeks back that the Sky weekday line up is pretty stable, and there’s been very little change (bar minor tweaks to timings) for some time now. Even Kay/Sarah Jane swap wasn’t a huge change considering they just swapped places. But that’s not withstanding they’ve lost some fairly big name talent, Colin/Isabel/Stephen/Mark White to GB News. Gamal going to Granada mixed in with that too, it does mean there weekend line up has become somewhat light. Wether or not this suggests that change is needed, I’m not so sure though. Their weekday presenters seem pretty happy, no ones left the weekday schedule in some time (Whilst Colin was on weekdays, he at time of departure was only appearing occasionally anyways, so wasn’t a big impact). Those that have left have done so - in my opinion - for their own careers; Colin has become perhaps the main anchor for GB news, with the exception of Farage. Mark White I’d argue has a more high profile role at GB News, perhaps their main correspondent really, and I’m sure will have more editorial input too. Stephen, Isabel and Gamal were all part of the relief and B team at Sky whereby leaving and going elsewhere, you’d argue there part of the respective top team, certainly for the former two they’ll be two of the most experienced presenters on the team.

[Rdd]

Sky News joining DTT in Ireland on 30th November - will be the first UK channel to be available on the platform over ten years after launch. At the moment the Saorview platform effectively consists of RTE, VMTV, and TG4 and the Oireachtas (parliamentary) channel only.

https://www.saorview.ie/en/news/article/...o-saorview

[bkman1990]

Sky News joining DTT in Ireland on 30th November - will be the first UK channel to be available on the platform over ten years after launch. At the moment the Saorview platform effectively consists of RTE, VMTV, and TG4 and the Oireachtas (parliamentary) channel only.

https://www.saorview.ie/en/news/article/...o-saorview

Wow. I've just read the email from Saorview on my phone. What an unexpected surprise.

I'm shocked that is happening on Tuesday. Why are they are launching on Saorview of all things. Is it to increase the viewership of the channel in Ireland or something?

[Chinamug]

Sky News joining DTT in Ireland on 30th November - will be the first UK channel to be available on the platform over ten years after launch. At the moment the Saorview platform effectively consists of RTE, VMTV, and TG4 and the Oireachtas (parliamentary) channel only.

https://www.saorview.ie/en/news/article/...o-saorview

Wow. I've just read the email from Saorview on my phone. What an unexpected surprise.

I'm shocked that is happening on Tuesday. Why are they are launching on Saorview of all things. Is it to increase the viewership of the channel in Ireland or something?

About 10% of households in Ireland only have Saorview, so overnight they have added 200,000 households to their possible reach, and I'd assume a lot of those will watch as it's surprisingly popular in Ireland. Pre Covid when you were in the bank queuing it was usually the station that was on as you waited for service. I know for a long time it was in the 10 most-watched stations in Ireland. They're also reaching all those sets in Cable/Sat households that only have Saorview (as in the bedroom or the kitchen)

Increased rates for advertising on the Irish version should pay for transmission costs, and you have access to 200,000 households without Satellite or Cable television, so plenty of ads for SKY Q and Sky Now. That fact alone might make it worthwhile.

[London Lite]

I take it they're getting the SD version? Hopefully better than the shocking 544x576 version on UK Freeview.

[Rdd]

Probably. Saorview rate card makes HD unaffordable for everyone except RTE.

[TVViewer256]

I'd assume a lot of those will watch as it's surprisingly popular in Ireland. Pre Covid when you were in the bank queuing it was usually the station that was on as you waited for service. I know for a long time it was in the 10 most-watched stations in Ireland. They're also reaching all those sets in Cable/Sat households that only have Saorview (as in the bedroom or the kitchen)

So popular, in fact, that there used to be a full programming block for Irish viewers, broadcast from Dublin. https://youtu.be/vU92Ry1Z0ck