ITV Region: STV News: Central Scotland
BBC Region: BBC Reporting Scotland
I couldn't help but read "Andrew helped set our tone, our purpose, even our launch date. He has been integral to every major programming and hiring decision." as attaching some blame for the disastrous launch on to Neil.
Let's face it though, the few programmes Neil hosted were mostly dry and boring. A Sunday political show moved to weeknights. Even the long form interview with the Chancellor barely registered outside the channel. If Neil stayed, I doubt he would've attracted a particularly sizable audience (esp compared to Farage).
I wonder if the commentator role is to try and save face or if it's part of a deal to let him leave (presumably they've already spent a lot on him and not got much on-air back!)
Andrew Neil joining Nigel tonight!! Will we get the full blown low down on his resignation? Or will this story be brushed under the carpet and just given a brief mention??
I hope Dan on Tonight Live gives us viewers a full analysis on Andrew Neil leaving.
"From today you'll hear some new voices when you're watching UTV, as for the time being we're handing over to our colleagues at ITV, but rest assured Julian and I will be back with you as soon as possible"
Gillian Porter, UTV (2nd April 2020; 5:59am)
It got a 2 second mention
"I'm sure you can read plenty more on that" was basically it!
They seem VERY keen to ensure he is now known as a 'GB News Contributor' though!
Prospero&Ariel
Unregistered
[ridiculous thought warning]
I was thinking about disastrous choices for Head of BBC News the other day, and then then more I thought about it, the more sense it made.
Obviously it's not likely Neil will end up there...I will preface it with that. It's just the timing...they are hiring for that position very shortly. The politics will be playing out in phone calls and meetings weeks ago, when I expect a select few learnt of Unsworth's decision.
Why is it unlikely? Well, his age, and if he's scaling back his portfolio for that reason then taking on one of the biggest news jobs in the country (if not the biggest) is contrary to that. Secondly the appointment wouldn't be popular with the left in this country at all...anyone who is of the view that Neil left the BBC to found Fox News will continue with that view and be full of expletives as to how the BBC could hire someone like that. Thirdly, Neil likes being on air I think, and viewers like him too - why would he go for a desk job with a load of bother and no on-air razzmatazz (see final ep of This Week).
How it could make sense: Firstly, Tim Davie...someone who isn't a journalist or has ever had a career in BBC News, is the hiring manager. That means this appointment to BBC News is unique. Davie looks at the BBC as a whole - as a player in the global media market. News, to be honest, isn't sexy - it's a drag on the BBC's ticket as it goes into battle with Netflix and Amazon. Neil has that commercial experience, and actually may make BBC News something more than just a public service requirement. Those in the 'he set up Fox News camp' will cry that BBC News can't follow GB News, but he's shown that he wants to make news more popular (his idea of personality led programmes) WITHOUT necessarily being partial. Neil was the one constantly saying GBN wasn't going to be Fox News, and I think he's left because of that editorial tension. I don't know, but I expect he was instrumental in getting McCoy and Stewart on the presenting lineup. Finally, why wouldn't Davie say...'I take your criticism of BBC News, come back and improve it'.
I know it sounds mad, but he was the lead politics presenter (not a job you get easily) as late as the US Presidential Election, and he was generally liked by audiences (as much as someone on BBC News can be). I don't think the BBC should shy away from rehiring talent that's left - it should know what's good and go with it.
thecorrector
Unregistered
Johnr post_id=39671 time= user_id=1319 Wrote:It got a 2 second mention
"I'm sure you can read plenty more on that" was basically it! As predicted, Neil largely ignored it and the pair moved on to a debate so incredibly dry and boring it perfectly encapsulates vast swathes of GBN’s output.
ITV Region: ---None Selected---
BBC Region: ---None Selected---
Thought he might at least be there in person assuming the events of the day but looks like he may still be in France.
https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1...5206611971
@Brekkietweets
And presumably he will do his Question Time appearance down the line from France too.
Johnr post_id=39671 time= user_id=1319 Wrote:They seem VERY keen to ensure he is now known as a 'GB News Contributor' though!
Is he now the first person to be described like this, like you get on news channels in the states where opinionated guests are captioned as 'CNN Political Analyst' and the like, on a British news channel? Obviously his Question Time appearance suggests there isn't any exclusivity like you seem to get across the pond.
I'm surprised it's never been tried with regular paper reviewers on Sky News.
Prospero&Ariel post_id=39672 time= user_id=2082' Wrote:[ridiculous thought warning]
I was thinking about disastrous choices for Head of BBC News the other day, and then then more I thought about it, the more sense it made.
Neil definitely seems unlikely but might one of the other departed executives, like John McAndrew, be a candidate?
You're not the only one thinking this way though. On twitter Michael Crick suggested him as the next boss of Channel 4 news to save the channel from being privitised.
Prospero&Ariel post_id=39672 time= user_id=2082' Wrote:[ridiculous thought warning]
I was thinking about disastrous choices for Head of BBC News the other day, and then then more I thought about it, the more sense it made.
Obviously it's not likely Neil will end up there...I will preface it with that. It's just the timing...they are hiring for that position very shortly. The politics will be playing out in phone calls and meetings weeks ago, when I expect a select few learnt of Unsworth's decision.
Why is it unlikely? Well, his age, and if he's scaling back his portfolio for that reason then taking on one of the biggest news jobs in the country (if not the biggest) is contrary to that. Secondly the appointment wouldn't be popular with the left in this country at all...anyone who is of the view that Neil left the BBC to found Fox News will continue with that view and be full of expletives as to how the BBC could hire someone like that. Thirdly, Neil likes being on air I think, and viewers like him too - why would he go for a desk job with a load of bother and no on-air razzmatazz (see final ep of This Week).
How it could make sense: Firstly, Tim Davie...someone who isn't a journalist or has ever had a career in BBC News, is the hiring manager. That means this appointment to BBC News is unique. Davie looks at the BBC as a whole - as a player in the global media market. News, to be honest, isn't sexy - it's a drag on the BBC's ticket as it goes into battle with Netflix and Amazon. Neil has that commercial experience, and actually may make BBC News something more than just a public service requirement. Those in the 'he set up Fox News camp' will cry that BBC News can't follow GB News, but he's shown that he wants to make news more popular (his idea of personality led programmes) WITHOUT necessarily being partial. Neil was the one constantly saying GBN wasn't going to be Fox News, and I think he's left because of that editorial tension. I don't know, but I expect he was instrumental in getting McCoy and Stewart on the presenting lineup. Finally, why wouldn't Davie say...'I take your criticism of BBC News, come back and improve it'.
I know it sounds mad, but he was the lead politics presenter (not a job you get easily) as late as the US Presidential Election, and he was generally liked by audiences (as much as someone on BBC News can be). I don't think the BBC should shy away from rehiring talent that's left - it should know what's good and go with it. It crossed my mind too. It’s unlikely, but I think your broader point about rehiring talent that left is correct, and I don’t think those who left for GBN are as tarnished as contributors here seem to think.
ITV Region: ---None Selected---
BBC Region: ---None Selected---
Andrew had a lot of hope for GB News - I remember him on Good Morning Britain speaking about his hope for the channel, focusing its style on the MSNBC, CNN format in the USA. Problem for me was that the whole tone of the channel was set when they announced their first signing - Dan Wootton, I knew when they hired him, that GB News was going to be very very different.
First thought, what... a... shocker... /s
Seriously though, this may have been the worst kept secret in TV today. It was obvious to anyone with eyes and a functioning brain cell, that he was going to depart after the opening debacle.
You could argue that they're trying to run the channel on a shoestring, and still make sure they have part of the string left at the end of it.
GB News is clearly doomed. The question is how long will let it lamely limp on before putting out of its misery.
I admit I find it laughable he acts like he doesn't approve of and didn't anticipate the direction the channel's taking when the headline segment on his own show was called "woke watch" which is as much right-wing Fox News-esque populism as anything Nigel Farage or Dan Wooten spouts that he claims to dislike.
ITV Region: ITV News West Country
BBC Region: BBC Spotlight
To be fair, Andrew Neil is 72. If I manage to last that long, I would hope to have stopped working. However, knowing my luck they will have moved the pension age to later than that by then. :?
I was very hopeful for GB News. Its been a very refreshing change to have presenters who seem to address the audience as humans instead of children.
<t>An Autie but not a naughty.</t>
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