Launch BBC News: Studio B

[watchingtv]

Look East still ended with the weather forecast, full screen graphic for the summary and fade away. That needs to be changed back to having an end cap now they is no National weather to slide straight into.

[Qwerty123]

After that going back to C’s (by comparison) more basic camera view of the newsroom feels a bit of a downgrade

Why is the News Channel in C not E? Or was E on standby in case B failed?

Presumably because the evening NC presenter is also the backup presenter for Newsday if the link to Singapore fails for whatever reason (at least for the 23:00 edition, I think the overnight presenter takes over at some point).

[GraemeT]

So will E get kitted out the same for bbc news/world channel now?

[Brekkie]

But studio E still has something no other fancy set up can give you - the depth of a gigantic, real newsroom behind. The set can be refreshed, with a different desk and a better newswall but it really doesn't need anything else.

Exactly!  Losing the live real newsroom behind feels like a step backwards, seeing what happens as news breaks and people walk around etc - it felt as though you were there where the action happened.

Whilst I agree losing the real newsroom background is a loss the only time it's ever really bought anything to the coverage was when Prince Phillip died or the Queen visitied (though not sure that was on screen).   The gains far outway the losses here, but fixing up the catwalk screen and changing the desk would freshen up E nicely.

[Chud]

Is Studio A’s cgi being updated to match B?

[harshy]

Studio B definitely the flagship news studio now, studio E and C just look boring now.

[CATV]

It might be me but the curve on the curve screen seems to go to far back In the middle. Also needs to be taller.

I hope when the new branding comes along they make some changes to the set as is not quite there for me.

They need a bigger studio but they can’t have the real newsroom so I would go with something different like a skyline.

[mdta]

So will E get kitted out the same for bbc news/world channel now?

I doubt it, but they could do something on a smaller scale in that space, and feature the newsroom behind with some of the glass box exposed.

[Langham]

This is much more than a new set/studio (not rehashing that debate again!). This is a whole relaunch of the network bulletin, a much more editorial style that gives Huw and newscasters a little more freedom introducing the main stories. Set-wise, strong NBC Nightly News vibes from both the current set and the previous iteration - tall borderless screens paired with long curved displays. And what a touchscreen!! A vast vast improvement that will last a decade.

[Brekkie]

Regional opts

They should have had 18 red screens of death for those watching in HD.

[ginnyfan]

The area around the desk really looks like VR, which is not a good thing. The main close up shot of Huw with newsroom in the background looks fine, I like the bright newsroom look.

The opening was somehow uneventful. I didn't expect Huw to slide down the stairs but a nicer shot of the set and some movement from him, would look better, instead of a bland wide shot of the newswall area. Nothing can beat the newsroom shot followed by the studio zoom and everything after that was a downgrade.

Finally, I agree the set is too bright and white for a late night bulletin.

[eyeTV]

My observations

- It's a bit too clinical, they've managed to make a real studio look fake

- It needs another colour - probably some blue

- Not keen on the main desk shot very washed out - perhaps a behind the shoulder graphic would work there

- Huw doing the news like he's presenting a Powerpoint - please ditch this

- I prefer to not see the cameras it makes it look ugly, maybe we don't need to see him walking from the desk to the catwalk

- Catwalk screen seems positioned quite low

- The balcony area looks kind of bleak, like a grey bunker, maybe do something up there

The rest is fab-u-lous

[Qwerty123]

After that going back to C’s (by comparison) more basic camera view of the newsroom feels a bit of a downgrade

Why is the News Channel in C not E? Or was E on standby in case B failed?

---

That  "News Night" and regions thing was pretty nice ...

I bet the News Channel felt a bit left out though!

Wouldn't exactly be difficult to add a camera on the NC next to the Newsnight one with a line along the lines of "That's all from the BBC News at 10, Newsnight with Kirsty is starting on BBC2, James has a round up of tomorrows front pages on the News Channel and here on BBC One we join our regional colleagues for the news where you are"

[Juicy Joe]

As expected, the spiral staircase wasn't used at all? I thought Huw was going to depart via this exit. Are studio correspondents joining Huw at the desk going to make their entrance via the staircase?

[Andrew]

Look North felt much shorter now they are no longer integrating the local and national weather into the one forecast

Regarding the regions throw videowall, they can just swap out two boxes with BBC News logos or a BBC News URL, although it’ll make it very clear they’ve axed two sub regions when they do.