BBC News Channel General Discussion

From the ones I've seen in the past, this consists of large on screen 'REHEARSAL' captions; a recorded loop on all the audio channels saying "this is a rehearsal"; and any down-the-line reporters (either from regional newsroom cameras, or in TVC days, the business unit camera) holding up bits of paper with 'rehearsal' written on them. N6's output would also be disconnected from as many destinations as reasonably practical.

Rehearsals ....

Interesting to hear that 'what if's' are extended to the Web operation too. Seems some simulations for important sporting events and happenings have been done recently. (Recall for KP in Cricket) for example. It appears that these exercises are far more frequent and varied than most of us imagine.

I know that in the days before fixed term elections rehearsals would be frequent (in case they were called instantly) the BBC were doing full rehearsals (set and all) for a general election in January 1996 (the one that obviously became 1997). In fact there were titles and everything with 'election 96' written on it.

I guess they may have had plans in place to be able to mount coverage of this election at short notice, given how so many people predicted the coalition wouldn't last?

The virtual set on the BBC News at Nine looks a bit different tonight, minus the three 'video wall' screens to the left and the single screen to the right, normally used for graphics behind the presenter.

Not sure if this is a permanent change or some sort of problem, though I think it looks nicer (though I think it could look a whole lot better) - I'm sure time will tell.



EDIT: Looks like a new change as the video wall screens reappeared for the Papers run through just before the weather, and one of those screens appeared also appeared earlier on for a DTL interview.

Sophie in Westminster of course for tonight, and the normal titles were used with different shots of the houses of parliament.

Shocking how little the News Channel have done on Tunisia. I don't think they mentioned it until 6pm.

Fair enough, however it's also understandable given it's budget day.

They had mentioned it in the headlines at the bottom of the hour after 3 o'clock and then showed report on it after that.

Lead on BBC World News and France 2. Where did Sky put it in the running order?

Unforgivable not to mention it. Are they a News Channel or not? I guess they didn't want to break into their pre prepared Budget Coverage, which was on BBC Two anyhow.

Remind me what the working name for ' Drop The Dead Donkey' was again ? 'Dead Belgians Don't Count' I seem to recall ?