A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.
- MON 16TH OCT (8.25PM)
BBC iPlayer copy of yesterday’s BBC Points West updated - MON 16TH OCT (8.35PM)
Brief opting glitch at the start of BBC Reporting Scotland - MON 16TH OCT (9.15PM)
BBC Look East in full HD - TUE 17TH OCT (10PM)
STV Glasgow headquarters evacuated - WED 18TH OCT (1PM)
Local TV announces “Talk” rebranding - WED 18TH OCT (1.15PM)
Sky Mix launched today - WED 18TH OCT (7PM)
Just in the nick of time on BBC Newsline - THU 19TH OCT (11.30PM)
Newsnight tribute to Kirsty Wark on 30th anniversary - SUN 22ND OCT (3PM)
Irish National Lottery TV draw suspended
Monday 16th October
8.25pm BBC iPlayer copy of yesterday’s BBC Points West updated
The BBC iPlayer copy of yesterday’s edition of BBC Politics West is now glitch-free, as confirmed on tonight’s BBC Points West.
Yesterday’s broadcast of BBC Politics West was affected by technical issues.
8.35pm Brief opting glitch at the start of BBC Reporting Scotland
There was a short interruption to the link for the lead package and the start of the lead package on this evening’s edition of BBC Reporting Scotland.
It looks as though BBC One Scotland was inadvertently taken out of circuit, resulting in BBC London being put to air briefly.
9.15pm BBC Look East in full HD
As of today, BBC Look East is now broadcasting in full HD.
Tuesday 17th October
9.15pm STV Glasgow headquarters evacuated
The STV building at Pacific Quay in Glasgow has been evacuated due to a “suspicious item” in the area.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Govan Road at Lorne Street, extending to the Clyde Arc Bridge, is closed after police received a report of a suspect item in a car park near the South Rotunda.
“Officers are in attendance and a cordon is in place as a precaution. The public is being asked to avoid the area.”
At STV spokesperson said: “Due to a police incident in the area, STV’s offices at Pacific Quay have been evacuated this evening.
“The channel remains on air with regular programming, but this evening’s edition of Scotland Tonight won’t be transmitted.”
UPDATE (9.30PM): STV continuity remains on air in spite of the evacuation of the STV building. However, the 9pm junction had no end credit promotion and the ident into the next programme was announcerless.
UPDATE (11.15PM): although we still had STV-branded trails/idents in the 10.45pm junction, STV is now taking a dirty feed of ITV 1, complete with DOG and ITV 1-branded trails during in-programme ad breaks. Barbara Knox at 90 replaced Scotland Tonight.
UPDATE (18TH OCTOBER, 1.30AM): STV has been taking ITV 1 output entirely (including continuity/idents) since immediately after the 10.45pm junction.
UPDATE (18TH OCTOBER, 2AM): the bomb squad has carried out a controlled explosion of a suspect package. The police cordon was lifted at 1am.
UPDATE (18TH OCTOBER, 4AM): STV continuity returned in time for the link into Our Jubilee at 3.25am.
Wednesday 18th October
1pm Local TV announces “Talk” rebranding
Full press release: “Local TV today announces the rebranding of its eight local TV stations under the Talk banner. Remaining wholly owned by Local TV, the stations will retain their current focus on local content alongside the content they already broadcast from TalkTV.”
“Local TV provides local news video services on Freeview Channels 7 & 8, Virgin Media Channel 159, online and social media in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, North Wales, Teesside and Tyne & Wear.
“That equates to five million homes or approximately 18% of all UK television households.
“The eight stations in the Local TV network will rebrand to TalkBirmingham, TalkBristol, TalkCardiff, TalkLeeds, TalkLiverpool, TalkNorthWales, TalkTeesside & TalkTyne&Wear from 18th October.
“In January 2023, Local TV launched a content sharing and commercial partnership with TalkTV, which is wholly owned by News UK, on Freeview and Virgin Media.”
Lesley Mackenzie, Local TV CEO, said: “Local TV remains entirely committed to its remit to serve local audiences with local content. This rebranding simply better articulates our proposition to our local audiences.
“Partnering with a national broadcaster is key to the model for local TV provision, and in TalkTV we have a partner who really adds value and is compatible to our offer.”
Richard Wallace, Head of TalkTV, said: “I’m delighted to extend our partnership with Local TV. These eight local stations benefit from the great content we’re producing within TalkTV, including the award-winning broadcast talent that is Piers Morgan, and content from our new-launch breakfast show, Talk Today, with Jeremy Kyle and Nicola Thorp.”
1.15pm Sky Mix launched today
Pick was rebranded as Sky Mix today. It can be found on Freeview channel 11.
Sky: “Sky Mix brings an exciting array of Sky Originals and exclusives to a new Freeview audience. From gripping documentaries and epic movies from Sky, Sky Mix has something for everyone plus the authentic real-life content already enjoyed by existing Pick viewers.”
EXTERNAL LINK: Sky Mix presentation at The Ident Gallery.
7pm Just in the nick of time on BBC Newsline
BBC Newsline’s presenter Catherine Morrison rushes to the tower and the floor manager (?) runs away from the main desk with no time to spare, just as the programme goes on air.
Middle of the screen on the videowall of nations/regions on the Six.
Thursday 19th October
11.30pm Newsnight tribute to Kirsty Wark on 30th anniversary
Kirsty Wark’s Newsnight colleague Mark Urban steps in to introduce the final segment on tonight’s programme – a version of the highlights compilation posted on social media earlier, marking Kirsty’s 30th anniversary presenting the programme.
Kirsty also announced today that she’d be leaving Newsnight after the next general election.
Sunday 22nd October
3pm Irish National Lottery TV draw suspended
Last night’s Irish National Lottery draw on RTÉ One was abandoned after a selection sequence started prematurely.
Presenter Kamal Ibrahim told viewers: “Unfortunately due to technical difficulties the lotto draw cannot be completed as scheduled. The draw will be completed as soon as possible. Please hold all your tickets and await further announcements. It’s live TV so what can you do? See you soon.”
A National Lottery spokesman said: “The National Lottery would like to inform its players that there was a minor technical issue with tonight’s Lotto draw. However, there is no issue with either the integrity of the draw or the numbers drawn.
“Earlier this evening we suspended the live broadcast of the Lotto draw due to a minor technical issue when the Lotto Plus 1 draw machine began selecting balls earlier than the sequence should have started.
“As is standard procedure, when a technical event occurs, the recording of the draw continues but the live TV broadcast is halted. This is in order to protect the integrity of the draw and is in line with our approved game rules and processes, all of which are and were independently observed by KPMG.
“The balls originally selected by the Lotto Plus 1 machine are final. The Lotto and Lotto Plus 2 draws were then conducted off air. Results of all draws are published on www.lottery.ie“
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Acknowledgements
PICTURED: BBC Reporting Scotland. COPYRIGHT: BBC.