Wow! Lots of stuff happening in one day, after ages of nothing.
Starting with the new look CNN Newsroom. I like it, though the previous look is hard to top. The music is similar, maybe a bit too repetitive now, hopefully there are other mixes we're yet to hear. Also I hope there's a proper, longer, opening, though I doubt it. The new city background looks more appropriate for European mornings, it's brighter and blends in better with the rest of the set.
Newsroom with Max and Bianca is the good old CNNI, that we all love and wish would return. Double headed rolling news with biz, sport and weather updates, though they don't have the weather person anymore, sadly. More of this please. The Atlanta hours of Newsroom need to go double headed as well, John and Rosie's hours are a bit of a bore to be honest. London set looks great, though the city background looks somehow dark and cold, for a morning slot. I wish CNN would do something different instead of the never ending charade of different city backgrounds. A live shot of the Newsroom, like they now do on Early Start, would be interesting. It is called Newsroom, after all, but it never had a newsroom set or background in its history.
CNN This Mornings looks nice, even in this temporary set up, which could work as a real set tbh. I really like the background incorporating many USA landmarks, not just the usual NY buildings and roofs. I'm not sure what's real and what's virtual, in many of these new sets (like BBC News at 6/10) it all looks somehow virtual. The presenting trio is a nice fresh change from the dreary final pairing of New Day. I especially like Kaitlan, butI don't expect any significant ratings increases. It is CNN after all.
CNN Newsroom with Max only, looked like another typical bulletin. I thought he was gonna be tie-less and with a less formal approach, but it didn't happen. Bianca appeared as a guest from the newsroom. They might as well do it together. Also, they are using the nighttime London background which doesn't make sense, unless it's because of Asia???
All in all, some very good, if not great, changes and finally some attention payed to CNNI. I wonder if new graphics are in store for both channels, the current set is a decade old but still looks fresh and does what it's supposed to do. Now CNNI needs to fix its late afternoon/early evening line up. Abu Dhabi urgently needs a decent set. One World needs to go and Quest needs to get out of the broom cupboard . I don't expect late evenings or overnights to ever go back to CNNI so the US simulcasts are just something we have to accept.