[J102B]

Just caught the last 5 mins of DOI, they have fixed the alignment issues of the LIVE graphic under the DOG on the right. I know it is unnecessary but, as some itv shows insist upon them, I like what they have done. More consistent and neat.

[JMT1985]

I believe the LIVE on screen is down to allegations some years ago that certain programmes on ITV and other channels which claimed were live, were in fact not all live at all, and the public was lied to.

This happened way back in December 2003, during the then Living TV channel's paranormal show Most Haunted Live at New Year, when a large chunk of one of their night's show was actually not live but pre-recorded earlier in the evening and played into the programme, with a LIVE DOG on screen during it.

So now, to cover themselves, channels have LIVE on screen when it is live

[Neil Jones]

I believe the LIVE on screen is down to allegations some years ago that certain programmes on ITV and other channels which claimed were live, were in fact not all live at all, and the public was lied to.

This happened way back in December 2003, during the then Living TV channel's paranormal show Most Haunted Live at New Year, when a large chunk of one of their night's show was actually not live but pre-recorded earlier in the evening and played into the programme, with a LIVE DOG on screen during it.

So now, to cover themselves, channels have LIVE on screen when it is live

I think Most Haunted had other issues besides not actually airing certain content live, which led to Derek Acorah being kicked off the programme,.

But of course we can go back to 1992 and Ghostwatch, which was fully scripted, fully recorded and was presented as being a live broadcast (and attracted a load of flak in the process when it turned out it wasn't actually live). So by 2003 it wasn't exactly a "new" thing that stuff claiming to be live wasn't actually live, but I think if the bulk of the output was live they could get away with saying it was live.

But yes its relatively recent for Live bugs to appear all over the place, but I don't think it was as early as 2003. Quiz TV might have had a hand in it and the whole "fictional winners" thing when all that came crashing down round broadcaster's ears, but I'm sure it was closer to the 2010s when Live bugs on stuff that is live was a thing.

[J102B]

Commonplace on BT Sport/Sky Sports/Eurosport.

Suppose the issue with itv is its selectiveness of using live DOGs. It seems to be a production decision, not a itv presentation one.

They are not used on any of the itv daytime show's or, to my knowledge, on any sports coverage. Also, a quick flick on to itv2 and Love Island: Aftersun, which is live, was using a garishly large one (not linked to the rebrand) in the bottom left when speaking to the villa but nothing for the studio based stuff.

Be interesting to see at Saturday Night Takeaway uses in a few weeks time.

Wether they use it or not; just be consistent with its useage!

[Jon]

I believe the LIVE on screen is down to allegations some years ago that certain programmes on ITV and other channels which claimed were live, were in fact not all live at all, and the public was lied to.

This happened way back in December 2003, during the then Living TV channel's paranormal show Most Haunted Live at New Year, when a large chunk of one of their night's show was actually not live but pre-recorded earlier in the evening and played into the programme, with a LIVE DOG on screen during it.

So now, to cover themselves, channels have LIVE on screen when it is live

I think Most Haunted had other issues besides not actually airing certain content live, which led to Derek Acorah being kicked off the programme,.

But of course we can go back to 1992 and Ghostwatch, which was fully scripted, fully recorded and was presented as being a live broadcast (and attracted a load of flak in the process when it turned out it wasn't actually live).  So by 2003 it wasn't exactly a "new" thing that stuff claiming to be live wasn't actually live, but I think if the bulk of the output was live they could get away with saying it was live.

But yes its relatively recent for Live bugs to appear all over the place, but I don't think it was as early as 2003.  Quiz TV might have had a hand in it and the whole "fictional winners" thing when all that came crashing down round broadcaster's ears, but I'm sure it was closer to the 2010s when Live bugs on stuff that is live was a thing.

Surely the only thing they’d need to do in that case is to not claim they’re live when they’re not live. 

This all sounds like a very convoluted reason, when it’s in fact is probably very simple. The producers want viewers to know their programme is live, to help create that sense of immediacy and unpredictability that comes with a live show when the vast majority of primetime TV is not live.

[tomo359]

I can understand the LIVE dog being used on shows like Dancing on Ice when parts of the show are live and parts such as the pro routines, and recorded slightly earlier in the evening.
But on shows that are fully live I'm not as sure if it's needed. I guess if the show has any sort of phone in or anything they make sense, but then again, This Morning has various phone ins and doesn't have a LIVE dog so who knows

[Brekkie]

The new DOG looks much better but is still completely unnecessary and there is no need at all to distinguish between the pre-recorded and live elements - such shows have long been built in that way with some elements that can't be done live pre-recorded earlier. All this does is flag it more.

What would be better is something similar to what the US do (or did on American Idol and a few others at least) and just have a brief "LIVE" graphic on the return from each break. There are plenty of them after all.

[Spencer]

The new DOG looks much better but is still completely unnecessary and there is no need at all to distinguish between the pre-recorded and live elements - such shows have long been built in that way with some elements that can't be done live pre-recorded earlier.  All this does is flag it more.

What would be better is something similar to what the US do (or did on American Idol and a few others at least) and just have a brief "LIVE" graphic on the return from each break.  There are plenty of them after all.

Surely the point of having the Live DOG on a programme like Dancing On Ice is to highlight that literally anything could happen and to heighten the jeopardy.

It’s  one of the many elements that adds to the theatre of the show, along with glitzy titles, flashy lighting and dramatic music. Yes, it’s a bit crap if the DOG is positioned badly, but I don’t see why it’s existence would be an issue for anyone.

[Stuart]

Surely the point of having the Live DOG on a programme like Dancing On Ice is to highlight that literally anything could happen and to heighten the jeopardy.

It’s  one of the many elements that adds to the theatre of the show, along with glitzy titles, flashy lighting and dramatic music. Yes, it’s a bit crap if the DOG is positioned badly, but I don’t see why it’s existence would be an issue for anyone.

Isn't all that rather irrelevant if a large chunk of your audience are either downloading it later or have it on their PVR?

I am equally dismayed at the over use of the Live DOG during news programmes.  Fair enough, if you're reporting from the location of a developing story, but It diminishes the importance if you slap it on an unnecessary OB discussing fuel prices from a forecourt in Fulham.

[Spencer]

Surely the point of having the Live DOG on a programme like Dancing On Ice is to highlight that literally anything could happen and to heighten the jeopardy.

It’s  one of the many elements that adds to the theatre of the show, along with glitzy titles, flashy lighting and dramatic music. Yes, it’s a bit crap if the DOG is positioned badly, but I don’t see why it’s existence would be an issue for anyone.

Isn't all that rather irrelevant if a large chunk of your audience are either downloading it later or have it on their PVR?

I am equally dismayed at the over use of the Live DOG during news programmes.  Fair enough, if you're reporting from the location of a developing story, but It diminishes the importance if you slap it on an unnecessary OB discussing fuel prices from a forecourt in Fulham.

I guess DOI is meant to be ‘event TV’ which is geared towards live viewing rather than via catch-up. So the Live DOG plays into this.

Totally agree about the overuse of Live bugs on news programmes though. This seems more of a hangover from the days when broadcasting live on location was less commonplace, more of an impressive technical feat, and worth pointing out. Now, when almost anyone can start a live broadcast from their mobile phone within seconds, it doesn’t quite have the ‘wow’ factor that it maybe did in the past.