[LDN]

I think the issue there and in general is that images look great on the monolith when you're watching in person - but not so great watching on a 16:9 TV.  Wouldn't be surprised though if that's deliberate with the intention they'll work cropped for social media.

I'm not sure how much of an issue that is. 

Apart from when it's showing BBC News or programme branding, the monolith tends to be used for one of two purposes: 1) to illustrate an in-studio explainer with a sequence of images and captions specifically designed for the 'tall' format; or 2) to show 'illustrative' images related to the report/package that's being introduced.

For 1), it's like a vertical PowerPoint. We see a few images but these are rarely the focus, and are generally just tinsel or background to whatever captions are being presented. The captions/callouts are usually large and brief -- "£2bn over-budget"; "unsafe at any speed", etc -- and easy to read. When used for this purpose, a tighter, closer view on the monolith is often used, rather than the much wider shot used in the images above, which again makes it easier to see the content being presented.

For 2), where wider shots are used, as in the screenshots in my previous post, the monolith is generally used to show a few images relevant to the upcoming package, in much the same way that a static over-the-shoulder graphic would once have been used. In the images above, Fergus Walsh is referring to body and brain scans -- but we don't need to see the detail of those scans at this stage; it's merely an introduction, and the scans being shown on the monolith are just there to look pretty and be relevant to what the presenter is talking about. We can see a giant body scan, and we can see some brain scans. That's all we need to see during the intro -- the detail comes in the package. 

If the monolith were being used to present smaller, more detailed story elements that we're expected to read or focus on at a distance, I could see this being a greater issue. Given how it's actually used, I don't personally think it's a big problem.

[Moz]

I think the issue there and in general is that images look great on the monolith when you're watching in person - but not so great watching on a 16:9 TV.  Wouldn't be surprised though if that's deliberate with the intention they'll work cropped for social media.

I'm not sure how much of an issue that is. 

Apart from when it's showing BBC News or programme branding, the monolith tends to be used for one of two purposes: 1) to illustrate an in-studio explainer with a sequence of images and captions specifically designed for the 'tall' format; or 2) to show 'illustrative' images related to the report/package that's being introduced.

For 1), it's like a vertical PowerPoint. We see a few images but these are rarely the focus, and are generally just tinsel or background to whatever captions are being presented. The captions/callouts are usually large and brief -- "£2bn over-budget"; "unsafe at any speed", etc -- and easy to read. When used for this purpose, a tighter, closer view on the monolith is often used, rather than the much wider shot used in the images above, which again makes it easier to see the content being presented.

For 2), where wider shots are used, as in the screenshots in my previous post, the monolith is generally used to show a few images relevant to the upcoming package, in much the same way that a static over-the-shoulder graphic would once have been used. In the images above, Fergus Walsh is referring to body and brain scans -- but we don't need to see the detail of those scans at this stage; it's merely an introduction, and the scans being shown on the monolith are just there to look pretty and be relevant to what the presenter is talking about. We can see a giant body scan, and we can see some brain scans. That's all we need to see during the intro -- the detail comes in the package. 

If the monolith were being used to present smaller, more detailed story elements that we're expected to read or focus on at a distance, I could see this being a greater issue. Given how it's actually used, I don't personally think it's a big problem.

And when your last example happens they zoom right in for a close up of the presenter and just a part of the tower (not monolith).

To me they look great, and their number one purpose is branding - if you see a studio with a big tower screen you know it’s BBC News. This, I think, is clever.

[Worzel]

Some may have noticed that on the 6 to night both Sophie and Fergus Walsh were both at the front monolith. I'd not seen that before and it worked well.

Not been done on a news programme before, but when Alex Jones from The One Show previewed the new set with Huw, they did something similar with Huw standing outside a virtual 10 Downing Street...

youtu.be 

[JamesWorldNews]

Christian Fraser Update:

twitter.com 

[Radio_man]

The set looks far better in wide shots than close up.

The catwalk is definitely the best-executed part of Studio B. Think the wider angle of the desk that includes the monolith looks quite good, but the head-on shot that tends to be used for the bulk of the programme is probably the worst part of the set. It would look fine for a news summary, but doesn't work for a proper bulletin. 

As others have said, B can look quite sterile. I think it works for The Six, but it could definitely do with warmer 'daylight' colours being added for The One and a few shades of blue and purple for The Ten. 

Part of me think we'll see quite a shift in the way the set looks when BBC News eventually unveils a rebrand. There's obviously a possibility that Studio B was designed with a different look in mind, but this look was unfinished and we got the refreshed 2008 globe instead.

Distinct 'looks' for the 1, 6 & 10 are definitely what's missing from B, apart from the number in the background when presenting from the monolith. Something darker is definitely needed for the 10.
But then some nights, the 10 is indistinguishable from the 6 anyway, with often an identical running order and the same presenter. So maybe it's deliberate that all of the network BBC 1 bulletins now have exactly the same studio look.

[RhysJR]

Not strictly presentation related, but this from the BBC News website is too good not to post

twitter.com 

[AaronLancs]

The catwalk is definitely the best-executed part of Studio B. Think the wider angle of the desk that includes the monolith looks quite good, but the head-on shot that tends to be used for the bulk of the programme is probably the worst part of the set. It would look fine for a news summary, but doesn't work for a proper bulletin. 

As others have said, B can look quite sterile. I think it works for The Six, but it could definitely do with warmer 'daylight' colours being added for The One and a few shades of blue and purple for The Ten. 

Part of me think we'll see quite a shift in the way the set looks when BBC News eventually unveils a rebrand. There's obviously a possibility that Studio B was designed with a different look in mind, but this look was unfinished and we got the refreshed 2008 globe instead.

Distinct 'looks' for the 1, 6 & 10 are definitely what's missing from B, apart from the number in the background when presenting from the monolith. Something darker is definitely needed for the 10.
But then some nights, the 10 is indistinguishable from the 6 anyway, with often an identical running order and the same presenter. So maybe it's deliberate that all of the network BBC 1 bulletins now have exactly the same studio look.

Maybe restoring it to being a bit like being back in 1999-era N6 where when you saw that studio you knew what you were getting perhaps. A bulletin designed solely for the viewers on BBC One. But these days there is the added complication by adding the UK feed of the combined News Channel.

[Michael Wotton]

Really hope if they’re going to use that for Verified Live they make it red.

The colour for BBC News is red and it looks messy and disjointed using different colours. They’ve changed The Context from teal to red so I hope they don’t go off message again with this.

it seems like they have gone for red for verified live

www.bbc.co.uk 

BBC World News - Verified Live, 22/05/2023
Matthew Amroliwala presents all the latest global and UK news, live from London.
  Source: www.bbc.co.uk

and it does seem to be by the BBC Verify team

[harshy]

I am really forwarding to next week with all these branded shows I did miss them world viewers aren’t used to plain Jane bbc news, so this is a welcome return, hoping for nice titles, memorable theme tunes, better use of the studio space, because C is still brilliant.

[ALV]

Really hope if they’re going to use that for Verified Live they make it red.

The colour for BBC News is red and it looks messy and disjointed using different colours. They’ve changed The Context from teal to red so I hope they don’t go off message again with this.

it seems like they have gone for red for verified live

www.bbc.co.uk 

and it does seem to be by the BBC Verify team

The titles hit a little close to home...