[Kojak]

BBC News could learn a few things from what ITN did with the first incarnation of their news channel. It was run on a shoestring budget and staffing but I always thought it punched well above its weight on air.

Short sharp headlines, and into the top story within 30 seconds! The branding was also very good and has actually aged quite well.

Granted the presentation side of the channel was quite lifeless (no standing pres/very few studio guest contributions until the initial 2002 and then 2005 ITV News rebrand) but as a basic news wheel service, it was delivered very well. Watching the BBC News channel these days, its basically static camera/presenter at desk shots with little creativity in how studio C is utilised.

ITN also proved you can put out a reasonable product with consistent branding that doesn't look butchered on a tight budget.

youtu.be 

The original incarnation arguably came a decade too early.  It was somewhat designed to be watched on mobiles on the move a decade before apps were a thing.

Funnily enough, ITN did reuse some of the news channel's branding for their online/mobile service a few years later. The video seems to have been taken down now but an interview with Rik Mayall promoting a New Statesman play (in character as Alan B'Stard) opened with the old News Channel intro.