[ViridianFan]

There is certainly a bit of inconsistency in editorial balance and I'm not sure how much is down to differing people in the editor's chair or whether there are just no rules for anybody to follow. But taking everything together, I think it's hard to come to any conclusion other than things happened too soon. Pretty much every fault in the merged channel - whether it's the lack of clear rules on editorial balance, questions of format, the recruitment process being incomplete, staggered and half-arsed graphics changes - would all have been avoidable with a longer period of preparation and/or phasing in. Now, obviously there were financial considerations in play, but it's clear a lot of crucial decisions were either rushed or just not really taken.

 Very true. It feels very much like it’s dependent who’s sat in the editors chair on the day. We could probably come to the conclusion that there are no rules been designed on balance as most other things seem to have been a wing it. 

You’re right it’s too soon to come to a conclusion. If it had launched day one as it meant to go on then I don’t think it would feel as half as bad as it does at the moment. It’s that feeling of it almost being at the design stage and people are still fiddling with bits, just this time item on screen.

There was the financial decision at play meaning it had to start with the new financial year but I do think they had plenty of time to have gotten this to launch as a polished final product. They can manage it, look at when the restrictions kicked in, practically over night they effectively merged the channels. One could argue they’ve had more time and actually just made a mess. I’m really not trying to be cynical or fall into the world of conspiracy theories but when you stand back and look at what’s going out from a managerial view point i can’t help but wonder is this being done on purpose. If I, a viewer with no experience in the business can see all this r n surely they can.