Sky News Re-launch
Posted Wed Nov 22 22:46:10 GMT 2000 by 'c@t'
Sounds interesting, they seem intent on winning the ITV franchise:
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TVNEWSweb.com
Sky News has thrown down the gauntlet to its
latest 24-hour news competitor, ITN. Sky plans a
chunky upgrade to its newsgathering reach and
has unsheathed an aggressive campaign to wrest
from its rival the contract to supply news for
Britain's commercial ITV network.
"With the advent of ITN's News Channel we want
to put more punch on the road," Sky News
Managing Editor Simon Cole told TVnewsweb.
"We're beefing up the operation and cementing our
winning formula - more people, doing more
stories."
He continued: "We welcome the competition from
ITN but we're confident Sky's chutzpah will keep
us Britain's most-watched 24 hour news channel."
ITN's News Channel launched earlier this week (see August 1 News Talk)
into an already crowded marketplace, promising to run more news on a
greater diversity of platforms than its competitors.
The Sky News response has been robust. It is
to open a new bureau in Johannesburg, from
January 1, 2001. In addition, the news team is
recruiting six more reporters and another six
crews. The station will also take delivery of
three new mobile uplinks later this year. One will
be based in Ireland. The other two - a special
production satellite truck and a flyaway satellite
- will be based in London.
The new Johannesburg bureau means a reshuffle for Sky's
correspondents. Washington Correspondent Stuart Ramsay will take up
the Johannesburg post. There is a new line-up in Washington, with
current Middle East Correspondent Keith Graves becoming Senior
Correspondent. Reporter Emma Hurd joins Graves as Washington
Correspondent.
The present senior Washington correspondent,
Jonathan Hunt, moves to Brussels as European
Correspondent, replacing Tim Marshall, who comes
to London as Foreign Affairs Editor. Moscow
Correspondent Andrew Wilson moves to Jerusalem
to replace Graves. Sky News will interview
internally for the Moscow post, in September.
Richard Bestic remains correspondent in Beijing,
Vienna-based Aernout Van Lynden continues to be
European Correspondent and Jaksa Skecic will still
be based in Belgrade.
A new office in Joburg, more reporters and crews,
another three uplinks - Sky News is clearly serious
about taking the fight to ITN. But the broadcaster isn't stopping there. It
wants more - and it wants it from ITN. In December 2002, the contract
ITN currently has to supply news for Britain's commercial ITV network
expires. Sky is determined to win that deal for itself.
"Sky News has a predatory eye on the ITV
contract," Simon confirmed. "We have already
approached the Independent Television
Commission to become a nominated news
provider, which is the first step in our challenge
to ITN."
The mood is bullish at Sky, where the creation of the ITN 24-hour outlet
is seen as an opportunity to prove the Sky News service is superior.
"For too long Sky News has been compared to terrestrial broadcasters.
Now, all three British broadcasters have 24-hour news stations - we'll
have a true test of who's best. We've already seen off BBC News 24 and
we'll see off the ITN News Channel, too," Simon declared.
______________________________________________
But something strange I saw as well, this bureau opening is running 4 years late!
Either that or someone seriously has thier wires crossed...
Because...
_______________________
SKY NEWS THE LARGEST TELEVISION NEWS BUREAU IN AFRICA -
AFRICA PRESS JAN 1994
JOHANNESBURG Jan 12 Sapa
British-based Sky News, which has had a bureau in South Africa for
five years, has expanded its operations and claims it now has the
largest television news bureau in Africa.
Sky News said in a statement on Wednesday that from February 1 it
would be running for up to 14 hours a day on SABC TV, taking prime
positions on TV1 for international television.
Under a new arrangement with the SABC, Sky News would be broadcast
live from midnight to 6am and from 12 noon to 2pm on TV1, and from
6am to 12 noon on TSS.
It said Emmy Award-winning journalist Jeremy Thompson, formerly ITN
correspondent in Africa, would be heading a team of three
correspondents and three camera crews as chief Africa
correspondent.
"Sky News is committed to Africa more than ever before and has a
top rate team determined to provide news coverage second to no
one," Mr Thompson said.
________________________
But how can this be? - Thompson didnt leave for Africa did he?
Nor did they set up the new bureau, does anyone know why?
How can they build thier first bureau in Africa if they already have one expanded in 1994, anyone shed any light on this one?
That would explain why all the correspondent have been re-located recently...
I.e. seeing Moscow correspondents in Jerusalem and Europe reporters in the middle east.....
I would expect to see a new look Sky News and other channels, new idents everyone!!
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