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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Sir Trevor McDonald has been lured back to front a resurrected ITV1 News at Ten - it is thought for four nights a week.

However, it is believed that it took ITV a great deal of negotiation to persuade the 68-year-old to return - in a move revealed yesterday by MediaGuardian.co.uk - and he may only do the job for a limited period of around a year, until the new News at Ten is bedded in.

Mark Austin will continue to be one of the key ITV anchors, fronting News at Ten with Julie Etchingham, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Etchingham who is joining the broadcaster from Sky News, when Sir Trevor is away.

It is understood Austin will also carry on co-presenting ITV1's 6.30pm bulletin with Mary Nightingale.

The ITV director of news and sport, Mark Sharman, is believed to have been impressed by Etchingham during his time at Sky, before he joined ITV.

He recently spent four years at the satellite broadcaster, rising to become deputy director of Sky Networks, before leaving in 2003.

It is understood Sky were keen to keep Etchingham and countered ITV's initial offer. But ITV came back with an offer the Sky News presenter could not refuse.

Despite the expense of luring Sir Trevor back, ITV chiefs consider it worthwhile if it helps the network's negotiations with Ofcom to get rid of contract rights renewal, the advertising airtime trading mechanism that has been blamed for exacerbating the broadcaster's revenue decline.

One insider said: "It may be expensive now and it's likely the BBC will continue to beat ITV at 10pm but News at Ten will still get more viewers because of where it is in the schedule.

"More importantly, it looks good for ITV's news provision at a time when it is in talks with Ofcom."

Mr Sharman joined ITV in January 2005 as director of sport and added news to his responsibilities in March this year, following the retirement of Clive Jones.

He is already credited with introducing a "back-to-basics" policy at ITV News, cutting back on gimmicks such as presenters standing up to read the news.

Mr Sharman is understood to have been reviewing all areas of ITV News' output and is keener on gravitas than graphics.

Media Guardian.

Briant · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:30 am Post subject:

Does this mean that films will be starting at 8pm and finishing at 10pm? The current policy of having the end of the film after the news is not viewer friendly. I prefer to watch good films on BBC anyway without interruption, or buy the film on DVD.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:20 am Post subject:

It just means ITV don't have to bother making good shows for the 10pm slot. Which hasn't stopped 'em before! Laughing

gfloyd · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:29 am Post subject:

firewirefred · Guest

The idea of moving News at Ten off the 10.00pm slot and back to 10.30 was approved by the (then) ITC on the grounds that it would facilitate a continuous flow of programming, such as films. It's interesting that the network has continued to break long-form programming such as films across the news slot anyhow.

I think the change is one of many that will come down to bear on a desperately troubled ITV network as a result of Michael Grade now being in the helm. I think the idea of moving the news flagship away from 10.00pm was daft anyhow.

And anyhow, films just aren't an important component of mainstream terrestrial TV these days. The Sky networks have the pickings these days, thanks to the Murdoch clan having a foot in both the film-making and TV network camps - and they're welcome to most of it!

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:10 am Post subject:

Well that make sense - BBC and ITV news at the same time!! Rolling Eyes

Are these people completely stupid?
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Scott_Nelson · Guest

I cannot believe Sir Trevor McDonald is coming out of retirement. ITV must be desperate... Rolling Eyes

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

firewirefred · Guest

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject:

It will stay at 10pm until some champions league match goes to penalties, watch it move then.
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nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

firewirefred · Guest

You'd think that they'd have taken the hint from "The Day Today" - the fabulous pastiche involving Chris Morris from years back - but no. They all walk straight into the trap. Virtual sets, Prompter-driven presentation. Even the cheesy smiles are in the script. And standing up with a clip-board containing script - despite the autocue. They have to stand up and walk around in order that we can realise they're human just like us!

I think that ITV1's news is the worst when it comes to cheesy presentation, closely followed by Sky, then the BBC1 nationals. News24 is just, er, the poor relation of the family staffed by apprentice cheesies doing their best to bag a slot on prime, usually.

pickle · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:28 am Post subject: News At Ten To Return

My guess is that Trevor McDonald is returning because the Michael-6 robot chat show host on the Peter Serafinowicz show bears an amazing vocal similarity, and he wants payment!

You're right about the graphics on ITN News looking like those on The Day Today!
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firewirefred · Guest