Sky New - Overdoing it with the sky active banner? - Broadcasting

carljohnson · 04-03-2006, 12:39

Over the last couple of days theres been an almost constant banner on Sky News promoting the active service.

Yeesterday it was about Gary Glitter and today its been about the weather/top stories.

Am i the only person who thinks this is OTT and distracting?

Carl

04-03-2006, 12:41

I thought that too. The Gary Glitter one was on all day yesterday - even at 2330 during the Press Preview. What, really, is the point?

FusionLad · 04-03-2006, 16:43

Yep, very annoying today!

Laggy · 04-03-2006, 16:46

Its awful.. every time ive swithced on today they have it at the bottom of the screen. Just now it was saying "PRESS RED FOR SPORT" even though it was a sports news section playing on the main channel. Now its saying "PRESS RED FOR WEATHER".. it looks like some idiot ay skynews thinks its a good idea.

You would have thought Sky would have learned that no-one like press red prompts, but at least you can remove them when the box generates them (and they don't take up a third of the screen)

What next sky? A 50p per time text chat banner at the bottom.. it wouldn't surprise me.

stuart62 · 04-03-2006, 16:58

I'm glad I never watch Sky news!

Beancounter · 04-03-2006, 17:22

Ironic this happens at a time when its announced that Freeview has reached 10 million homes so we can't even get the active service anyway!

FraserGJ · 04-03-2006, 19:42

Its even more stupid because there is a constant Active logo on the left hand side of the ticker. Sometimes a bit of advertising text appears on the ticker too so thats 3 times on screen at once...

Meekz13 · 04-03-2006, 19:45

Well Sky News are always telling us to get in touch with them so why doesn't everyone e-mail them and tell them how bad their new idea is.

FraserGJ · 04-03-2006, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meekz13

Well Sky News are always telling us to get in touch with them so why doesn't everyone e-mail them and tell them how bad their new idea is.

If it doesn't go soon, I will.

For the record its on the international feed too, the international feed is 4:3 so its even bigger... Click here

The Big Story · 04-03-2006, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by FraserGJ

If it doesn't go soon, I will.

For the record its on the international feed too, the international feed is 4:3 so its even bigger... Click here

Your link doesn't seem to work

FraserGJ · 04-03-2006, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Big Story

Your link doesn't seem to work

It seems fine to me...

Here's a direct link to the image anyway

The Big Story · 04-03-2006, 20:45

thanks for that

Yes the banners are ever so annoying. Did anyone notice yesterday, that the top bar of the banner(on which the word Active is placed) was red?

MandyManilow · 04-03-2006, 21:45

They seem to be saying "you will use this interactive service and we will keep prodding till you do". "We have decided you will use it".

Like supermarkets asking if you have a loyalty card all the time so you will take one just to stop getting asked.

mfr · 04-03-2006, 21:49

Probably especially to annoy Freeview viewers.

Bob A · 04-03-2006, 21:57

Totally agree, noticed it today... For gods sake the Weather!!!! why do i need to be told to push interactive for the weather

JDnm · 04-03-2006, 22:19

Really annoying, and what have Sky got to gain from it anyway?! Its not as if they make money out of people switching to Sky News Active.

Sky News Active has been around for years now. Im sure the vast majority of people know how to access it. Even the presenters are annoyed with the constant promting. Kay Burely, the other day, said "I dont need to tell you about Sky News Active".

Laggy · 04-03-2006, 22:31

Its ridiculous really. Ive always thought that their banner takes up too much of the screen anyway, even when its just been the "breaking news" banner or the one that flashes up reporters names or what have you. Now it seems to be permanently there it really takes the biscuit.

Watching in 4:3 must be even worse. Most of the footage they use is in 4:3 cropped and cut to 16:9, and with the banner at the bottom people viewing on standard sets must be missing around 50% of the original image.

Not a good start at regaining the "News Channel of the year" crown back of News 24 is it?

04-03-2006, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDnm

Really annoying, and what have Sky got to gain from it anyway?! Its not as if they make money out of people switching to Sky News Active.

By differentiating themselves from other news channels they hope to regain their "News Channel of the year" status which they have just lost to the BBC after years of winning it. There is no doubt that their interacive service is superior to the BBC's, so they are giving that a big push.
To be honest, I dislike all the banners on Sky News and I prefer the radio (or a newspaper!) for news digest.

04-03-2006, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laggy

Not a good start at regaining the "News Channel of the year" crown back of News 24 is it?

You posted that while I was typing my last post!

yBSy · 04-03-2006, 22:49

What colour button do I press for active?

When I press red button my TV switches itself off?

04-03-2006, 23:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbsx

What colour button do I press for active?

When I press red button my TV switches itself off?

Weird! You should post that on the technical forum! Maybe you need to re-configure your remote?

Up Pompey!! · 04-03-2006, 23:25

It is making Sky News un-watchable

stuart62 · 04-03-2006, 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by pup100

It is making Sky News un-watchable

I've always found it pretty unwatchable!

Ant L · 04-03-2006, 23:41

It's off now but it'll probably go back on soon...

Not only will this confuse Freeview/Cable viewers, it annoys the Sky viewers and as rightly said - watching in 4:3 must be a nightmare.

Bob A · 05-03-2006, 09:15

Totally agree, noticed it today... For gods sake the Weather!!!! why do i need to be told to push interactive for the weather

04-03-2006, 12:39	#1
carljohnson Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 520	Sky New - Overdoing it with the sky active banner? Over the last couple of days theres been an almost constant banner on Sky News promoting the active service. Yeesterday it was about Gary Glitter and today its been about the weather/top stories. Am i the only person who thinks this is OTT and distracting? Carl

04-03-2006, 12:41	#2
Joyitude Posts: n/a	I thought that too. The Gary Glitter one was on all day yesterday - even at 2330 during the Press Preview. What, really, is the point?

04-03-2006, 16:43	#3
FusionLad Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Plymouth, Devon Services: Sky+ HD, Sky Broadband Posts: 1,190	Yep, very annoying today!

04-03-2006, 16:46	#4
Laggy Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Services: Sky+HD, Virgin Media Broadband XL Posts: 3,015	Its awful.. every time ive swithced on today they have it at the bottom of the screen. Just now it was saying "PRESS RED FOR SPORT" even though it was a sports news section playing on the main channel. Now its saying "PRESS RED FOR WEATHER".. it looks like some idiot ay skynews thinks its a good idea. You would have thought Sky would have learned that no-one like press red prompts, but at least you can remove them when the box generates them (and they don't take up a third of the screen) What next sky? A 50p per time text chat banner at the bottom.. it wouldn't surprise me.

04-03-2006, 16:58	#5
stuart62 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dundee Services: Sky+ HD, Freeview+, Sky Broadband Posts: 7,475	I'm glad I never watch Sky news!

04-03-2006, 17:22	#6
Beancounter Forum Member Join Date: May 2000 Services: Sky+,DAB with Pure Evoke, Pure Tempus Posts: 812	Ironic this happens at a time when its announced that Freeview has reached 10 million homes so we can't even get the active service anyway!

04-03-2006, 19:42	#7
FraserGJ Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Wales, er... Wales Services: DTT-Mediamaster 9850T + Nebula DigiTV, FTA DSAT-Skystar2, BT Broadband 8Mb Posts: 1,695	Its even more stupid because there is a constant Active logo on the left hand side of the ticker. Sometimes a bit of advertising text appears on the ticker too so thats 3 times on screen at once...

04-03-2006, 19:45	#8
Meekz13 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow Services: Orange Broadb,Sky+TV and Setanta Sports Posts: 730	Well Sky News are always telling us to get in touch with them so why doesn't everyone e-mail them and tell them how bad their new idea is.

04-03-2006, 20:45	#12
The Big Story Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Services: SKY Digital - SKY World Posts: 200	thanks for that Yes the banners are ever so annoying. Did anyone notice yesterday, that the top bar of the banner(on which the word Active is placed) was red?

04-03-2006, 21:45	#13
MandyManilow Banned User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 337	They seem to be saying "you will use this interactive service and we will keep prodding till you do". "We have decided you will use it". Like supermarkets asking if you have a loyalty card all the time so you will take one just to stop getting asked.

04-03-2006, 21:49	#14
mfr Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Inverness Services: Grampian TV; Freeview; ADSL Broadband Posts: 1,976	Probably especially to annoy Freeview viewers.

04-03-2006, 21:57	#15
Bob A Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 626	Totally agree, noticed it today... For gods sake the Weather!!!! why do i need to be told to push interactive for the weather

04-03-2006, 22:19	#16
JDnm Banned User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: GranadaLand Services: Sky, NTL Broadband Posts: 1,721	Really annoying, and what have Sky got to gain from it anyway?! Its not as if they make money out of people switching to Sky News Active. Sky News Active has been around for years now. Im sure the vast majority of people know how to access it. Even the presenters are annoyed with the constant promting. Kay Burely, the other day, said "I dont need to tell you about Sky News Active".

04-03-2006, 22:31	#17
Laggy Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Services: Sky+HD, Virgin Media Broadband XL Posts: 3,015	Its ridiculous really. Ive always thought that their banner takes up too much of the screen anyway, even when its just been the "breaking news" banner or the one that flashes up reporters names or what have you. Now it seems to be permanently there it really takes the biscuit. Watching in 4:3 must be even worse. Most of the footage they use is in 4:3 cropped and cut to 16:9, and with the banner at the bottom people viewing on standard sets must be missing around 50% of the original image. Not a good start at regaining the "News Channel of the year" crown back of News 24 is it?

04-03-2006, 22:49	#20
yBSy Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 2,200	What colour button do I press for active? When I press red button my TV switches itself off?

04-03-2006, 23:25	#22
Up Pompey!! Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hampshire Posts: 4,347	It is making Sky News un-watchable

04-03-2006, 23:41	#24
Ant L Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Gender: Male Location: Edinburgh Services: Sky+, Virgin Broadband, iPhone, Xbox 360 Posts: 2,292	It's off now but it'll probably go back on soon... Not only will this confuse Freeview/Cable viewers, it annoys the Sky viewers and as rightly said - watching in 4:3 must be a nightmare.

05-03-2006, 09:15	#25
Bob A Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 626	Totally agree, noticed it today... For gods sake the Weather!!!! why do i need to be told to push interactive for the weather