Sunrise experiences a new, well, sunrise.
Breakfast television receives considerable coverage from us at Televised Revolution. The reason being that it is the most exciting timeslot on Australian television. Ratings are solid, competition is fierce between networks, and the 6-9am slot is seen as the starting point for the networks branding strategies. Heck, Channel 7′s rebirth feels as though it was based entirely off of the back of Sunrise.
So, when Sunrise announces that it is going to reformat the show, industry spectators are unable to help but be highly interested in what the new look of the show will be. This morning, the new-look Sunrise was unveiled.
And so, on a day like this, Televised Revolution went the extra mile to take a look at what the new-look Sunrise has to offer. What follows are Dan and Simon’s thoughts regarding the new format and set.
THE SET
Dan: There seem to be three set pieces – the main couch, the desk with the Avatar blue background, and Fifi’s entertainment corner. I was impressed at the inclusion of video screens that allowed the hosts to interact with reporters and segment presenters outside of the Studio. There were at least two screens that I noticed. One at the newsdesk and another for Fifi Box. It all looks AMAZING in HD.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yqV7mIIw80[/youtube]
Simon: Overall, with all of the changes, different roles of the on-air, and the new set, you take away one clear thought: this is all very sensible. Sensible décor, sensible beige sofa, sensible timing. The news presenting “podiums” are separated to the sides giving a clean break from the chat of the main desk, even further removed from the comfy sofa near the window for hosts to “yak it up” for our pleasure at 6:22am.
When a car drives past or a jogger stops to do stretches, it is very distracting.
Dan: The background windows? I only found them distracting during the panel sequences. The panels are hard to focus on with the people all waving in the background behind the talking heads.
THE GRAPHICS
Dan: The graphics really are super clean. It’s probably more an indication of modern design sense, but the visual style seemed reminiscent of the widgets we’re beginning to see installed on next generation television sets. I doubt that’s intentional. I thought it was interesting to see that the scrolling newsbar no longer scrolls. It was much easier to read.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmI0sxlgnmA[/youtube]
Simon: Everything looks very nice, even the news ticker at the bottom of the screen which is traditionally ugly and jarring to the mis-en-scene, comes across as sleek and pleasant to look at with a new “flicking” effect. The new logos and the animated swirling circle that intro them have an amazing effect of drawing in the eye. It’s like a magic eye that spins, sucking you in against your will. A very successful approach.
THE FORMAT
Dan: My biggest problem with Sunrise is that it just isn’t news-heavy enough. The lifestyle aspects just don’t interest me. ABC2′s News Breakfast show is certainly more my speed, but it does suffer from the same big problem as Sunrise in that it isn’t live in every state across the country. The new-look Sunrise likely won’t have me changing channels, but it would certainly have me more inclined to watch this than Today.
I liked the segments with the State-based reporters. While its good to see localism on the show, its a shame that we can’t have more local news from each state. It’d be nice to see a state whip-around, in a similar way as they do with the Ch 7 4:30pm News.
Simon: The inclusion of the new “Kochie’s Angels” section, with a panel discussion with three female panellists, one may be so bold as to suggest is included to future proof the show (albeit in a different time slot) to female discussion shows like 10’s upcoming “The Circle”.
Dan: It’s interesting that you mention that. When we spoke to Sunrise’s EP, Adam Boland, he kept referring to the point of difference he wanted to create with the show against Today. The Circle wouldn’t have been announced when this new format was being conceived, but it does feel as though the point of difference will be lessened with such a panel heavy discussion show on so soon after Sunrise finishes each day. Also, panel chats are a common element of The Morning Show. While this is designed to let the shows bleed into one another, both should have more of a point of difference from each other.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bT8nOAj5Kw[/youtube]
Simon: Kinks in the otherwise smooth operation really stand out, most notable was a nauseating pan onto Nelson Aspen’s screen, which was poorly lit. This was followed by a sudden jump to his satellite feed.
Dan: I’m sure those technical hiccups will be addressed quickly as they get used to the new Studio and tech.
I found the use of the satellite presenters to be interesting. Fifi worked best when they sent her out into Martin Place for an outside segment. Her role as an Entertainment presenter was fine, but it kept those segments too detached from the show as a whole. Crosses to the satellite commentators should be handled by the shows anchors, Mel and Kochie. Nelson Aspen was just too far removed. Kochie and Mel now no longer seem like the center of the team, but rather just a part of a larger group of anchors.
Also, with Adam Boland saying that he wanted to position Koch in a more serious role, it felt uncomfortable watching him discuss the fidelity of Angelina Jolie.
The return of Denyer felt tired – over-promoted and tired. Remote pieces always work better when the weather guy has a crowd around him. It felt as though Denyer was far removed from everything, including the extended Sunrise Family of the viewership.
Watching the show, it now feels like Sunrise now has an identity it has sought to own, as opposed to simply developing the identity. It exudes greater confidence.
8 Comments to “Sunrise experiences a new, well, sunrise.”
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I agree that the Kochie’s Angels segment is a bit naff. The thinking behind it is that, since Sunrise has a very strong female skew, the female viewers care what other females have to say on an issue.
It’s worth noting that the segment airs in the third hour of the show, which appears to be designated to coverage on lighter, frothier issues (providing a seamless transition to The Morning Show).
You’re far too much like me, Ms Clumsy. You just want to hear smart, witty folk talk intelligently on a topic, regardless of age or gender. Sadly, the world is against us.
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“The thinking behind it is that, since Sunrise has a very strong female skew, the female viewers care what other females have to say on an issue.”
REALLY?!?!?
Now, in radio, the general wisdom is that females DON’T want to hear what other women have to say about anything.
There’s always nasty things spoken about women on-air – what does she know, who does she think she is, she hasn’t had kids etc etc.
I wonder why the disconnect/difference between radio/TV?
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Dan: I actually think you’re wrong Dan about “The Circle” and our chat with Bolo. While the show wasn’t announced for another 2 weeks, when we spoke to him, the information out-and-about was very much in line with an all female panel show in the style of “The View” and I’m pretty sure it came up in the chat.
Nat: Maybe it’s the different types of women that are involved with TV and radio. When (in my own opinion) Sunrise go to people for opinions, the men they go to tend to be more from radio backgrounds, and the women tend to be more involved with newspapers, magazines (this is probably the major source of women), and TV. I know what you mean though. When I go to playgroup, some of the things the older women say about Madonna King make my hairs CURL!
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Anders says:
My tiny mind is officially blown. Once I saw the oversized weather and flying BS widgets clumping together, I knew there’ll be giant tv bedsores breaking out in vegeland, where time and braincells are not measured. Just on that.. ugly austraya day flags are good for mopping these leaky puppies up! According th the WHO, best if they are then burned well, to prevent cross-infection (allegedly).
Now I’m wrung out too – If I have to see another makeover of this caliber within the MSM newsworld, I may explode in my own underpants. Next, Nine will have their team behind a new desk! The talent pimped with i-tablets and clumpling oversized widgets – haha, as if!
Still, it’s hard to fathom how the lucky sunrise team can keep from rolling ecstatically upon their new peanut couch. And the wood-look feature divider thing in the background creates a soothing natural diversion from the actual content (of much of the program). I got so relaxed with this paean to natures glory (as seen from Matin Place), I fell asleep again.
I’m sure this was the flaming idea, but refurbishing Kocky as the new straight-man seemed to have the delightful effect of stifling much of his insular, nasal prattle (no offense intended to the Roach family). Hopefully he won’t be allowed to stretch his scary wings all over the place again. I’m sure he’s a ‘lovely man’. Of the positives, Fifi is pretty good in her new role too! And good ‘ol Mel is still there to de-stink the kockmeister’s onscreen faux pas – lucky these cluey womenfolk run the bloody thing.
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Adam Boland says:
I actually really like this new look Sunrise. (Shit, I can’t post anonymously).. thanks for the cupcakes, boys.
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Something about that last post seemed somewhat biased. I can’t quite place my finger on why…
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I shoulda’ said, I like it too. Uncle David will be very cross when he finds out.
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“Kochie’s Angels”? Really?
Why do these shows always have to have female panellists for a discussion group? To me, it just paints women yet again as “the other”.
ie: “Let’s cross now to some WOMEN to see what they think about stuff.”
Last I checked women were over 51 per cent of the population. We’re hardly a minority. Presenting a “female” view to me – while not unimportant – kind of reinforces the idea that women are very very different from men. We are different in some ways, but in many more ways we’re very similar.
I’d much rather just see people talking and giving opinions as individuals, and perhaps stating their particular field of interest – ie women’s rights, immigration rights, children’s rights, divorced dads’ rights – whatever!
If Mel had a segment called “Mel’s Beefcake” or something, that’d be fine. But I don’t much care for this one-way business.
Apart from that, the rejig looks interesting. And I love the dedication and detail you two spend on things like news scrollers and superimposed text.