It was the cut to ads and sound drops that seemed to cry out incompetence.

Though, as I said, now they've got a grip on it it's decent.

Exactly. A perfect alternative for those looking to escape the endless baby coverage. Instead they're basically airing an advert for everyone to switch over to BBC1 for their coverage.

There's an easel.

AN EASEL.


Yes, the first five minutes were disastrous but it's picked up, though the newsreader is still stumbling all over her words.

It's still mainly of interest to forelock tuging local yokels I fear. Depends which channel has the biggest cache of those. I know which I'd guess!

They'll be gloating tomorrow when 8m Corrie stragglers gift them a rare news victory over BBC1 on the birth of the future King.

BBC1 won the battle but lost the war tonight.

Hope this baby doesn't interrupt Big Brother's ratings momentum

I believe itv were interviewing eve pollard, whilst bbc1 brought us live coverage of the Prime Minister's lovely remarks

ITV showed that live as well.

They cut in on Eve Pollard to go to the Prime Minister.

I understand why the BBC the PSB are keeping with the news, even though they already showed the actual main thing and are now interviewing a man dressed like Punch from Punch and Judy

ITV are a bit thick though

No, the Prime Minister was on ITV as well. Pollard was interrupted to go over live.

ITV showed the PM live as well.

Nice try Robbie.

Forgive me.

They have now got the political editor outside telling us what the PM just told us all five minutes ago, and also what the PM does....

Don't see why on earth ITV have pulled their #1 non soap show of the week to broadcast the exact same coverage that BBC1 are already showing. Especially as nothing is actually happening. The announcement during the Corrie break and possibly a short 2-3 minute bulletin at 8.55pm would have sufficed until 10pm. Utterly pointless exercise.

So the BBC are dedicating 2 HOURS of coverage to this tonight. Bit silly considering they already showed it all in the first 30 mins

It would have got double the audience of an ITV NEWS special (as it is rather unprofessionally stylized on the EPG)

Seems both BBC and ITV showing this till 10.30

Agreed. I really don't understand the rationale behind this decision at all. Better to show a decent alternative to BBC1's coverage rather than do exactly the same thing...

It does seem like overkill from both channels. Maybe they're hoping someone will make an appearance (the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William) and don't want to miss out on it.

I liked the 'It's a Boy' message on Telecom Tower though.

Sales of easels will no doubt soar after this

Eve Pollard just mentioned whether Prince William will come out like Prince Charles did after William was born - which explains why both BBC One and ITV are showing the baby coverage. They wouldn't want to give that scoop to the other.

They maybe felt it was the 'right thing to do' - the advertisers who payed for slots in a 5m+ show will NOT be happy

Sky will still be calling it breaking news a week on Thursday.


Even Eve Pollard is preferable to slimy Dave!

If it happens it will be on the front of every paper anyway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W27BO...Bi8ltsHTZb4Kee

Last Year's full Meet The Controller session all for your viewing pleasure.