If you didn't notice (which is fine, people shouldn't obsess over things like this like we do), MSNBC debuted a new news crawl and new on-screen graphics this morning. So far, it's a thumbs down.
While CNN and FOX News have cleaner, squared off graphics, MSNBC has gone with funky, pointy boxes on the right hand side that show the time and the MSNBC logo, while the left hand side shows the stock report. It's great that they separated the time and stocks, so now both can be on the screen at the same time, but the way they've done the boxing, it looks odd (and the text on the screen sometimes overlaps the new graphics, which isn't good). The crawl is odd too, because it doesn't crawl across the entire screen, only half of it (the stocks block the rest of the screen), and since only so many words can stay on the screen at once, it takes several seconds to even figure out what the story is about (but maybe that's on purpose, to make you stick around longer).
The new MSNBC logo is good though. It keeps the colorful peacock but it's now a lot thinner. Too bad they didn't put good boxes and a better setup around it. And I think it's time to get rid of the "MS" part. Why not just make it NBC News Channel now?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-21-2006 @ 7:31PM
TVGenius said...
Just flipped over and Hardball's on... no crawl or stock ticker. I like this compared to what we're getting used to, since most channels are getting to a point where their lower-thirds are literally covering a third of the screen, whereas this is more how it should be. And maybe it's my eyes, but it looks like the S in MSNBC is bolder than the rest... hmmm...
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8-21-2006 @ 8:52PM
rkolsen said...
I personally like them. More modern design.
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8-21-2006 @ 9:31PM
Gio said...
I love the new MSNBC graphics. They totally break conventional cable news looks. Very modern, and quite frankly, HOT!
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8-21-2006 @ 11:49PM
Mathieu Plante said...
The new graphics are very attractive, and so different from the other news networks that have utterly ugly graphics like Fox and CNN. MSNBC has a futuristic look, and I agree they're kind of in-your-face, but I think they're beautiful.
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8-21-2006 @ 11:53PM
Mathieu Plante said...
When I disagree with a post here on TV Squad (and it happens a lot), I only need to look at one thing: the author. 9 times out of 10, it's Bob Sassone. You're like a TV nemesis: I love to hate you. Well not hate you, of course, but dislike most things that you say. Strangely enough, that's a good thing, it makes me come back.
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8-22-2006 @ 12:20AM
Jason said...
the new graphics are great
dan abrams is atleast tryin
thats all that matters.
i think all msnbc needs is less re runs of shows
and more news coverage at night instead of seeing
bubba in jail every 2nd hour.
repeats of these old documenterys are ok
but they need like somone doing the news at night or have new shows running againts there competiters
dan gets tired well watchin cnn
but man i get tired of repeats
thats why people change the channel if its somthing you already seen more then once.
or even running msnbc shows of primetime on the weekend
would be a treat. i hate Headliners and Ledgens
that makes me Yawn.
DAN IF POSSIBLE BRING NEW PERSONALITYS TO
WEEKEND PRIME TIME WOULDNT THAT BE GOOD ?
if you want to be Americas News Channel
bring things to the table and not make it
half hour shows. make it great and new
the prime time msnbc has is great
during the week nights but
LESS REPETS OF JAIL AND OTHER BS
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8-23-2006 @ 11:35PM
G.B. said...
I like the new graphics... if only they'd get rid of the crawl! After watching CNN International, I have grown fond of their "flipper" in their new graphics package, which replaced the crawl.
MSNBC makes good use of the screen and doesn't take up too much space. I like how it condenses from three lines to two and lets you view the full screen. Also, putting the "Live" bug back at the bottom where it doesn't block other parts of the screen is an improvement.
These new graphics are interestingly similar to the CBC's, minus the angles. I think the font is the same too.
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8-28-2006 @ 12:10PM
monkeypox said...
#7, I'm in total agreement. not only is CNN international's look so much cleaner and easier to digest, it also does away with the stupid crawl which somehow worked its way onto everything this side of HGTV. I wish more channels would follow its lead.
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