Network 10 has unveiled a new set for its 10 News First in Sydney. Based in the atrium of 10’s Sydney headquarters, the set stretches 36m and features a 9m x 2.4m screen with a 1.5mm pixel pitch, the largest of its kind in the country.
The new set will be home to 10 News First plus Studio 10 and Sports Tonight and used by other 10 assets such as The Loop, RPM and 10 Daily.
Network 10’s director of news content Ross Dagan said: “Delivering first-class news, information and discussion to audiences when and how they want it continues to be our most important focus. Our new set gives us the tools to do that in far more dynamic and contemporary ways.
“We have some of the best journalists, presenters and graphic designers here at 10. Now, coupled with our new news set, we can connect and engage with audiences more directly than ever before. From sitting behind a desk, to a couch discussion, to a panel setting to a stand-up introduction, the new set is flexible. We are able to instantly transform program segments and can deliver news and information in any scenario easily, depending on the need and topic.
“With the biggest news LED screen of this resolution, we’re also able to present higher-impact visuals and graphics to better tell the stories audiences care about.”
The set’s perimeter also includes five visual stripes, including a high-resolution ticker-type screen that can be fed with pictures and graphics to instantly change the theme or pass on breaking news information.
The new news set follows the rebrand of 10’s evening news program from Ten Eyewitness News to 10 News First, and the appointment of key journalists into key roles including Kerri-Anne Kennerley as Studio 10 presenter, Peter van Onselen as network political editor, Hugh Riminton as national affairs editor and Chris Bath as weekend news presenter.
10’s news assets have also seen audience increases:
• 10 News First has increased its commercial share by 0.5 points since its rebrand on 31 October.
• 10 News First in Perth has lifted its weekend audience by 13% since the launch of a special Perth bulletin.
• Studio 10 has lifted its audience by 10% since its fifth birthday on 8 November, 2018.
• 10 Daily experienced its biggest month ever in January 2019.
Dagan added: “We’ve had some incredible momentum with our news assets over the last few months, which is really encouraging. The new set is an important milestone in our long term strategy and I’m really excited to be part of a team changing the way we deliver news and information to audiences.”
The new set was designed in partnership with the 10’s graphics team, led by David Bernstein and The Exposure Group’s Vi Hermens. The software driving the screens is Vizrt’s Multiplay.
The news sets in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will also be re-built reflecting the design of the new Sydney set.