topic Re: Where is Ian King in What's On

Where is Ian King

Chrissie127 — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:03:28 GMT

Where is Ian King? Everyone has commented on the Budget but at all the times when he might have been consulted, he is missing. He is the best financial MN and by far. Googling the question "where is he?" gives no answer.

Re: Where is Ian King

MarkGoldsmith — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:44:01 GMT

@Chrissie127 wrote:
Where is Ian King? Everyone has commented on the Budget but at all the times when he might have been consulted, he is missing. He is the best financial MN and by far. Googling the question "where is he?" gives no answer.

Perhaps on holiday

Re: Where is Ian King

SKY1992bf — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:38:00 GMT

@MarkGoldsmith wrote:
@Chrissie127 wrote:
Where is Ian King? Everyone has commented on the Budget but at all the times when he might have been consulted, he is missing. He is the best financial MN and by far. Googling the question "where is he?" gives no answer.
Perhaps on holiday

Or for personal reasons the information cannot be disclosed

The same can be said in respect of Alan Lambourn who has been absent from soccer Saturday results lately

Re: Where is Ian King

Geodesic — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:01:44 GMT

I suspect he has resigned because of Sky's daft move out of the City and is serving a "gardening leave" or NDA period during which he cannot say what is happening. No doubt he'll resurface with another broadcaster in due course. Let's be honest, his replacement isn't a patch on him.

Re: Where is Ian King

TimmyBGood — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:57:39 GMT

@Geodesic

Interesting theory.

https://www.cityam.com/madness-sky-news-moves-ian-king-live-out-of-square-mile/

Of course, maintaining separate studio space in that part of the City of London to deliver extremely niche content would be hugely expensive at a time when all remaining News broadcasters are seeking to reduce costs.

Re: Where is Ian King

xenon81 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:35:16 GMT

Ian King was based in CNBC's City of London studios, which are still in use for London based CNBC programmes so the cost of maintaining and staffing the studios is still there.

Re: Where is Ian King

Geodesic — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:15:09 GMT

If you notice, all the interviews are via "Zoom" or whatever now, not in person, as the guests don't wanna travel to the new studio in Osterley on the outskirts of west London.

It would have to have been a very long holiday, but entirely possible of course - maybe he had saved up a lot of leave for a mega trip!

The other clue is that several presenters appear to have been tried out in the job, before Sky has settled on the incumbent (Darren McCaffrey) in the past couple of weeks.

Re: Where is Ian King

TimmyBGood — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:33:01 GMT

@xenon81 wrote:

Ian King was based in CNBC's City of London studios, which are still in use for London based CNBC programmes so the cost of maintaining and staffing the studios is still there.

But that's from NBCUs budget, not Sky Group. Both Comcast, of course, but different divisions....

Re: Where is Ian King

Geodesic — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:57:56 GMT

OK, so if it's not a funding/studio location issue, what's your explanation as to where he's disappeared to?

Re: Where is Ian King

Daniel0210 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:06:52 GMT

@Geodesic wrote:

what's your explanation as to where he's disappeared to?

We have no explanation. As customers like yourself we'd be guessing like you.

Re: Where is Ian King

MarkGoldsmith — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:15:51 GMT

Personally I find it strange when people demand to know why tv or radio personalities aren't on air. People in all types of professions and jobs have leaves of absences for various reasons, or move on to another job. It's not like if your local postman or barista at a local coffee shop suddenly changed you would be demanding to know why (or likely be told) so I don't understand why it should be any different for TV personalities.

Re: Where is Ian King

Geodesic — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 20:44:59 GMT

I'm not "demanding" to know anything. This is a chat forum, and I'm offering my two penneth as to why he might not be on air. Ian is a well-known talented TV presenter, and his absence is bound to attract comment the longer his absence goes on.

Re: Where is Ian King

Daniel0210 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 20:54:55 GMT

@Geodesic

In two weeks two customers, yourself and the OP, have asked the question on here. Personally I switch over/off as soon as I see him on the screen.

Re: Where is Ian King

Geodesic — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 20:54:51 GMT

It's a lot longer than 2 weeks - more like over a month. You're obviously not interested in business news.

Re: Where is Ian King

Daniel0210 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:00:13 GMT

@Geodesic

I was referring to the period since this thread was started.

You're right, I'm not interested in business news and really dislike his reporting style in particular his constant use of the phrase "and interestingly …" or similar. But that's my opinion, the same as you believe he's talented which is fair enough.

Re: Where is Ian King

Geodesic — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:17:42 GMT

Not sure how you can be familiar with his reporting style when you admit you immediately switch him off.

Why does someone always try to get into an argument on here? I make a comment about why a presenter might not be on air, and you have to come along and **bleep** him off. Your opinion of Ian King is nothing to do with this thread - the discussion is why he's been off-air for a month.

Re: Where is Ian King

Daniel0210 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:30:23 GMT

@Geodesic wrote:

Not sure how you can be familiar with his reporting style when you admit you immediately switch him off.

@Geodesic

The reporting style is why I turn him off. As I said everyone is entitled to their opinions on a particular presenter on any TV programme. Only time will tell as to whether he returns or an announcement is made as to the reason for his absence.

Re: Where is Ian King

Geodesic — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:39:32 GMT

But you said that you're not interested in business news, so his reporting style is rather irrelevant to you is it not, as you turn him off as soon as you see him on screen?

I think you're just after an argument to be honest.

Re: Where is Ian King

TimmyBGood — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:08:36 GMT

@Geodesic wrote:

OK, so if it's not a funding/studio location issue, what's your explanation as to where he's disappeared to?

No, I was agreeing with you. My point was it could quite easily be a legitimate attempt to cut a Sky Group budget if there was previously a cost-sharing arrangement for Fleet Place: Sky executives aren't required to justify how NBCU spends its dollars, but particularly in News are likely to have to fight for every penny of their own.

For CNBC it's overseas spending wherever the studio is in the UK: for Sky it could look like unnecessary duplication when there's a huge production complex in Isleworth.

That's the kind of in-house corporate shenanigans which is famously common.

Re: Where is Ian King

PaulND — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:05:46 GMT

Yes, been wondering the same thing - where is Ian King? He's the best financial commentator, far better than BBC's very poor coverage. Maybe he's ill and they're not saying.😏