So... this late hour 66chat held
much promise going in. But last night proved an altogether different proposition from the daytime variant. I thought it came out a big misfire actually, emphasising all the bad traits this innovation could succumb to if not handled properly. Fundamentally, it completely failed to recognise the very different demands of a night show crowd.
Let's look to specifics though. First off, the reason for it happening when it did (it was stated it was a last minute addition to the schedule note) seemed the wrong one. When the host is pulling extra hours primarily she says, in order to spend more time with a soon to be departed producer (leaving after 6 years with the company this Friday apparently) the idea is already starting out on the wrong foot IMO.
Restrictions to the format was the second issue. Chloe was limited in scope for back and forth banter (she was alone on the sofa for most of the duration) and saddled with the worst dictates of Ofcom and, worse, those of 66 themselves (e.g. no prank calling to their own babes; presenter in trousers til gone midnight*). Admittedly always game and enthusiastic, she had precious little help in her attempts to give this thing anything like impetus it needed.
Third, no one present seemed to have an idea of what the stream could achieve beyond saying 'the visuals here are lame, go check out the proper babes instead'. Inspiring it was not. And there was little to recreate the sense of multi-purpose present in the daytime iteration.
With this poor remit Chloe slipped to an embattled weariness after nearing double figures in working hours. (The perfect epitome of the old professional Charmaine looked at Chloe like she was insane when told how long the latter was working!
) And the stream became a largely a listless self indulgence for long periods.
The emphasis on casual chit-chat works great in the daytime, where all the channels are geared towards a sort of chilled eroticism but the idea's simply not suited to nights
in this form. The raison d'etre of a night time stream should be a high energy horniness, something certainly not complimented by this sort of tightly bound hype channel.
Nevertheless, re-imagined it could still work well I feel, but it needs to be far more teasy with the addition of more rapid fire, low total but simple, tip goals. (The one goal that did happen yesterday was a rare highlight but even this was hamstrung by inadequate tech - the credits were forced to be collected on a separate otherwise pointless copy of Chloe's stream. This one without sound!)
IMO, this 66chat needs to do its promotion on FV in a much punchier bite sized fashion, getting off there as quick as possible thereafter. Then it needs to turn into a sexy show (use the advantages of Sky after 10pm ffs) in itself (whilst still promoting the other streams in large doses of course). It needs to formulate itself into a new style paid service option to make itself something beyond this dull promo tool. (The daytime version could also do with being a good bit more knowing in its winks to the audience tbh.) Perhaps it can help pay for itself more by marketing its own blend of newscaster tease... with whichever babe is featured stepping off to fulfill her tip goal on the web each time before returning to the couch.
All this stymieing of potential just makes me wonder why 66 are seemingly so averse to the idea of making a proper babeshow that is mic and tip led. Up front and centre - acknowledged. Do they fear the implications for their other streams maybe?! I dunno, but last night just emphasised more ammunition is required if this sort of thing is to keep wandering night guys around as intended.
* Seriously it was like they were actively trying to make it unappealing so it wouldn't take away from the other babes, but presumably there'd be less need for that if it was allowed to make more money of its own. The host participating much more across the other streams would help... I never did see if Chloe got her trousers off as I was so bored with the little enhanced package on offer I left before midnight. Not what this new idea was looking to achieve at all I feel.