[Brekkie]

It would be interesting to know what the budget is for the "new" UK version of the news channel - especially as 20 years ago ITV were said to be delivering their news channel for a fraction of what BBC News 24 cost at the time, and managing live UK news from early morning till late night, plus updates overnight, at that time. Given where the BBC News Channel is heading you have to assume their new budget specifically for the news channel is even less than that - and if not perhaps questions need to be asked about whether rather than BBC World being the profitable service keeping a UK operation afloat are funds actually being funnelled into propping up BBC World.


I can't help but think taking the approach of starting up a streaming news service from scratch, with the simulcast of existing BBC1/2 news shows as the backbone, and then selected BBC World content, could achieve a much better final product. I'd actually rather they'd have keep the smart TV apps going and ditch the news channel if it's going to be such a watered down affair - on demand stories and headlines, plus the odd pop-up live stream when required, could be much more of a service than a TV channel seemingly filled with content not aimed at a UK TV audience. Add in regional headlines too, even if just the last TV bulletin, but made somewhat easier to find, and you've got a service doing what no linear channel is offering.


One other thing I think is worth raising is the daytime hourly updates were all axed with the justification that content was now covered on the news channel for those that want it - and since then any on demand visualised headline service, as seen on the BBC News Multiscreen and then on the app - has been axed too. Perhaps an argument for them to return too - after all radio never lost their hourly bulletins due to the existence of BBC 5 Live, and on demand audio bulletins via a smart speaker have been added too.