[bbctvtechop]

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.

I was involved in developing a similar service for the BBC World Service a number of years ago. It was a jukebox/playlist of English-language news packages which had been automatically translated, checked for accuracy by a producer and corrected as necessary, then a synthetic voice over added in 3 languages. The user could choose from the 4 languages (English, Spanish, Arabic or Mandarin) which immediately changed the audio language mid-video. The order of the videos was set by us but could be changed and when the user reached the end of the current playlist, it would go back to the beginning of the playlist and loop, unless the order had changed since they started watching in which case it would start at the beginning of the new playlist.

There was also the ability to flash up a "there is breaking news, click here to watch" in the 4 languages which, when clicked, discarded the playlist and took the user to a live stream with pictures (eg from Reuters) and a language producer commentating from a microphone on their desk explaining the story. A single tech op would be switching the pictures for all 4 language streams (ie, one picture feed with up to 4 audio feeds). The user could leave the breaking news mode any time and return to the jukebox/playlist.

It didn't go anywhere beyond an internal pilot for a variety of technological reasons (it was a little bit ahead of its time) but I still believe the concept is sound and it would have been a good service for the News website and (now) as a potential News Channel replacement.