[bbctvtechop]

I've also seen a recorded pilot for the new "Watching Box" feature which will appear on the domestic feed.

Similar to pushbacks, the World feed continues in a box on the left hand side of the screen while a muted bigger box appears on the right hand side of the screen showing live pictures. The pilot I saw was of a lecturn awaiting a speech. When it looks like action is about to happen, the World feed is faded out and pictures are replaced with someone sitting on the balcony camera introducing what's about to happen. Then it wipes and shows the content of the "watching box" full screen and with sound.

It looks as dreadful as I've described.

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Have also seen the new countdown. You are going to be disappointed.

You're sharing some fantastic insight, thank you. 

Is it possible to describe the countdown.... if only to soften the incoming blow! ;-)

Sure. Can you picture the existing ones? Excellent. Now imagine it exactly the same but Chameleon branded (BBC logo at the top, NEWS at the bottom, both centered) and countdown clock semi transparent in large text across the middle.

Is David Lowe providing some new music for this relaunch or is money so tight now that they are going to keep using the existing music?

Unfortunately I watched it on a device without any ability to listen to sound. But I doubt the music will change... yet.