[Kojak]

I think those speculations are based on various reports on different papers - all of them suggested NC will simulcast Newsnight.

As did Martine Croxall on Twitter!

There won’t be a separate UK channel at all. This is what people are not realising. You’ll get what the world audience gets. With Nicky Campbell’s phone in on the TV 9-11 weekdays. The BBC1 bulletins and Newsnight which you can see anyway. No bespoke UK content as standard apart from during advert breaks. And breaking news when an editor decides it’s worth cranking up a tiny studio. The unions are trying to stop the worst of it.

Is the plan of visualising the 5 Live 9am hour dropped?

I think (but don't know!) that that was never going to be until the autumn anyway. AFAIK it is still part of the plan - but I'd love to be proven wrong!