05-11-2023, 10:20 PM
I’m not sure of the detail of it (quotas, etc) but yes, to an extent it is.
The BBC’s broadcasting licence for the NC imposes conditions that it must cover UK news. That hasn’t changed because they tried to claim the new channel was no different from the old. Ofcom said that they would be analysing what the BBC did with the channel to ensure that UK stories were “sufficiently covered”.
The BBC will not want an argument with Ofcom so will be careful to ensure they meet this obligation.
But I am with you to an extent on it being a sop to Newswatch. Honestly, I could hardly believe that Paul Royall could get through that interview with a straight face - “we’ve got the Nicky Campbell phone-in, the News at One, Six and Ten, plus Newsnight on the channel; at least three hours of premium, UK-facing content every weekday”!
The BBC’s broadcasting licence for the NC imposes conditions that it must cover UK news. That hasn’t changed because they tried to claim the new channel was no different from the old. Ofcom said that they would be analysing what the BBC did with the channel to ensure that UK stories were “sufficiently covered”.
The BBC will not want an argument with Ofcom so will be careful to ensure they meet this obligation.
But I am with you to an extent on it being a sop to Newswatch. Honestly, I could hardly believe that Paul Royall could get through that interview with a straight face - “we’ve got the Nicky Campbell phone-in, the News at One, Six and Ten, plus Newsnight on the channel; at least three hours of premium, UK-facing content every weekday”!