[Studio7]

What I found most interesting, though, was that there's been a seeming shift in the last few weeks, particularly in terms of lead stories. In the first four weeks (April), UK news led 7 times (25%) - nearly all of which were reasonably justifiable editorially. But in the last four weeks (May), UK stories have led 15 times (54%). Obviously, some of this is the Coronation, but there does seem to be a greater lean towards certain UK-big, World-nothing stories recently. In the last week, Madeleine McCann led over F16s being given to Ukraine; the Cardiff car crash over De Santis' presidential bid; and UK travel delays over the Turkish election. Does certainly feel like a push to give UK news greater undue prominence.

Obviously this is just a snapshot from (largely) one hour of the day, but it is one of the UK channel's strongest hours, so when more people's perceptions of the channel will be formed.

Weren't we constantly being told, by the self-appointed forum BBC spokespersons, that the channels were merged because only global news channels are viable now? Yet this supposed global news channel has consistently led with nonsense stories like the Schofield saga, which is completely irrelevant to this incredibly important global audience. Most people in the UK probably don't even care, so heaven knows what people in Dallas, Delhi or Dubai must think! 

Instead of this bold, punchy, truly global news channel we were promised, what we have very much appears to be the worst of both worlds.