[interestednovice]

I think that’s true, and also why it’s the only programme with a London Skyline backdrop with the studio intended to give the viewer a sort of visual clue. Since early editions of The Context, however, it has been quite US focused at times but that is likely because that was the place with more “going on” at the time. A lot of the contributors are UK-based talking heads so I believe it retains that transatlantic feel with a dual focus on the US and UK.

More recently, since the full merger, my gut feeling is that editorial balance across the channel has crept closer and closer back to how it was in the “interim period” which was basically an overly UK-focused version of World News format (mostly static reports and little pace, lower story coverage than NC) bulletins.

That said, it could be the case that the current format of The Context doesn’t replicate the interest garnered by the original 100 days - both because the programme has become long and unwieldy and because the more dynamic nature of dual presentation is no longer there. Newsday was also much more palatable for viewers outside Asia back when it was dual-anchored from London and Singapore and, much like the good chemistry of Katty & Christian, Babita & Rico plus Kasia & Sharanjit worked well together. The difficulty with the current format of The Context really is that the audience may be impossible to please - it’s evening in the UK, so many viewers may be wondering why they are getting a US-focused show. Meanwhile, viewers watching on PBS or whatever may find it bizarrely British-centric. Neither audience, potentially, comes away happy with the balance. It’s particularly difficult due to the time slot - I feel there’s an acceptance that we may be getting broadcasts from abroad when it’s London’s “downtime” overnight, but viewers could be less happy with overt US coverage during UK primetime.

However, to add to all of this, I do find that during the day today (and I’ve dipped in and out of the channel) things have probably veered too far into UK-centric territory once again. The reaction to and coverage of the Women’s Football World Cup felt celebratory, even jingoistic, on a level which I struggle to imagine even the old UK NC would have outwardly embraced (being fearful of a Scottish/Welsh/NI backlash) and although that was probably nice for most viewers in England - I enjoyed it, lol - I feel it may have been quite alienating to viewers around the world.

Much was made of the story and it was top of the running order for hours - did it really justify that?

I suppose what I’m trying to say, in a rather long-winded way (sorry!), is that today is another example of how it’s so difficult to get the editorial balance right here that a merged channel working 100% well is close to, if not actually, impossible.