[all new phil]

Would it not be possible to create new titles based on this sting?

Perhaps the globe could shrink down to this size on the final drumbeat.

I don’t understand how they were able to create new imagery for the big screens in studio B, in the same style, but they can’t redo the titles.

[harshy]

I don’t understand how they were able to create new imagery for the big screens in studio B, in the same style, but they can’t redo the titles.

That does look very beautiful as does the bbc news graphic they use on the screens, yet for whatever reasons we are seeing botched titles instead, it dosent make sense.

[AaronLancs]

That does look very beautiful as does the bbc news graphic they use on the screens, yet for whatever reasons we are seeing botched titles instead, it dosent make sense.

How come one gets the feeling the Chameleoned titles were ready to go but got ixnayed by whoever and got junked.

[harshy]

Those World Business Report titles must be ten years old, still a fantastic theme tune and I love how the words business report types out at the end there, it serves as a reminder of the good days and it’s the only show that turns studio c blue now, they just need to get rid of the bbc news red box however.

[kookaburra]

Of the many changes associated with the merger, probably one of the most sensible, but you do you.

- 'Following the sun' is typical of international news channels and it makes sense to utilise the Washington teams for more than just a single 30-minute programme per day. The additional staffing costs in Washington are likely substantively less than previous overnight staffing costs from London - freeing up more money to be spent elsewhere.
- Showing extra commitment to the US market is a commercially sensible thing to do, with the US the most lucrative ad market and much of the BBC's syndication revenue coming from the US. Extra money raised this way means more money for the channel.
- From the perspective of UK viewers, where overnights are coming from doesn't really matter as viewership is so low. Plus, overnights on News 24 were historically fairly US-oriented anyway (variously featuring USA Direct, ABC World News, World News Today and repeats of World News America and World Business Report).

As is often the case, your view of what should be happening with the channel would be more expensive/require more cuts for little actual gain.

I completely get that, but one of the BBC’s previous strengths was its reliability and consistency. Always/mostly coming from London was part of that. 

As a non American world viewer, I much preferred overnights coming from London - some of the presenters in DC can be quite grating and over the top in that American way. Alistair Yates they are not. 

They could do a few small things to generic it up a bit and make it feel less American. Using the NBH newsroom background loop is a start. 

I understand management have decided the US market is lucrative but there’s no shortage of American news out there for a non American world viewer and a total dearth of good Asian news with the cuts to CNNI Hong Kong. Investing in the Singapore broadcast hub and making a big push in the region, then charge more for ads, would have been another option.

[DTV]

I understand management have decided the US market is lucrative but there’s no shortage of American news out there for a non American world viewer and a total dearth of good Asian news with the cuts to CNNI Hong Kong. Investing in the Singapore broadcast hub and making a big push in the region, then charge more for ads, would have been another option.

But gaining ad revenue isn't as simple as charging more for ads - the BBC will already be charging the maximum amount that they feel they could reasonably get away with. Increasing rates comes with a significant risk of advertisers pulling out. The fact is, Asia is a disproportionately unprofitable part of the BBC World News audience - it only brings in about 10-15% of Global News' income (and that is relatively declining), despite almost certainly being a higher proportion of the channel's viewers. America, by contrast, is responsible for around a third of turnover, with that on the up.

[Joe]

And on that note…

World used to be a constant at home and in hotels abroad, it’s not on anymore. Further why would the premium advertisers stick around and pay the ad fees BBC charges if it’s no longer a premium product? 

…that isn’t how advertising works. It’s about who watches not, in itself, how the channel is perceived.

[Brekkie]

Complete other topic but find it interesting how the US broadcasters can charge much more per viewer - that's part of the reason their news market thrives at all levels.

As for overnights - frankly I'm not watching but the Washington studio is nicer than anything that has been done in London in recent years and I'd rather that be the basis of any Studio E revamp than Studio B.

[KatsKaravan]

And on that note…

…that isn’t how advertising works. It’s about who watches not, in itself, how the channel is perceived.

What happens if the 'who' dwindles down to zero? It's not the most consistent, or best looking, news channel out there. It's trying to be all things to all men, which doesn't work. Compare the latest headlines from Al Jazeera with the ones from BBC News (10am GMT):

Al Jazeera:

[*]Niger's military coup
[*]Conflict in Sudan
[*]Deadly stampede in Madagascar
[*]Making online gaming safer for girls
[*]FIFA kiss scandal


BBC News:

[*]FIFA kiss scandal
[*]Prigozhin plane crash
[*]Train strikes in England


It's not hard to see which is the more comprehensive, and the more globally-focused. Al Jazeera's bulletins actually explain world events, rather than just the endless interviews and 'analysis' with a junior reporter in the newsroom. I like the idea of a proper globally-focused BBC News channel, but at the moment it falls short. They're copying Al Jaz's old 'follow the sun' strategy, so why not copy everything else? Some of the back half hours can even be 'UK Today' slots. Something for everyone!

[harshy]

Studio B is designed nice but the screen design makes it look very cold and the presenters are distant from each other just adds to the effect, the Washington studio is actually very good, it’s a shame the best aspects of the channel are on when we are asleep.