[ALV]

Just thinking, and apologies if this has been brought up before, but why can't the UK feed of BBC News opt out when the rest of the world disappears for an advert break? Can the hostage cam not bring a 2 minute UK update during that time? I don't know why the awkward pauses annoy me so much. I generally like the new BBC News approach

It was suggested on this thread a few months ago that the UK opt out team is of a "part-time" nature - the presenters and the rest of the team have other regular duties at other parts of the newsroom (e.g serving as a reporter/producer/editor for other programmes) when they do not have to produce a UK opt out.  

Staffing individuals for regular UK opt outs for your suggested 2 min fillers for every bulletin essentially means having a full-time domestic production team - that is of no difference than running a minimal 9AM to 6PM core domestic service pre-merger, which apparantly the BBC can no longer afford.