[DTV]

Or just keep it simple with BBC News on the hour, every hour.  No point in sub brands when they're all basically the same.

Yes, and that was what I expected ahead of the merger considering that it was touted as a chance to go 'back to basics'. Indeed, with a lot of the discussion around the media these days, there's a lot to be said for the BBC providing a simple and reliable no frills, news without comment channel.

While, of course, there can be a place for branded programmes, that cannot be said of the ones introduced since the merger. The programmes are directionless and indistinct (the only difference being the level of comment increasing as the day goes on) and the brands themselves are weak (so just dilute the main brand, rather than supplementing it). The channel is not better for having them.