[DTV]

In a way, that’s exactly the point. The previously-special and unique news output (such as Newsnight, Our World, even the rolling news channel which had no ads and was UK-focused) has all been cut back to “save” less-unique entertainment output from needing heavier cuts. Whereas if news hadn’t been cut, the BBC would be doing more “unique” things than it is now.

But, as always with the 'pity news' narrative, this is such an exaggeration. News hasn't been cut to save entertainment, both have been cut - original comedy output, for instance, has fallen by about 40% since 2010 - that's far more than the cut in news output.

And, as for 'special and unique', the only thing you listed that I think that can genuinely be applied to is Newsnight, which I would agree the de facto axing of is a bad decision. Our World might be an unfortunate axe, but long-form international reporting is done by pretty much every serious news channel, plus, let's be frank, it was purely treated as NC schedule filler in the UK.

Stretching 'special and unique' to include the former News channel, though, is a push. There is very little that it did that other parts of BBC News or Sky News don't do adequately. A BBC rolling news channel also still exists - you might criticise the form, but, as with so much sub-par BBC News output, the odd direction seems to be an editorial choice above all else. Plus, the changes to the News channel only came about because they'd tried finding ways for it to take a fair share of cuts and it ended up with the NC increasing its budget in real terms - that just wasn't sustainable.

Ultimately, the choice has been made than News should deal with the cuts by focussing on network news and the website, which have variously been subject to ringfencing and extra investments. This path makes most sense from a PSB perspective - those are the genuine mass-use parts of BBC News and there is more PSB value in being a for-all trusted reporting service than any other aspect of news.