[Stockland Hillman]

There’s no escaping the fact that news channels are consumed differently today than they were even just a few years ago.

As with BBC News, the days of headlines > reports > headlines > sport > business > weather > reports is gone and appointment to view and breaking coverage is what matters now.

The vast majority if they want the headlines will click an app or website on their phones now, the top of the hour sequence needs to be different to bring people in.

I’m not saying this isn’t a shame, but that’s where we are.

Probably very near the thinking that takes place in news channels these days.

Unfortunately for them it's wrong.

I've seen alot of research, most recently 2022, that clearly shows audinces watch longer when there's a recognizable structure/format with a clear beginning, content blocks and end (even on rolling news with the same presenters) and a consistent presenter/correspondent/weather lineup.

Using a visual and audio grammar established in early radio and film, openings, credits, theme music, visual furniture all play a part. Some research has even A/B tested the same content in different wrappings and found that packaging is important ( same in both US and Northern Europe markets)

No TV show keeps the same audience reach the whole show, even dramas oddly, but weirdly news channel execs think the it's superfluous to make proper show blocks as the audience is in part casually dipping in/put