Broadband TV News: BBC’s response to global news events drives audience growth

Story from Broadband TV News:

BBC News grew its global audience by 4 million people in 2024/25 as coverage of international conflicts, crises and elections drew audiences in. 

RXTV: BBC News European satellite switch

Story from RXTV:

For the second time in two years, the satellite feed of BBC News via the Eutelsat Hotbird satellite system is changing.

Broadband TV News: BBC to use AI assistance for new Polish news service

Story from Broadband TV News:

BBC World Service is launching a new pilot Polish language news website.

Advanced Television: BBC World Service to launch Polish offering

Story from Advanced Television:

BBC World Service is expanding its news offer with the launch of a pilot Polish-language news website, BBC News Polska, and its content on social channels.

Broadband TV News: New research reveals the extent of the BBC’s role internationally

Story from Broadband TV News:

The BBC has published new research exploring the impact and influence of its work internationally.

Media Guardian: Ministers demand BBC World Service plan for cuts as aid budget slashed

Story from Media Guardian:

David Lammy is asking BBC bosses to draw up tens of millions of pounds’ worth of cuts to the World Service as part of the spending review, as the fallout continues from Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the aid budget.

Broadband TV News: BBC World Service to move from satellite to IP-based delivery

Story from Broadband TV News:

BBC World Service is working with Encompass Digital Media and Zixi in a shift of its global distribution network from satellite to IP-based delivery.

Broadband TV News: BBC News Burmese takes to satellite after Myanmar earthquake

Story from Broadband TV News:

BBC World Service has taken capacity on the Thaicom 6 satellite previously used by VOA to deliver BBC News Burmese video content in the aftermath of the Myanmar earthquake.

Advanced Television: MPs call for BBC World Service funding certainty

Story from Advanced Television:

Three UK House of Commons Select Committees – the Culture, Media and Sport, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees – have called on the Government to sufficiently resource the BBC World Service so that it is less reliant on the licence fee and short-term funding cycles.

Advanced Television: BBC World Service sets out £6m saving plan

Story from Advanced Television:

The BBC World Service has announced that it will be making a series of changes in order to meet savings requirements for the year ahead.

Advanced Television: BBC World Service to provide enhanced services in Syria

Story from Advanced Television:

Following the developments in Syria, the BBC World Service has announced it will offer enhanced services to audiences across the country.

Radio Today: BBC issues statement on funding of its World Service

Story from Radio Today:

The BBC has welcomed the enhanced funding for BBC World Service following today’s budget.

Deadline: BBC Increases Representation Target On All Shows To 25% After Revealing $318M Diversity Content Spend

Story from Deadline:

The BBC will require all TV shows to hit 25% off-screen representation targets after spending double the amount it expected to spend on diverse content since 2021.

Deadline: Paramount Global’s Lawrence Szabo Exits For BBC Studios Role In LA

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global’s Lawrence Szabo is joining BBC Studios.

Hollywood Reporter: NBCUniversal, BBC Snag Reality-Bending ‘Destination X’ Competition

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

NBCUniversal and the BBC are going on a journey — but aren’t telling where.

Deadline: BBC & CNN Team For Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster Doc From Louis Theroux’s Mindhouse

Story from Deadline:

The BBC and CNN are teaming up to mark 20 years since the Columbia space shuttle disaster.

Deadline: BBC News Review Says Journalists’ “Lack Of Understanding Of Basic Economics” Brings “High Risk To Impartiality”

Story from Deadline:

BBC News’ journalists failure to understand “basic economics” is bringing a “high risk to impartiality,” according to a BBC-commissioned report.

Deadline: BBC News Says Presenters Can Relax Formal Dress Code As “Sweaty & Dirty” Look Is More Trustworthy

Story from Deadline:

BBC News presenters have been told that they can relax their formal dress code in the pursuit of more authentic reporting as the broadcaster seeks to reinvent its 24-hour news channel.

Naja Nielsen, BBC News’ Director of Digital, told staff last week that the more rugged “sweaty and dirty” look certain journalists adopt when away from the studio can be more trustworthy.

Nielsen was speaking as the BBC steps up plans to merge BBC World News with its domestic news channel in an effort to cut costs and make its rolling news output more appealing to online audiences. Managers argue it is a chance to create the best news channel in the world.

Nielsen told a wide group of journalists: “It’s a bit like, be as sweaty and dirty as when we’re in the field is actually more trustworthy than if we look like we’ve just stepped out of an awards ceremony or a fine dinner party.”

Some presenters took this as a signal to ditch suits and dresses. One source said dress code changes were already happening on screen, pointing to weather presenter Tomasz Schafernaker wearing a jacket and T-shirt on at least one occasion. Other insiders said Nielsen’s comments were simply her expressing a desire for increased authenticity.

Her ambition is to encourage more smartphone camera reporting from journalists as the channel seeks to engage the TikTok generation. She told journalists that her mother is impressed by studio presentation, but her children are less so.

The relaunched channel will feature more links hosted from the heart of the newsroom and, as one insider put it, “presenters standing in front of giant iPads to show how we verify footage.”

The BBC News channel will have a team of eight journalists who will serve as both correspondents and studio presenters. Recruitment is underway for the roles.

Deadline revealed earlier this month that 10 of the BBC’s most seasoned anchors face an uncertain future after being told they will not be Chief Presenters on the channel.

Martine Croxall, Ben Brown, and Annita McVeigh were among those who were not successful. The channel’s lineup will comprise: Matthew Amroliwala, Yalda Hakim, Christian Fraser, Lucy Hockings, and Maryam Moshiri. They will earn as much as £230,000 ($276,000).

• The BBC hopes to launch the new channel on April 3, though insiders said changes will be phased in over an unspecified period of time. Pilots are underway, with a dry run of the new schedule taking place on March 6.

One senior source said: “The single channel operation will be a phased launch over months, with different elements being introduced over time. No-one should get hung up on April or expect to see everything change at once.”

Paul Royall, the BBC’s acting Editor of news channels, said he has high hopes for the relaunched service. “My aim, my objective is that we will have the best global news channel in the world,” he told staff.

The channel will carry more international news, but will split up for big UK news, so that domestic audiences will receive bespoke output. It will be anchored from London during UK daytime and evening, and from Washington D.C. and Singapore overnight.

One source said that the BBC is yet to get its technical setup in Washington right and that people on the ground think the operation is a “shambles.”

There remains a great deal of anger about the treatment of presenters with decades of experience. “People are furious about it,” said one insider. “Producers think the presenters have been treated brutally.”

© 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC.

Media Leader; BBC Studios: expand or die?

Story from Media Leader:

TV production is widely expected to enter a period of decline. Shouldn’t the commercial arm of the BBC be investing in homegrown talent?

World News - Digital TV Europe: BBC chairman calls for additional funding for BBC World Service

Story from Digital TV Europe:

BBC chairman Richard Sharp has warned that the BBC World Service, which broadcasts to 360 million people across 70 countries in 42 languages, is under threat of losing its influence unless it receives additional funding from the UK government.