BBC News (international TV channel)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2011) |
| Country | United Kingdom (for external consumption only) |
|---|---|
| Network | BBC News |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC |
BBC World News is the BBC's international news and current affairs television channel. It has the largest audience of any BBC channel in the world.[3] Launched on 11 March 1991 as the BBC World Service Television outside of Europe, with its name changed to BBC World in 1995 and to BBC World News in 2008, it broadcasts for 24-hours with television programming including BBC News bulletins, documentaries, lifestyle programmes and interviews. Its main global competitor is CNN International, though it also competes with other major news broadcasting companies. It employs more correspondents, reporters, and international bureaus than any other news channel.[citation needed]
Unlike the BBC's domestic channels, BBC World News is not funded by a licence fee. Instead, it is funded commercially by advertising.
On 21 April 2008, the channel changed its name from BBC World to BBC World News as part of a £550,000 rebranding of the BBC's news output, including a new visual identity. The channel later moved into the renovated former studio of the BBC News channel.
History
The channel originally launched as BBC World Service Television, though unlike BBC World Service radio which has always been government funded, the British government refused to extend the Foreign Office grant-in-aid. It was launched on 11 March 1991, after two weeks of real time pilots, initially as a half-hour bulletin once a day at 1900 GMT. The programme editor was Johan "John" Ramsland from World Service Radio News with John Exelby from domestic BBC TV News as his managing editor. The original picture editing team consisted of Bob Scholes, Peter Hodge and Mike Casey.
On 1 January 1994, BBC World Service Television split into two stations: BBC Prime – an encrypted entertainment channel requiring subscription, and the free to air BBC World -concentrating on news and current affairs. Since 1994, the service has gone through several branding changes. From 1994 to 1997, the channel used relatively few graphics to display the name of the channel, with the actual news studio modelled on that used for BBC News in the United Kingdom.
As part of the major relaunch of the image of the BBC, including a new logo for the corporation on 4 October 1997, the channel received its first main refresh on 9 November 1997, the day BBC News 24 was launched. Various fictional flags with some real ones were used. The idents were computer generated and developed by the Lambie-Nairn design agency.
Another large relaunch for BBC News came in 1999 with all output, both in the UK and for BBC World globally having a uniform look made up of red and cream. Music based on a style described as 'drums and beeps' was introduced, composed by David Lowe, a departure from the general orchestral versions of other news programmes.
In 2003 a second makeover, using the same 'drums and beeps' style music but new graphics took place, although on a much smaller scale to that of 1999. The music was changed slightly while the main colour scheme became black and red, with studios using a frosted glass, white and red design for colourings. Later in 2004, the channel's slogan became Putting News First, replacing Demand a Broader View.
In 2008 the channel was renamed BBC World News. New graphics were produced by the Lambie-Nairn design agency, accompanied with reworked music from David Lowe.
Broadcasting
The channel is transmitted by Red Bee Media from their network centre at the Broadcast Centre within the BBC Media Village, part of the BBC White City, in White City, West London. All news output originates from studio N8 in the nearby Television Centre. The BBC World News newsroom is part of the BBC's Global News Hub, set up in the summer of 1994. The BBC World News newsroom provides output throughout the day. From 0100–0500, the channel BBC News is based within this studio.
Previously, the channel was broadcast in 4:3, with the news output fitted into a 14:9 frame for both digital and analogue broadcasting, resulting in black bands at the top and bottom of the screen. On 13 January 2009 at 09:57 GMT, BBC World News switched its broadcast to 16:9 format, initially in the European Region through the Astra 1L satellite,[4] and Eutelsat Hot Bird 6 satellite to other broadcast feeds in the Asian region from 20 January 2009.
In October 2011, a high definition feed of BBC World News showed up on Galaxy 13 in the United States.[5] The channel is speculated for launch in high definition in 2012.
Availability
BBC World News is most commonly watched as a free-to-air (FTA) Channel. The channel is available in all parts of Europe and many parts of the world FTA via satellite. It was also available via terrestrial FTA in Berlin from 2000 to March 2007 and in Italy from December 2003 to November 2010. Although not officially available in the UK, it is available to people who point their satellite dishes at Astra 19.2°E, Hot Bird and Thor. The Middle East feed is also available to UK residents through Badr/Arabsat. In most of the world, it is carried on nearly all satellite and cable platforms.
A daily version of its news bulletins are also rebroadcast on many FTA terrestrial channels such as in New Zealand, where it is carried overnight on TV ONE, and in Trinidad and Tobago where it is carried overnight on TV6.
In Europe, analogue satellite broadcasting via Hot Bird 6 ceased on 18 April 2006 at midday, although its digital free-to-air signal is replicated on Hot Bird 6, Hot Bird 7A, Thor 2 and on Astra 1KR.
It is also available 24/7 in Australia on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television as well as the Telstra NextG phone network. In New Zealand, it is also broadcast via satellite on SKY Network Television and via cable on TelstraClear.
In Asia, it was originally carried on STAR TV, the pan-Asian satellite television service based in Hong Kong, which was later acquired by Rupert Murdoch, but switched to PanAmSat in 1994. It is also available on Astro in Malaysia, originally part of the Astro News channel line-up before being a stand alone channel in 2002. In India, it was FTA till 15 June 2006 but is now a pay channel.
BBC World News has been available in Africa on DStv since late 1995, and its bulletins have also been rebroadcast on South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC) terrestrial channels in South Africa. In 1996, it became available in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In Canada, the channel is available on Bell TV and Shaw Direct satellite services, as well as on most digital cable services. Shaw Cable and Rogers Cable carry the channel as part of their analogue cable packages.[6] The Canadian news channel CBC Newsworld also carries a BBC World newscast from 6:00 to 6:30 pm daily.
BBC World News is not widely available on cable/satellite services in the United States, but a 2006 agreement with Discovery Networks (which is a partner in BBC America), announced it would seek distribution for the channel. American viewers used to be able to watch selected BBC World bulletins on BBC America and over 200 PBS stations. On 4 April 2009, the morning broadcast of BBC World News was dropped from BBC America.[7] The morning broadcast of BBC World News programming returned on May 18, 2009 and now airs from 4:00–8:00 am on weekdays. It was also reported in The New York Times in April 2008,[8] that some PBS stations have dropped BBC World News after being told by BBC executives that the BBC had made it "pretty clear that the future of the BBC was not intertwined with public broadcasting."[8] Many PBS stations replaced BBC World News with the PBS-produced Worldfocus. However, many stations returned to airing BBC World News after Worldfocus was cancelled in April of 2010. Currently, the BBC produces two programs for PBS in the United States. The UK-produced BBC World News is available through Los Angeles station, KCET. It picked up BBC World News after it was dropped by New York PBS station WLIW in favor of Worldfocus. BBC World News America is now also available to PBS stations after it was pulled from BBC America. Effective January 1st, 2011 KCET is no longer a PBS-member station, therefore New York's WLIW now syndicates The UK-produced BBC World News and BBC World News America to PBS-member stations and PBS World.
Since BBC World News's inception in 1995, the BBC sought carriage for the channel on U.S. cable and satellite systems. It took 11 years for a U.S. distribution deal to be signed, a deal with Discovery Communications that was announced on 25 January 2006. In September 2006, Cablevision in the New York City metropolitan area agreed to retransmit the channel and was the first company to carry BBC World News. The channel is part of Cablevision's iO Digital Cable service, channel 104.
BBC World News on other cable systems
Verizon FiOS: Channel 107 (All regions)
Comcast: channel 387 (Michigan)[9] Comcast: Channel 167 San Francisco Bay Area started December 13, 2011. Will be available soon across all Comcast areas. [10]
Cox Communications: Channel 252 (Northern Virginia)
Grande Communications: Channel 122 (Texas)
Western Kentucky TV (WKTV) Channel 136
United Kingdom
The channel is not officially available as a stand-alone, full-time channel in the United Kingdom, on the grounds that it carries and is funded by advertising (BBC's domestic channels are funded by a television licence fee which households and establishments that want to watch television programmes as they are being broadcast must pay), although it can be easily received due to its 'free-to-air' status on many European satellite systems, including Astra and Hotbird. The BBC inserts UK news summaries and weather forecasts in lieu of commercial breaks for any programme simulcast on BBC News Channel and BBC One.
However, there is a simulcast of the 0500UK edition of BBC World News on BBC One and the BBC News channel, followed by an edition of World Business Report. This programme was previously branded as 'The World Today'.
On weekdays, BBC World News also produces a version of World News Today at 1900 British Time. The first half hour of this programme can be seen in the UK on BBC Four. The edition of the programme replaced The World, which had been broadcast as a simulcast on the channel between 2002 and 2007.
The first half hour of BBC World News America is time shifted and shown at 0030 British Time on the BBC News channel.
From 0100 British Time until BBC World News at 0500, the two channels simulcast and the half hour bulletins are branded simply as BBC News. Headlines shown on these bulletins at the bottom of the hour are cut short on BBC World News as UK stories are in-line to be presented on the domestic service. Programmes differ at the bottom of the half-hour. The overnight simulcast is often also broadcast on BBC One or BBC Two.
Internet access
BBC World, without regional variations, was available live on their website using QuickTime. But this has been suspended. Since then, BBC World News is available online through the subscription service RealPlayer Plus, but not in the US, UK or Canada.
Outside of the United Kingdom, users were able to watch it for free as a live Internet stream through Livestation. However, Internet users with IP addresses that appeared to be from the United States are now prevented from streaming the channel, as Livestation does not have rights to provide this service to users in that country. As of April 2011, the channel can no longer be viewed from the United States via the website.
In Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, it is additionally available as a subscription mobile phone service, having also been available as a terrestrial channel.
Programming
Live news programmes:
- BBC World News – The latest international news from the BBC.
- BBC World News America – Comprehensive news and analysis with Katty Kay . Broadcast from the BBC's Washington D.C. Studio.
- Newsday - Live international news from London and Singapore every weekday. With Babita Sharma, Kasia Madera (London) and Rico Hizon (Singapore).
- GMT – George Alagiah (Monday-Thursday) and Stephen Sackur (Friday) present the latest news developments from across the globe, with updates on business and sport.
- Impact – Global news as it affects audiences around the world. Mishal Husain (Monday-Thursday) and Lyse Doucet (Friday) present breaking news, debate and analysis, using the full range of BBC Correspondents mostly from the Asia Pacific nations and across the world.
- The Hub – Nik Gowing assesses the days events with his trademark rigorous interviewing and detailed analysis, alongside a summary of the days news as it affects audiences in South Asia and the Middle East.
- World News Today – The news programme for audiences who want more depth to their daily coverage. With a focus on Europe, Middle East and Africa, Zeinab Badawi (Monday, Thursday-Friday) and Kirsty Lang (Tuesday-Wednesday) bring context and understanding to the most complex of events.
Other live programmes:
- Asia Business Report – Live from Singapore the essential business news as it breaks and a look ahead to the news that will shape the business day.
- Sport Today – All the latest sports news and results from around the globe.
- World Business Report – The latest business news with informed analysis from the world's financial centres.
- World Have Your Say - Each week, BBC World viewers can join the multimedia phone-in programme, broadcast alongside BBC World Service Radio and BBC Online, and share their views on topical issues of the day with a global audience.
Pre-recorded programmes include:
- Africa Business Report – A monthly look at business across the continent, talking to the people and businesses who are changing the economic face of Africa.
- Click – A comprehensive guide to all the latest gadgets, websites, games and computer industry news.
- Dateline London – Foreign correspondents based in London give their views on the week's international news.
- Develop Or Die - investigations and reports on the challenges, problems and successes of developing nations as they seek to increase their wealth or, in some cases, get out of poverty.
- Equestrian World - More than competition, Equestrian World concentrates on the spirit of the sport and the lifestyle surrounding it.
- Fast Track – The series with the latest news about travel, from the industry itself to advice on the latest deals and destinations for people travelling on business or for leisure.
- HARDtalk – Stephen Sackur talks to newsmakers and personalities from across the globe.
- India Business Report – India Business Report will provide an indispensable guide to the big stories to watch out for in the week ahead.
- Middle East Business Report – Getting behind the issues of trade, business and economics in the Gulf, to reveal how this important economic region works and interacts with the rest of the world.
- Newsnight – Jeremy Paxman looks back at the best of the week's films and discussions from Newsnight.
- Our World – Features the BBC's finest news programmes on current issues around the world. The documentaries showcase BBC journalism at its best with programmes that expose and evaluate global topics.
- Reporters – A weekly showcase of the best reports from the BBC's global network of correspondents.
- Russia Business Report – The BBC's team of business experts will be reporting from across Russia. While getting under the skin of this complex country they will also be reporting on the companies and business leaders who are becoming major players in the global economy.
- Spirit Of Yachting - This series explores some of the most exciting events in the world of sailing. The films tell the human stories behind the race and reveal the passion, emotion and dedication needed to take part in any world class sporting occasion.
- Talking Movies – Tom Brook presents all the latest news and reviews from the U.S. cinema scene with reports from Hollywood and New York.
- The Doha Debates - Each month in Qatar invited speakers debate the burning issues of the Arab and Islamic world in front of an audience who are encouraged to participate by asking questions.
- The Record Europe – An in-depth look at the politics of Europe presented by Shirin Wheeler (only shown in Europe; also shown on BBC Parliament in the UK).
- The World Debate - This programme puts the important questions to representatives from global politics, finance, business, the arts, media and other areas. The panels and contributing audiences discuss topical themes.
- Third Eye - An examination of the economic fundamentals of twelve countries, looking beyond balance sheets and stock markets. A macro perspective from some of the best economic and business journalists.
- This Week – A weekly showcase for reports from the BBC's network of over 250 global correspondents.
- UK Report – A weekly showcase for reports from the BBC's network of reporters and correspondents across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.
- Weekend World – Presented by BBC broadcaster Paddy O'Connell, Weekend World is a lively look at viewers' comments on World News programmes and a brief snapshot of what's coming up at the weekend.
- The Health Show presented by Dr Ayan Panja and Dr Shini Somara is transmitted four times each weekend and covers the most important developments in global health, including interviews with the world's leading health experts.
- World Have Your Say Extra - World Have Your Say Extra gives BBC World News viewers another opportunity to join the multimedia phone-in programme, broadcast alongside BBC World Service Radio and BBC Online, and share their views on topical issues of the day with a global audience.
BBC World News
Half-hour BBC World News bulletins are made available to Public Broadcasting Service member stations in the United States through Los Angeles's KCET, a non-commercial independent public television station separate from PBS since the beginning of 2011 due to a rights fee dispute. 80 to 90% of Americans are able to receive them, though broadcast times vary between different localities, with it airing on several PBS stations in markets such as New York City and Washington DC.
On PBS stations, BBC World News does not appear with commercials (the breaks are replaced with news stories) but omits the Met Office international weather forecast at the end, replacing it with underwriting announcements. The PBS airings are tape-delayed on some stations.
BBC America airs a 3-hour block of BBC World News coverage from 5:00 am to 8:00 am on weekdays. Met Office forecasts are removed, and is broadcast with advertisements. Another BBC World News programme, the hour-long BBC World News America, aired on BBC America at 7:00 pm or 1900 hours eastern time. The 10pm or 2200 eastern time broadcast ended in 2010 when BBC America introduced a second feed for the western time zones of the U.S. On February 18, 2011 it was announced that BBC World News America would be discontinued on BBC America and would instead be airing only on BBC World and local PBS stations in the United States as a 30-minute program.[11]
BBC World News bulletins also appear on CBC News Network in Canada and ABC News 24 in Australia.
Travellers on the Heathrow Express rail service from London Paddington to London Heathrow Airport are also treated to a specially-recorded BBC World News bulletin—introduced with a namecheck of "Welcome to BBC World News onboard the Heathrow Express"—during the fifteen minute journey. This short bulletin is updated twice a day, and is shown in both classes on LCD televisions throughout the train.
Many airlines from across the world also play pre-recorded extracts of the BBC World News, have text headlines from it or have a full bulletin available on the in-flight entertainment systems. Airlines with BBC World News include Emirates Airline, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and United Airlines. Travellers can watch the bulletins on Channel 1 shortly after take-off on British Airways flights from the United Kingdom. Air France also broadcasts the full bulletin instead of France 2 News, on flights operated from London-Heathrow and Los Angeles (and New York–JFK by summer 2009).[12]
Presenters
For details see List of BBC newsreaders and reporters
News presenters
George Alagiah (Monday-Thursday) and Stephen Sackur (Friday) present GMT, Mishal Husain (Monday-Thursday) and Lyse Doucet (Friday) present Impact, Nik Gowing presents The Hub, Zeinab Badawi (Monday, Thursday-Friday) and Kirsty Lang (Tuesday-Wednesday) present World News Today, Katty Kay presents BBC World News America and Ros Atkins presents World Have Your Say. Babita Sharma from London (Monday-Wednesday) and Kasia Madera (Thursday-Friday) present Newsday with Rico Hizon from Singapore.
BBC World News presenters include Martine Dennis, Peter Dobbie, Komla Dumor, David Eades, Mike Embley, Karin Giannone, Geeta Guru-Murthy, Lucy Hockings, Naga Munchetty, Adnan Nawaz, Jamie Robertson, Babita Sharma, Owen Thomas and Alastair Yates.
Other occasional presenters include Martine Croxall, Pooneh Ghoddoosi, Deborah Mackenzie, Kasia Madera, Sonali Shah, Sue Thearle, Nisha Pillai, Kate Silverton and Tim Willcox.
Business presenters
Business presenters include Tanya Beckett, Sally Bundock, Sara Coburn, Sally Eden, Juliette Foster, Aaron Heslehurst, Jamie Robertson and Owen Thomas. Rico Hizon and Sharanjit Leyl present Asia Business Report and Asia Today from Singapore.
Sport presenters
Sports presenters include Mike Bushell, Reshmin Chowdhury, Amanda Davies, Sean Fletcher, Karthi Gnanasegaram, Matt Gooderick, Amelia Harris, Celina Hinchcliffe, Sanjeev Shetty, Sarah Stirk and Sue Thearle.
Weather presenters
Weather presenters include: Darren Bett, Daniel Corbett, Alex Deakin, Chris Fawkes, Peter Gibbs, John Hammond, Sarah Keith-Lucas, Simon King, Louise Lear, Nick Miller, Susan Powell, Nina Ridge, Matt Taylor, Laura Tobin, Helen Willetts and Jay Wynne.
Former presenters
Presenters who have previously appeared on the channel include Samira Ahmed (now with Channel 4 News), Lindsey Brancher, Tony Campion, Jonathan Charles, Peter Coe, Stephen Cole (now with Al Jazeera English), Dharshini David (now with Sky News UK), Maya Even, Adrian Finighan (now with Al Jazeera English), Karen Bowerman (now with BBC World Features department), Juliet Dunlop (now with STV News at Six), James Dagwell, Liz George, Jake Lynch, Donald MacCormick, Anita McNaught (now with Al Jazeera English), Keshini Navaratnam, Liz Pike, Richard Quest and Susan Osman.
Presentation
Variation
BBC World News is, for the most part, the same channel all over the world; the commercials are limited to be its only differences. However, there are some regional programming variations. For example, a number of programmes are made exclusively for regional viewings, such as Indian feeds, and The Record Europe, which is only broadcast in Europe. In addition, the Asia Business Report from Singapore is only aired in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East(Now the entire world). The rest of the world sees the World Business Report. The World Business Report is shown in everywhere including, but not limited to Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East, but are on at different times depending on the country. Also, Asia Business Report airs at 0130 BST worldwide.
On most feeds of BBC World News, when there are no commercials being inserted by the cable or satellite provider similar to other channels, the break filler shows promotions for upcoming programmes on the channel. During BBC News, a news story that has not been promoted airs during what would be the commercial break. This is the case on the broadband versions of BBC World News, and on versions of BBC World News aired in the United States on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations. However, there are some global commercials and sponsorships which air throughout the network.
On 11 September 2007, the break filler was redesigned and now more closely resembles previous versions. The promotional videos now fill the entire screen and are interspersed with news and market updates, schedules, and other information. There is also no longer a unifying music composition. Instead, each 20 second promotional video uses music selected from a handful of themes, which have some unifying musical characteristics. The information screens, such as the 10 second plug for the website or YouTube channel, and the 15 second weather/time/coming up screens each feature their own theme. The colour theme was updated following the relaunch of the channel in April 2008.
Countdown sequence
Since its inception, and more so since its extensive association with the BBC News channel, the countdown to the hourly news bulletin has been a feature of the channel's presentation, accompanied by music composed by David Lowe.
The current style of countdown features reporters and technical staff in many different locations working to bring news stories to air. As with sister channel BBC News, the countdown concludes with the channel logo.
Awards
BBC World News was named Best International News Channel at the Association for International Broadcasting Awards in November 2006.[13]
References
- ^ "About BBC World News TV". BBC World News Wedsite. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (17 November 2008). "BBC World News unveils global promos". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ About BBC World News TV
- ^ "BBC World News goes widescreen". YouTube. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ http://www.lyngsat.com/hd/galaxy13horizons1.html
- ^ "Wireless, High-Speed Internet, Cable TV and Home Phone". Rogers. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ Holmwood, Leigh (6 April 2009). "Jeremy Paxman's US Newsnight axed in shakeup at BBC America". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ a b Jensen, Elizabeth (30 April 2008). "Some PBS Stations Drop BBC Newscast and Plan a Replacement". Blogs. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/11/20/bbc-world-news-launches-on-comcast-in-michigan/ BBC World News Launches On Comcast In Michigan. Retrieved 2011 November 20.
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/business/media/bbc-world-news-to-be-available-through-comcast.html
- ^ http://www.multichannel.com/article/464159-_BBC_World_News_America_Shifts_To_BBC_World_News.php
- ^ "Disponibles Sur Toutes Nos Destinations" (PDF). Air France. 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Key Dates". BBC World News. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
Competitors
- Al Jazeera English
- Australia Network
- CNN International
- CCTV-9
- Deutsche Welle
- Euronews
- Fox News Channel International
- France 24
- MVC – MUNDOVISION (English News Channel)
- Russia Today
- Press TV
- Sky News International
- Bloomberg Television
- CNBC
External links
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