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GB News

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GB News
CountryUnited Kingdom
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
Key peopleAndrew Neil (Chairman)
Angelos Frangopoulos (CEO)
History
Launched2021

GB News is an upcoming British television news channel due to launch early in 2021 on Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.[1] Its chairman will be Andrew Neil.[2] GB News has financial backing from Discovery, Inc., Legatum and Sir Paul Marshall[3] and has been forecast by the Financial Times to be "right-leaning".[1] The channel has declared a commitment to impartial journalism.[4]

History

The Guardian's media editor reported in August 2020 that a group named GB News had been granted a licence to broadcast by Ofcom.[5] The Independent afterwards reported that the licence had been awarded to the group seven months earlier, in January, through a limited company, All Perspectives, registered with Companies House in September 2019.[6]

On 25 September it was announced that Andrew Neil, who had presented live political programmes on the BBC for 25 years,[7] would leave the corporation after leading their coverage of the 2020 United States presidential election. He said that he had been in discussions to continue working on the BBC in a new format after the cancellation of his programme The Andrew Neil Show, but that these talks had "not come to fruition" and he had accepted the post of chairman of a new television news channel.[8] On the same day he was announced as the presenter of a prime time evening programme on the channel, due to launch early the next year. In a statement, he said:

GB News is the most exciting thing to happen in British television news for more than 20 years. We will champion robust, balanced debate and a range of perspectives on the issues that affect everyone in the UK, not just those living in the London area. We've seen a huge gap in the market for a new form of television news. GB News is aimed at the vast number of British people who feel underserved and unheard by their media.[9]

It was founded by Andrew Cole and Mark Schneider, two executives associated with the chairman of Liberty Global, John C. Malone.[5] Its chief executive officer (CEO) was announced as Angelos Frangopoulos, the former CEO of Sky News Australia.[2]

Neil was interviewed about the channel on 28 September, and said that it would not provide rolling news, but would, in similarity with some US networks, divide each day into "individual programmes, news-based programmes, built around very strong presenters".[10] He said that it would aim to offer programming that would become "an appointment to view".[11]

In December 2020, Sky News reported that Sir Paul Marshall, a prominent hedge fund manager, was in talks to invest £10 million into GB News.[12] On 6 January 2021, GB News reached its £60 million fundraising aim, which it claimed was "oversubscribed". The majority of the £60 million came from Discovery, Inc., Marshall and the investment firm Legatum. GB News said it would recruit 140 staff, including 120 journalists, and would also launch "streaming, video on-demand and audio services".[3] The recruitment drive began on 25 January.[4] On 28 January it was announced that Dan Wootton would leave News UK to join the channel as the host of a daily show, five days a week.[13]

Presenters

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Barker, Alex (25 September 2020). "Andrew Neil to lead new right-leaning UK TV news channel". Financial Times. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Waterson, Jim (25 September 2020). "Andrew Neil launches 24-hour news channel to rival BBC and Sky". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b Kleinman, Mark (6 January 2021). "GB News seals £60m funding ahead of 'boldly different' launch". Sky News. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b Tobitt, Charlotte (25 January 2021). "GB News launches recruitment drive for 140 jobs and declares commitment to 'impartial journalism'". Press Gazette. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b Waterson, Jim (29 August 2020). "Rivals plan Fox News-style opinionated TV station in UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. ^ Forrest, Adam (31 August 2020). "GB News: Former No 10 official 'leading effort to launch BBC competitor'". The Independent. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  7. ^ Neil, Andrew [@afneil] (25 September 2020). "But I leave with no animosity or desire to settle scores. I look back on my 25 years doing live political programmes for the BBC with affection. And gratitude for brilliant colleagues at Millbank, who always made sure I went into the studio fully briefed and equipped for the fray" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Andrew Neil to leave the BBC 'with heavy heart'". BBC News. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Andrew Neil announces 24 hour GB News channel to rival BBC and Sky". ITV News. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  10. ^ Forrest, Adam (28 September 2020). "GB News: Andrew Neil says new channel will have US-style 'anchors with a bit of edge'". The Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  11. ^ Wilson, Eliot (2 October 2020). "Andrew Neil's GB News will test whether there is appetite for a Fox News-style news channel in the UK". City A.M. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  12. ^ Kleinman, Mark (31 December 2020). "City tycoon Marshall tunes into £60m GB News fundraising". Sky News. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  13. ^ Rajan, Amol (28 January 2021). "Dan Wootton leaves News UK for GB News and Mail Online". BBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
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