BBC News and BBC World to merge

[headliner101]

International rights is a huge issue for programming, not necessarily news coverage but think about the rights issues associated with programmes like Killing Eve (which has a fairly *wild* distribution agreement) and you begin to see why geo-blocking exists. 

The same sorts of rights issues don’t really exist with radio - although, arguably, the growth of podcasts is a form which can be restricted or limited in a much more systematic way if required. 

So: the answer to the question boils down to £££. In a nutshell.

Relatedly due to it being down to £££, there is also a massively different commercial relationship between the World Service and domestic radio and World News and domestic TV. Neither domestic radio or the World Service are money making ventures for the BBC, while World News is. The BBC won't want to undercut their commercial news channel (as well as their distributors) by making similar content freely available online.

Though I am a bit puzzled by World's FTA availability in Europe (less so elsewhere).  Also, it makes me think: who funds the salaries of staff working on stories relevant to World audiences given that they share the same office space as domestic services and their content is also used by licence fee-funded services?

[deejay]

Sport do make separate SportsDay programmes for World and UK - so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t continue. While the operations of the two channels are proposed to merge, it is thought there will still be splits as there are now for there to be separate scheduled output. There is some uncertainty over how separate breaking news and unforeseen output will work operationally but that is, apparently, the plan.

[headliner101]

Sport do make separate SportsDay programmes for World and UK - so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t continue.  While the operations of the two channels are proposed to merge, it is thought there will still be splits as there are now for there to be separate scheduled output.  There is some uncertainty over how separate breaking news and unforeseen output will work operationally but that is, apparently, the plan.

If what you said is true, it might very well be just nothing more than a branding merger similar to CNNI (which is known internationally simply as CNN, even on logos).  In other words, no major changes from what the current set up is.

[Mr Q]

Sport do make separate SportsDay programmes for World and UK - so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t continue.  While the operations of the two channels are proposed to merge, it is thought there will still be splits as there are now for there to be separate scheduled output.  There is some uncertainty over how separate breaking news and unforeseen output will work operationally but that is, apparently, the plan.

This makes complete sense to me. There's typically no urgent reason for a sport bulletin to be live - one could, for example, have a pre-recorded global version that goes out when a UK domestic version airs (or vice versa). Similarly, I would imagine weather forecasts will be split - the UK getting a domestic forecast while a global one screens internationally.

I'd also be surprised if the 6pm and 10pm bulletins were broadcast globally: it might make sense to air, say, Hardtalk overseas when a UK flagship bulletin is on air domestically.

[Newshound47]

Sport do make separate SportsDay programmes for World and UK - so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t continue.  While the operations of the two channels are proposed to merge, it is thought there will still be splits as there are now for there to be separate scheduled output.  There is some uncertainty over how separate breaking news and unforeseen output will work operationally but that is, apparently, the plan.

This makes complete sense to me. There's typically no urgent reason for a sport bulletin to be live - one could, for example, have a pre-recorded global version that goes out when a UK domestic version airs (or vice versa). Similarly, I would imagine weather forecasts will be split - the UK getting a domestic forecast while a global one screens internationally.

I'd also be surprised if the 6pm and 10pm bulletins were broadcast globally: it might make sense to air, say, Hardtalk overseas when a UK flagship bulletin is on air domestically.

It depends on if events are happening at that time on if a sports Bulletin can be pre recorded

[Moz]

This makes complete sense to me. There's typically no urgent reason for a sport bulletin to be live - one could, for example, have a pre-recorded global version that goes out when a UK domestic version airs (or vice versa). Similarly, I would imagine weather forecasts will be split - the UK getting a domestic forecast while a global one screens internationally.

I'd also be surprised if the 6pm and 10pm bulletins were broadcast globally: it might make sense to air, say, Hardtalk overseas when a UK flagship bulletin is on air domestically.

It depends on if events are happening at that time on if a sports Bulletin can be pre recorded

NOBODY watches a sports bulletin on a news channel to find out the latest score. They just want a round-up. Latest scores are on the website.

[Newshound47]

It depends on if events are happening at that time on if a sports Bulletin can be pre recorded

NOBODY watches a sports bulletin on a news channel to find out the latest score. They just want a round-up. Latest scores are on the website.

It still looks pretty bad to be reporting something as ongoing or soon to happen when by the time it airs it’s finished.

[Keith]

I'd also be surprised if the 6pm and 10pm bulletins were broadcast globally: it might make sense to air, say, Hardtalk overseas when a UK flagship bulletin is on air domestically.

I suspect that part of the reason why the national news is soon to be using a revamped Studio B. In the short-medium term it means that if the news channel is simulcasting with World News it doesn't have to interrupt its programming. Longer term it means that the merged news channel can either show it's own bulletin globally, or alternatively in the UK simulcast the national news from Studio B whilst non-UK viewers get a bulletin from the channel's studio.

[harshy]

So just to confirm it’s not gonna happen overnight is it? and needs consultation anyway with ofcom or ofgem or whatever it’s called these days.

[AlfieMulcahy]

So just to confirm it’s not gonna happen overnight is it? and needs consultation anyway with ofcom or ofgem or whatever it’s called these days.

Still Ofcom. Ofgem is for gas and electricity mains.

[headliner101]

Maybe one thing UK viewers will need to get used to is the units of measure used on the broadcast. They will have to get used to hearing more frequent references to kilometres and (US) dollars used more often rather than miles or sterling, respectively.

[Brekkie]

Today's news agenda a clear example of why merging the two channels is so problematic. One story dominating the domestic news agenda today which actually has very little appeal to the rest of the world. All they need to know is it's happening and the result - not hours upon hours of speculation and analysis.

[Radio_man]

Today's news agenda a clear example of why merging the two channels is so problematic.  One story dominating the domestic news agenda today which actually has very little appeal to the rest of the world.  All they need to know is it's happening and the result - not hours upon hours of speculation and analysis.

I must admit I've been surprised by the amount of simulcasting between World and the NC today. 2 hours this morning 9 - 11am, full simulcasting all evening 7 - 10pm, and even the 11pm Newsday edition dropped from World in favour of another UK politics focussed simulcast.

Hours upon hours of endless speculation and analysis of UK politics is hardly appropriate for an international news channel, but I guess this has given World viewers a taste of what's to come, as once the channels do fully merge, when there's a UK political crisis, World will get endless rolling coverage right through UK daytime hours.

[JayCasey]

Today's news agenda a clear example of why merging the two channels is so problematic.  One story dominating the domestic news agenda today which actually has very little appeal to the rest of the world.  All they need to know is it's happening and the result - not hours upon hours of speculation and analysis.

I must admit I've been surprised by the amount of simulcasting between World and the NC today. 2 hours this morning 9 - 11am, full simulcasting all evening 7 - 10pm, and even the 11pm Newsday edition dropped from World in favour of another UK politics focussed simulcast.

Hours upon hours of endless speculation and analysis of UK politics is hardly appropriate for an international news channel, but I guess this has given World viewers a taste of what's to come, as once the channels do fully merge, when there's a UK political crisis, World will get endless rolling coverage right through UK daytime hours.

What you have to consider is, if the UK output is covering breaking news, it costs BBC Worldwide less by simulcasting that on BBC World News.... Also, BBC World News was, and still is a channel to show what is happening in the UK, around the world.

To me, if I was (and I have been) abroad and there's a major story breaking at home, I'd be going for the BBC on the hotel telly. BBC World News would be that source.

[neonemesis]

To me, if I was (and I have been) abroad and there's a major story breaking at home, I'd be going for the BBC on the hotel telly. BBC World News would be that source.

I think this is the principle that needs to be openly addressed:

What is the role of BBC World News? Is it:

a) An international news channel, providing international stories to an international audience.
b) A largely UK domestic channel being broadcast internationally.

My understanding was that World's mandate was A. The proposed changes, as demonstrated yesterday, risks increasingly shifting the output to option B. If that happens then international viewers will float away to other services and the hugely important 'soft power' influence that the BBC has around the world will continue to erode.

Doesn't feel much like "Global Britain" to me...