BBC News and BBC World to merge

[Kojak]

Are we sure that the five senior presenters that stay on are all going to be used on weekdays? I would have thought that if they're cutting back, it would make sense to spread the main five across the whole week, and have them do longer on-air shifts (so four hours a piece, or maybe even five, rather than three).

I did consider four-hour shifts a possibility, but I just think it's too long for a rolling news shift. The last time the BBC had four-hour shifts, they were when World did half-an-hour on, half-an-hour off and when the News channel was double-headed. Presenters on a news channel need to stay briefed on the stories they are covering, this is more difficult on an international channel with a gradually shifting news focus throughout the day.

World still goes to different programmes during the back half hours (albeit not as much as they once did). Looking at the European schedule today, they still break at various points during the day for World Business Report, HARDtalk and The Travel Show, among other things.

[Brekkie]

I've kind of been presuming, without any real justification, that the evenings are somewhat safe and Outside Source and The Context would likely continue, but if that also counts towards the "five presenters" it really will be a cull.

Of course though they may still be planning to use freelancers (who may be regular BBC faces) to top up that, especially as cover.

[DTV]

World still goes to different programmes during the back half hours (albeit not as much as they once did). Looking at the European schedule today, they still break at various points during the day for World Business Report, HARDtalk and The Travel Show, among other things.

It does, but during the stranded hours, which make up most of the London hours on the new schedule, they tend to do 90-minutes on air at various points. It's also worth noting that back in the 'half-hour on, half-hour off' era, they were basically scripted news bulletins every hour and BBC World didn't particularly do rolling news unless of a very major story. Today, there are more interviews - which require a degree of prep and being on top of the latest developments in a story. Ultimately, I wouldn't be surprised with four-hour shifts, but it just seems rather long for single-headed rolling news presentation.

I've kind of been presuming, without any real justification, that the evenings are somewhat safe and Outside Source and The Context would likely continue, but if that also counts towards the "five presenters" it really will be a cull.

Of course though they may still be planning to use freelancers (who may be regular BBC faces) to top up that, especially as cover.

Outside Source staying is probably the safest bet going - its relaunched format has been very successful, particularly with regards to social media traction, so I just can't see it being axed. Also, worth remembering that it's only five only-presenters, with nine reporter-presenters. Ros Atkins was recently appointed as Analysis Editor and so will probably come under the latter category (or possibly not either).

While I'm not particularly a fan of it, The Context is something that could certainly be easily relocated to Washington (and, if Fraser wanted to go, it would be a good way of the BBC keeping a bonus presenter). Whenever I've caught it, the show seems fairly US-oriented anyway.

[Newsroom]

A very noticeable intro to the 5pm on the NC. Martine Croxhall going out of her way to welcome viewers to the BBC News Channel as opposed to her standard Welcome to BBC News.

Feeling a little rebellious perhaps?

[lepeterrr]

A very noticeable intro to the 5pm on the NC. Martine Croxhall going out of her way to welcome viewers to the BBC News Channel as opposed to her standard Welcome to BBC News.

Feeling a little rebellious perhaps?

Martine has been very outspoken on Twitter against the changes so not surprising, she has been introducing it as the 'BBC News Channel' since the news broke of the merge.

[Steve in Pudsey]

Without getting political, fair play to Martine

[GMc]

With more and more strikes being planned across a number of sectors, is it possible that BBC News staff could have a vote on strike action regarding the cuts, or is that unlikely this time?

[Qwerty123]

With more and more strikes being planned across a number of sectors, is it possible that BBC News staff could have a vote on strike action regarding the cuts, or is that unlikely this time?

Chris Rogers has already done a double shift today so even if they were to strike the viewer wouldn't notice much difference...

[GMc]

With more and more strikes being planned across a number of sectors, is it possible that BBC News staff could have a vote on strike action regarding the cuts, or is that unlikely this time?

Chris Rogers has already done a double shift today so even if they were to strike the viewer wouldn't notice much difference...

  I've noticed a few presenters pulling double shifts lately. Bens' Boulos and Thompson to name a few.