Timeline of the BBC News Channel

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A timeline of notable events relating to the BBC News Channel and its original name BBC News 24.

1990s

  • 1996
    • 9 May – The BBC announces the launch of a new rolling news channel for the UK as part of its plans for digital television.[1]
  • 1997
    • 9 November – BBC News 24 launches at 5:30pm. The channel is only available on cable although all viewers are able to sample the channel overnight as BBC News 24 is simulcast during the downtime hours of BBC One.
  • 1998
    • Spring – BBC News 24 begins simulcasting overnight news bulletins from BBC World.
    • 1 October – Sky Digital launches and BBC News 24 is carried as part of the new service. This is the first time that satellite viewers are able to see a full-time feed of the BBC's rolling news service.
    • 15 November – The public launch of digital terrestrial TV in the UK takes place and BBC News 24 launches on the new service.
  • 1999
    • 25 October – Relaunch of BBC News 24 with a new set design, known as "Cream and red".[2]

2000s

  • 2000
    • 6 April – Click launches as a weekly weekend programme covering the latest developments in the world of technology and the internet.[3]
    • 29 September – The final edition of Breakfast 24 is broadcast ahead of a decision to end separate breakfast programmes for BBC One and News 24.
    • 2 October – The first edition of BBC Breakfast is broadcast, the new morning show on BBC One and News 24 from 6:00am–9:30am. (9:00am on BBC News 24).
  • 2001
    • 11 September – The 9/11 attacks occur in the United States and are broadcast live on television. BBC1 abandons regular programming and switches to BBC News 24. This is the first time that BBC One switches to News 24 for coverage of a breaking news story during daytime hours.
  • 2002
    • No events.
  • 2003
    • 20 March – As the 2003 invasion of Iraq begins BBC News 24 is carried on both BBC One and BBC Two to keep viewers up to date with the latest developments.
    • 8 December – BBC News 24 is relaunched with a new set and titles, as well as a new Breaking News sting. The new look is known as "Clamshell".[4]
  • 2004
    • 1 October – Right-of-reply programme
      Newswatch launches in response to the Hutton Inquiry, as part of an initiative to make BBC News more accountable.[5]
  • 2005
    • No events.
  • 2009
    • No events.

2010s

  • 2010
    • 31 January – The final 03:00 edition of
      BBC World News
      are replaced.
  • 2011
    • No events.
  • 2012
    • 25 October – Following the completion of digital switchover in the UK, the BBC News Channel is available to all UK households for the first time, almost fifteen years after the channel first launched.
  • 2013
    • 18 March – The channel's idents are updated on the same day that BBC News relocates to the refurbished Broadcasting House.[11]
    • March – Business updates are axed as part of the BBC's Delivering Quality First plan.[12]
    • November – The axed business news updates are restored following complaints over their removal.
    • 10 December – BBC News launches a high definition version of the channel.[13]
    • The Papers
      is broadcast for the first time.
  • 2017
    • January – 100 Days, later rebranded to
      Beyond 100 Days
      , launches. Its main focus is on American news and politics and is co-presented from London and Washington.
    • 2 October – The first edition of Afternoon Live is broadcast.[16]
  • 2018
    • No events.
  • 2019
    • 19 February – Virgin Media removes the standard definition versions of the non-flagship BBC television channels, including BBC News.
    • 15 July – A new set of graphics and fonts are launched. They use the BBC Reith typeface which uses larger text, designed to make it easier for Smartphone and Tablet users to read.[17]

2020s

  • 2020
    • 13 March – The final edition of
      BBC News Channel, and also on BBC One
      .
    • 17 March – The final edition of The Victoria Derbyshire Show is broadcast in order to focus on coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] The programme had been due to come off air later in 2020 due to funding cuts.[20][21]
    • The COVID-19 pandemic results in an increase of simulcasts between BBC News and BBC World News with simulcasting now running through the morning (10am to 1pm) and the evening (7pm to 10pm). UK-only rolling news coverage is restricted to the afternoons. Individually-titled programmes are also suspended in favour of the generic BBC News term.
    • August – The additional simulcasts with BBC World News are made permanent. Consequently, the two channels now simulcast between 10am and 12pm each day, as well as from 7pm to 6am on weekdays, with opt-outs for BBC News at Ten and for half an hour at 8:30pm and between 9pm to 6am, apart from the evening BBC One bulletin, during the weekend.[22]
  • 2021
    • 9 April – At just after midday, Buckingham Palace announces the death of Prince Philip and BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Parliament and BBC World News switch over to BBC News to announce the death.[23] The message was likely received during the top-of-the hour headlines, as the wide-shot in the opening featured multiple journalists running across the room.[24]
  • 2022
    • 10 January – A new 60-minute discussion-based programme Context is launched. It broadcasts from Mondays to Thursdays on BBC News and BBC World News and features two guests discussing the day's news.[25]
    • 14 July – The BBC sets out plans for a new global news channel titled BBC News. It will replace its two existing news services for the UK and overseas. It is scheduled to launch in April 2023.[26]
    • October – The Friday teatime Film Review segment ends after many years.[27]
  • 2024
    • During the run-up to the forthcoming general election, the channel will air UK-focussed content between 9am and 6pm. This will only be a temporary return to UK-produced rolling news programming.[37]

See also

References

  1. ^ BBC news - BBC unveils plans for Digital Services
  2. ^ "Relaunch for News 24". BBC News. BBC. 24 October 1999. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  3. ^ Click 1000 - The Future of Television, retrieved 8 July 2019
  4. ^ "BBC News 24 unveils new look". The Guardian. 26 November 2003. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Welcome to NewsWatch". BBC News. 4 November 2004. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  6. ^ BBC News 24 launches the first all user-generated news programme BBC Press Office, 24 November 2006
  7. ^ TV Ark: BBC News 24 2007-2008
  8. ^ "So long STORYFix". The Editors blog. BBC News. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  9. ^ a b "BBC turns the globe red in news revamp". The Guardian. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  10. ^ Gadher, Dipesh (13 April 2008). "BBC rings changes with news revamp". The Times. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  11. ^ Ark” BBC News Channel 2013-2019
  12. ^ "Delivering Quality First" (PDF). BBC. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  13. ^ "BBC to launch five new subscription-free HD channels on Tuesday 10 December". BBC. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  14. ^ Plunkett, John (8 July 2014). "5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire to join BBC News Channel". The Guardian.
  15. ^ Conlan, Tara; Sweney, Mark (4 February 2016). "Newsnight gets a repeat as BBC news channel cuts breaking stories". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  16. ^ "BBC News Channel - Afternoon Live". BBC.
  17. ^ "TV news graphics: a new look". BBC. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  18. ^ BBC News sets out plans to keep audiences receiving trusted and accurate information
  19. ^ BBC News sets out plans to keep audiences receiving trusted and accurate information
  20. ^ "Victoria Derbyshire Show to come off air". BBC News. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  21. ^ "BBC News to close 450 posts as part of £80m savings drive". BBC News. BBC. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  22. ^ "BBC News sets out update on modernisation plans". bbc.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  23. ^ Prince Philip's Death Announcement Switchover on BBC Channels, retrieved 10 July 2021
  24. YouTube
  25. ^ BBC News launches new programme 'Context'
  26. ^ "BBC sets out plans for TV news channel merger in 2023". BBC News. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  27. ^ "BBC boss claims broadcaster isn't trying to take the 'Local' out of BBC Local Radio". 9 November 2022.
  28. ^ "BBC News Update: The Papers". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  29. ^ "BBC unveils presenter line-up for news channel". 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  30. ^ BBC news and BBC World News launch new temporary schedule
  31. ^ "Merged BBC News TV channel begins: What has changed?". Press Gazette. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  32. ^ "Combined BBC News: a bumpy start for new service". RXTV. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  33. ^ "Nicky Campbell's BBC Radio 5 Live show to be simulcast on TV". 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  34. ^ Nicky Campbell TV simulcast to start this month
  35. ^ BBC News channel launches three new programme formats
  36. ^ BBC brings back ex News channel presenters
  37. ^ BBC News Channel UK to return from 9am-6pm for pre-general election coverage