LL
London Lite
Founding member
Already on connected Red Button, there's a video stream of news stories that are updated throughout the day. I think that's where they want to take the NC.
NG
There is a proposal to reduce the TV spectrum even further. By then we'll probably have migrated entirely to DVB-T2 though - and possibly be doing as the Germans are, and using HEVC/H265 not the current mix of AVC/H264 and MPEG2.
noggin
Founding member
Bear in mind he says 'in the duration of the charter'... So by 2026. Things will be very different then so this probably won't seem like such an odd or revolutionary idea.
By then linear TV will probably be on its last legs, isn't there a switch off/shrinking of DTT planned by then?
By then linear TV will probably be on its last legs, isn't there a switch off/shrinking of DTT planned by then?
There is a proposal to reduce the TV spectrum even further. By then we'll probably have migrated entirely to DVB-T2 though - and possibly be doing as the Germans are, and using HEVC/H265 not the current mix of AVC/H264 and MPEG2.
NY
Those were the words used by the reporter on Breakfast this morning so that's how I read it.
Listened to Jeremy Vine interviewing Tony Hall.
The relevant bit about the News Channel reflected that post-election around 20% of people were getting their main BBC news via mobile/tablet and that this was expected to grow. Consequently, sounds like they're moving more towards different ways of producing videos of news an analysis for mobile use and ( longer term) away from the broadcast channel as usage changes.
In my opinion, it sounds like they're moving towards having a service similar to CBS's CBSN digital news channel
Interesting that some people seem to be reading this as 'move the news channel online'.
Those were the words used by the reporter on Breakfast this morning so that's how I read it.
Listened to Jeremy Vine interviewing Tony Hall.
The relevant bit about the News Channel reflected that post-election around 20% of people were getting their main BBC news via mobile/tablet and that this was expected to grow. Consequently, sounds like they're moving more towards different ways of producing videos of news an analysis for mobile use and ( longer term) away from the broadcast channel as usage changes.
In my opinion, it sounds like they're moving towards having a service similar to CBS's CBSN digital news channel
BR
I don't think they really know what their long term plan is - they've basically been beaten into submission by the Tories and for the first time in living memory the BBC's future is in real doubt. We need a U-turn of refugee proportions for common sense to be prevailed and the BBC be protected for future generations and respected for what it brings to the wider industry. At the moment the government are showing it about as much respect as IS are showing Palmyra.
CW
Charlie Wells
Moderator
Arguably the move away from being a rolling news channel has already begun. Notably with Victoria Derbyshire replacing rolling news between 9:15-11am, and also with the likes of Business Live at 8:30am and Outside Source at 9pm.
Charlie Brooker once did a piece about how a lot of the time rolling news channels are just 'waiting' for news to happen and essentially filling time. (Though not the clip I'm thinking of an example can be seen in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RRmE0_n0K4 .) I'd imagine having more streamed news ala Connected Red Button would reduce the number of live outside broadcasts required during the day. It would presumably also have cost savings as there would be fewer sports updates and weather forecasts required, as well as other behind the camera savings.
I'd imagine that this plan ensure programmes such as Newsnight will remain. It'll also mean / be spun that they'll be able to 'focus' on news bulletins on BBC One & Two during the day.
With more BBC World News programmes appearing in the News Channel's schedules (not counting overnight) I wonder whether eventually some form of the World News will replace the News Channel on TV, with UK headlines during the ad breaks. They could still have a few UK opt-out programmes/bulletins and any major UK news events/coverage. For reference today's World News schedule can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldnews/programmes/schedules/europe?utcoffset=%2B01%3A00.
Charlie Brooker once did a piece about how a lot of the time rolling news channels are just 'waiting' for news to happen and essentially filling time. (Though not the clip I'm thinking of an example can be seen in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RRmE0_n0K4 .) I'd imagine having more streamed news ala Connected Red Button would reduce the number of live outside broadcasts required during the day. It would presumably also have cost savings as there would be fewer sports updates and weather forecasts required, as well as other behind the camera savings.
I'd imagine that this plan ensure programmes such as Newsnight will remain. It'll also mean / be spun that they'll be able to 'focus' on news bulletins on BBC One & Two during the day.
With more BBC World News programmes appearing in the News Channel's schedules (not counting overnight) I wonder whether eventually some form of the World News will replace the News Channel on TV, with UK headlines during the ad breaks. They could still have a few UK opt-out programmes/bulletins and any major UK news events/coverage. For reference today's World News schedule can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldnews/programmes/schedules/europe?utcoffset=%2B01%3A00.
SP
It basically sounds like turning it into something that will look like EuroNews.
And you know what? There is an area where that makes a lot of sense: regional news. It would be a good place to pilot it as something that genuinely adds value.
Take the existing regional shows, clip them up into chunks which represent each story, add some metadata - geotag locations of relevance, categories, importance/newsworthiness in each of the locations. Then create an interface which allows the user to select their location, sports teams of interest, categories which do and don't interest them. An algorithm then produces a playlist of items which interest the individual user from close to the areas the've specified.
The big benefit of this is it deals with the big weakness of regional broadcasting as it stands, that people living on the edge of a region are underserved, because of the nature of the regions. Living in Huddersfield on the edge of Look North's patch, I'm more interested in what's happening in neighbouring Oldham and Rochdale (NWT territory) than Scarborough, Harrogate and York. (Incidentally, I could see this being a particular benefit on the East Coast where the resorts of Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington each get a different version of Look North, despite having much in common with each other)
The other benefit is that people who live in one region but work some distance away could pick both locations - and perhaps get both weather forecasts. And people who follow a football team from outside of their region can get those reports from the relevant region.
As an online service it could be updated through the day, with VT packages going online when they are ready (much as they do on the web and Facebook already), being replaced with the version from the lunchtime or 6.30 bulletin which includes a presenter's cue and any live contributions/studio interviews. So you might get an item introduced by Harry Gration followed by one introduced by Roger Johnson.
And you know what? There is an area where that makes a lot of sense: regional news. It would be a good place to pilot it as something that genuinely adds value.
Take the existing regional shows, clip them up into chunks which represent each story, add some metadata - geotag locations of relevance, categories, importance/newsworthiness in each of the locations. Then create an interface which allows the user to select their location, sports teams of interest, categories which do and don't interest them. An algorithm then produces a playlist of items which interest the individual user from close to the areas the've specified.
The big benefit of this is it deals with the big weakness of regional broadcasting as it stands, that people living on the edge of a region are underserved, because of the nature of the regions. Living in Huddersfield on the edge of Look North's patch, I'm more interested in what's happening in neighbouring Oldham and Rochdale (NWT territory) than Scarborough, Harrogate and York. (Incidentally, I could see this being a particular benefit on the East Coast where the resorts of Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington each get a different version of Look North, despite having much in common with each other)
The other benefit is that people who live in one region but work some distance away could pick both locations - and perhaps get both weather forecasts. And people who follow a football team from outside of their region can get those reports from the relevant region.
As an online service it could be updated through the day, with VT packages going online when they are ready (much as they do on the web and Facebook already), being replaced with the version from the lunchtime or 6.30 bulletin which includes a presenter's cue and any live contributions/studio interviews. So you might get an item introduced by Harry Gration followed by one introduced by Roger Johnson.
SP
Absolute crap! Off to Sky News I go then. Oh wait, I already do in the mornings to get away from Victoria Derbyshire.
CH
I would be surprised if the news channel isn't still around in say 2018 but I'd equally be surprised if it was still here at the end of the next Charter in 2026. Things are changing.
But they're not changing as quickly as I think the BBC are making out. I think 1/5 of people looking at election coverage on their mobiles is relatively quite small - I suspect vastly biggest chunk is still television. There are a number of older license fee payers and license fee payers that still haven't got a decent enough broadband connection to stream video that means there shouldn't be a rush to close the service.
We also have no clue what the landscape will be like in 2026 - I doubt anyone can say they knew in 2006 what it would be like today. I think our biggest concern on this forum were rumours of the dropping of the '24' from the channel's name!
My conclusion - yes things are changing, but please don't rush Tony to keep up with da yoof.
But they're not changing as quickly as I think the BBC are making out. I think 1/5 of people looking at election coverage on their mobiles is relatively quite small - I suspect vastly biggest chunk is still television. There are a number of older license fee payers and license fee payers that still haven't got a decent enough broadband connection to stream video that means there shouldn't be a rush to close the service.
We also have no clue what the landscape will be like in 2026 - I doubt anyone can say they knew in 2006 what it would be like today. I think our biggest concern on this forum were rumours of the dropping of the '24' from the channel's name!
My conclusion - yes things are changing, but please don't rush Tony to keep up with da yoof.
LO
James Harding made clear in an interview with LBC that any move to take the News Channel off conventional TV is still some time away:
https://audioboom.com/boos/3548001-bbc-head-of-news-james-harding-defends-bbc-announcement-on-local-news-and-north-korean-news-service
https://audioboom.com/boos/3548001-bbc-head-of-news-james-harding-defends-bbc-announcement-on-local-news-and-north-korean-news-service
RI
Although I feel that the BBC might come up with a diamond out of **** with a Mobile based service, I have to salute the rest of the post and it's passion about where the BBC is wasting money.
IMHO this is a terrible idea based on faulty reasoning and a poor rational. If the basis is cuts - it isn't really saving money moving the News Channel online, it's just reallocating resources replacing broadcasting costs with online ones. It seems more like the BBC is trying to appear more modern for the sake of appearing more modern but this isn't the way to do it. I'm in their 18-24 demographic any personally hate reading the news on a smartphone because it's tiny and my laptop and TV do a much better job. Trying to watch video on a 4 inch screen is ridiculous. The BBC News Channel is currently watched by 9 million individual viewers a week (a statistic oddly missing here) and by going online they are handing those viewers to Sky. We've already heard tales of civil servants switching the TVs over to Sky News in the mornings because of the out-of-remit Victoria Derbyshire programme. By switching off the channel they are practically giving up and saying Sky can do it better. I don't care if they share more resources with World News but there is plenty of waste at the News department and elsewhere that can be got rid of before they basically destroy the news channel. Sure some might like sports news but Sky Sports News HQ HR HS HO HD does it so much better and do the BBC need that many Sports News presenters. If CBeebies prime time is during the day and CBBC's in the late afternoon and mornings why not merge the two channels. Sure BBC Four has launched many good shows (QI, Charlie Brooker) and had some great imports over the years (Parks and Rec, Curb) but they can fit in BBC Two's evening schedule and BBC Two's endless repeats could make way to accommodate their documentaries. I think the BBC needs to look at cutting services with the least effect on the overall service without becoming some wh*re for the commercial sector. Some plans of these are good - assisting in the maintenance of local news outlets and (for once) expanding the World Service. But I don't see sensible reductions in services (the 3 'extra' radio stations, number of costly programme promos every year, merging smaller local radio stations). If the BBC can get more programming out of women's sports (which are, perhaps a knock back for equality, substantially cheaper) than some of these sports such as F1 which are costing the Beeb a fortune and other broadcasters are happy to show. Or maybe the BBC could, a revolutionary idea I know, grow some balls for change and say no to what are ideologically driven cuts.
Although I feel that the BBC might come up with a diamond out of **** with a Mobile based service, I have to salute the rest of the post and it's passion about where the BBC is wasting money.
DJ
Bad idea when it comes to the older generation. My dad for example, who'll be turning 80 next year, always puts the BBC News Channel on when he switches on the TV when he goes downstairs in the morning. He does have a smartphone (my old Samsung Galaxy Ace 2) but only ever uses it when I mither him about it.
Even when he does use it, the internet features don't get used. So switching the BBC News channel from a linear service to an internet streaming service for mobile devices means people like him would miss out on a lot of the BBC's news output.
Even when he does use it, the internet features don't get used. So switching the BBC News channel from a linear service to an internet streaming service for mobile devices means people like him would miss out on a lot of the BBC's news output.