London Terror Incidents

I think all broadcasters should be applauded for the coverage they've been providing. It's hard enough doing it for radio (I know, i've done it myself) but for TV, my hat comes off to all involved.

I notice there's always criticism when ITV News doesn't come on the air earlier, if that's the case then the same should be levelled at Channel 4 which has a wider public service remit.

It is a shame ITV no longer have their news channel, but it was only recently the BBC announced they were proposing to merge the BBC News channel and World News. It would be interesting to see how the BBC would have reacted if the channels had merged. We'll never know of course as those plans have been dropped, but it always poses those questions.

It hasn't been answered.

Tonight's Question Time Speical is making way for a news special.

Tonight's Question Time Leader Special is making way for @BBCNews special. #bbcqt will be rescheduled.

— Jonathan Munro (@jonathancmunro) June 4, 2017

BBC One still making changes this afternoon

(Long image)



Looks like ITV still have Peston for its repeat after the 10pm News. Either heavily edited or extra pieces added maybe?

But I don't think anyone is criticising ITN when this issue arises. I'm certainly not anyway. It's pretty clear the reasons are of cost, and that lands clearly with ITV. And their position last night wasn't helped with the fact - while members of the public were still in danger - they gave way to a paid for gambling advertorial.

The point is, ITV is still a public service broadcaster and should be able to break into programmes with news coverage regardless of the time of day or which part of the country.

The fact that they decided to roll with coverage for last night's attacks but couldn't afford the same for Manchester is something that should be questioned. And sooner rather than later because unfortunately it is highly likely that these attacks will continue for the foreseeable future.

What, so the One Love Manchester concert won't be shown at 18:55?

Being in the building does not equate to being able to put a non stop programme out. Getting everybody briefed, plans made, facilities put in place, reporters finding out enough to actually talk about, and organising with ITV to come on air early all take more than a few seconds from walking into the office.

Furthermore, by immediately jumping into rolling news with no preparation, GMB would be sacrificing their normal time slot to carrying on with more of the same, whereas by staying off air, they can actually get a sensible, researched, informative programme together for their normal hours - as we saw in Manchester.

At 3am it's down to ITN to provide news coverage. If ITV wanted rolling coverage I'm confident that ITN could provide it, with support from the GMB team if required - once they're in a position to offer assistance (which isn't going to be anywhere near 3am).

Jane Hill continuing to present on the BBC News Channel & BBC World News at 15:00, having been on air since 09:00.

That looks wrong, like, incomplete. When I looked earlier they had Escape to the Country looking like it was on for five minutes (clearly incorrect as they simply hadn't got round to re-timing the programmes that followed it). I think the current position is that, following the extended lunchtime news, the schedule is running 25 minutes late. So that the 16.30 bulletin, which was previously scheduled, is now at 16.55. I don't think there will be a news on BBC One at 16.30: I think Jane Hill, at the end of the One O'Clock bulletin, said the next main news was at five to five. Look East (or whatever regional programme) will follow after the 16.55 national news (whether that will be extended I don't know) and Countryfile will either be 25 minutes late (17.20 not 16.55) or later if the news is extended, which will then either go straight to the Manchester Benefit Concert or, if the news at what I think is to be 16.55 is the same length as it was originally planned to be, that may leave time for another news bulletin after Countryfile and before the Concert. The Question Time with the Lib Dems and SNP is undoubtedly postponed. I suspect the election programmes due in the late evening will go too, possibly with BBC One just effectively going to rolling news for the rest of the night (otherwise some new programme(s) until whatever time BBC One decides to hand to the News Channel).

That's what I'm reading into it. Very clear. (Bet it's all changed again on the schedule online during the time I've written all this and is now something completely different to what I've said.)

Yeah, having seen some reporters race on to Facebook Live etc and unwisely use sensationalist language about "unconfirmed reports of two bombs" I'd take a delay in getting on air over just putting anyone on without proper briefing any day of the week.

It's a bit easier to get things off and running if you're doing social media/web updates - you update when you've got something to update with. Depending on where you work you could update from your bed if everyone's really been caught out. With TV you need to keep going even if there's nothing new to say, and you're talking live - it's a tightrope.

I imagine Countryfile will be at 16:55 with the news following at 17:55 as they try and move the news to 18:00 in these situations if at all possible.

Edit: News scheduled at 17:55 for 50 minutes, personally I think that is too long as there simply isn't the content to fill that length of time without a lot of repetitiveness.

I think it's about expectation. Historically ITV has gone to air with breaking news whether in the form of newsflashes or rolling news and although now it is just the three main bulletins a day, plus Good Morning Britain, it is still seen as having a continuing news presence and is still the most widely viewed commercial news organisation and only second behind the BBC in terms of being peoples main source of news.


Channel 4 News has traditionally been more analytical and generally speaking only had a presence at 7pm at night, so the expectation isn't there for them to switch into breaking news mode. My expectation with C4 News would be for them to offer extended analysis tonight and it looks like they're doing that, coming on air at 6pm rather than 6.30pm (though IMO they'd have been better off rescheduling for 7pm).