BBC Washington Studios

I think that the BBC should make more use of their studios in Washington by having a special programme by BBC World News on BBC ONE, News 24 and World on US news from the week. It could be presented by either of the Washington correspondents or by Bill Turnbull or Gavin Esler.

I think it would be really good - they could have a variation of the World News titles or something.

I agree

The Washington studio is being wasted, If you look back to the American Elections you could see the full scale of the studio, they got five people round that desk and they still had room for their elbows something that any other news studio lacks. Its a great studio so there should be some decent programes based from it.

I agree wholeheartedly!

Yep - would be good - surely could have Stephen Sackur presenting in Washington. He's a brilliant correspondent and well respected within the BBC main news teams - thought the piece on the Ten tonight with the Bush interview was really good.

Yes - the BBC has two Washington studios. A single (though it can have two) camera DTL studio mainly used for News 24 and World interviews, and the larger studio used for bigger programmes based in Washington.

I am not sure if the larger studio is fully equipped for such programmes permanently though, I believe it may only have one or two cameras as standard, with further equipment being hired as needed. It would thus actually cost quite a lot to broadcast a Dateline London type show from it on a regular basis, not to mention the amount it would cost to produce such a show, with a Washington based production team being required.

Those with long memories may remember that when USA Direct first launched on World and News 24 it was presented from both Washington and New York on different days, with Bill Turnbull (now 1300-1600 News 24 presenter) and Stephen Sackur often presenting live from Washington.

I did see Sacker's interview on World this evening, I thought it was good too.

But does anyone else think he's slightly biased? I think he really leans to the left and it sometimes gets on my nerves sometimes I dunno

Sky were left with quoting the Times interview. Did the Sackur interview discuss the IRA