BBC News Channel & World News to merge?

Agree with this



Don't agree with this bit, We pay for the news channel and therefore the UK should take priority and I don't want the news channel becoming contaminated by 90% world news which is irrelevant to UK viewers. World should get the opt out from a UK based & paid for channel.



I wouldn't want to see rolling news die, Twitter might be good for some people but there is also a lot of misinformation posted on it, I wouldn't trust it until I saw it reported by a proper news organisation preferably on the TV news channels. Also a live picture can tell a thousand words of a developing story.

Lets see if you still feel like that when a major news story is happening and you have to wait for information from a trusted source whilst they try and get 1 of the few journalists they have left to verify it meanwhile twitter and other social media is speculating all sorts.

In my personal opinion any merger should prioritise towards the paying UK audience first but be available to an International audience. Just like Sky News do...but without Kay Burley.

The schedule will need looking at but this can still work...

Do we know how much BBC World News brings in from sponsorship/advertising/carriage etc. As compared to the amount the License Fee brings in to BBC News as a whole.

The only people who perceive the BBC World Service as a Foreign & Commonwealth propaganda exercise tend to be those who have issues with free speech etc.

Do you actually listen to the World Service? If you did you'd realise how ridiculous that statement was.

To be fair I read Stuart's point to be reflecting the (dubious) perception of others rather than stating his own view.

Accoriding to their latest accounts, BBC Global News Ltd lost £19.63 in FY14-15.

On page 1, it states "(t)he principal activity of the Company is the commissioning of the channel BBC World News and related airtime sales".

BBC Global News Ltd's parent company is continuing to take commercial loans out from BBC Commercial Holdings Limited. Its balance sheet is awful. On page 2, you'll note that the parent company "will provide...a specified level of financial support, including not requiring repayment of monies owed to BBC GNHL."

So, it's not looking good. I'm surprised that they can't make any money at all from the venture after 25 years in operation.

It is a pity if it dies. I like BBC World News and have finally managed to figure out a way to stream it to my TV.

Is it a method you are to share safely and legally?

I would be able to, Neil!

Thanks

Since this first came out, I've been having flashback of post-election 1992, and 1993 regarding the BBC being under attack like this.

The Tories have had it in for the BBC since Margaret Thatcher got her clock cleaned on Nationwide by a member of the public. They'd love nothing more than to eliminate it from existence.

Fair enough, but as I stated frankly the only people who do hold that view tend to be those who are afraid of the truth and don't want it told.

As someone who has listened to the BBC World Service for over 25 years, it is unparalleled and long may it continue.

BBC World Service in English is unparalleled. The other languauge services, not so much, they have often been used as a means of broadcasting Foriegn Office propaganda, in a form that people in those countries would understand.

This compares rather differently to Voice Of America which is US Goverment propaganda, no matter the language.