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GB News

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Hstudent (talk | contribs) at 17:30, 15 June 2021 (→Programming: Czello hasn't provided one valid reason for deleting all my contribution. What objection does he have to saying 336,000 tuned in to watch the launch? The only discussion on Kopparberg so far is in favour of including it, so no reason to remove it without discussing why first.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

GB News
TypeTelevision news channel
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerAll Perspectives Ltd.
Key people
History
Launched13 June 2021 (2021-06-13)[1]
Founder
  • Andrew Cole
  • Mark Schneider
Links
Webcastwww.gbnews.uk/watchlive
Websitewww.gbnews.com Edit this at Wikidata
Availability
Terrestrial
FreeviewChannel 236 (SD)

GB News is a British television news channel that launched on 13 June 2021.[1] It airs on Freeview, Freesat, Sky, YouView and Virgin Media.

The channel does not provide rolling news, but instead is expected to be a mix of news, analysis, opinion, and debate.[2] The first channel set up with an explicit political orientation in the United Kingdom,[3] GB News has been described as right-leaning.[4][5]

Foundation

All Perspectives Ltd was founded as the holding company of GB News in September 2019, and was granted a licence to broadcast by Ofcom in January 2020.[6][7] GB News was founded by Andrew Cole and Mark Schneider, two executives associated with the chairman of Liberty Global, John C. Malone.[7] Its chief executive officer (CEO) was announced as Angelos Frangopoulos, the former CEO of Sky News Australia.[8]

Andrew Neil, GB News chairman and presenter, was the face of the channel in the run-up to its launch

On 25 September 2020, it was announced that Andrew Neil, who had presented live political programmes on the BBC for 25 years,[9] would leave the corporation after leading their coverage of the 2020 United States presidential election. He said that he had been in discussions to continue working on the BBC in a new format after the cancellation of his programme The Andrew Neil Show, but that these talks had "not come to fruition" and he had accepted the post of chairman of a new television news channel.[10] On the same day, he was announced as the presenter of a prime time evening programme on the channel, due to launch early the next year. In a statement, Neil said that the channel would "champion robust, balanced debate and a range of perspectives on the issues that affect everyone in the UK, not just those living in the London area", and GB News was addressing a perceived gap in the market for "the vast number of British people who feel underserved and unheard by their media".[11]

Sir Robbie Gibb was initially editorial adviser, but stood down from the role in October 2020.[12]

In December 2020, Sky News reported that Sir Paul Marshall, a prominent hedge fund manager, was in talks to invest £10 million into GB News.[13] On 6 January 2021, GB News reached its £60 million fundraising aim, which it said was oversubscribed. The majority of the £60 million came from Discovery, the investment firm Legatum,[14] and Marshall, who said he was investing in a personal capacity. GB News said it would recruit 140 staff, including 120 journalists, and would also launch "streaming, video-on-demand and audio services".[14]

The recruitment drive began on 25 January 2021.[15] On 28 January, it was announced that Dan Wootton would leave News UK to join the channel as the host of a daily show, five days a week.[16] On 10 February, Sky News' Colin Brazier was reported to be the host of a news, interview and debate daytime programme.[2] On 18 February, it was announced that Darren McCaffrey would join the channel as political editor and Tom Harwood as a political correspondent.[2] The next day, Michelle Dewberry was named as the host of a five-day-a-week prime time show.[17] On 2 March, Inaya Folarin Iman, a 24-year-old journalist and former Brexit Party candidate,[18] was announced as another five-day-a-week host.[19] Another former Brexit Party candidate, Alexandra Phillips, was hired on 5 March.[20]

On 13 March 2021, it was announced that Liam Halligan would join the channel as economics and business editor.[21] On 18 March, the channel announced that comedian Andrew Doyle would join it to host a weekly current affairs show.[22] On 23 March, it was announced that Euronews' Rosie Wright would join the channel's breakfast presenting team.[23] On 25 March, it was said that BBC News newsreader Simon McCoy would present an afternoon show.[24] On 19 March, it was announced that broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher would join the breakfast team.[25] On 2 April, former ITV News presenter Alastair Stewart was announced as the host of a weekend news and current affairs programme.[26] Also hired were archaeologist Neil Oliver, to host a weekly current affairs and interview programme,[27] and former Labour MP Gloria De Piero, to host an afternoon programme.[28] On 23 April, it was announced that Mercy Muroki will co-host a daytime programme that tackles everyday issues.[29] On 11 June, Isabel Webster joined the channel as the co-host of a weekly news review programme.[30]

Broadcasting

The channel's headquarters are in Paddington, London,[2][31] and contain a number of studios.[32] Neil had stated in January that GB News would be "a fresh approach to news in Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland",[33] indicating that the channel would broadcast outside of the UK;[11] however, later press releases from the network indicated that this would not be the case. Nevertheless, the channel is available on the Astra 2F satellite (freq. 11306 MHz, vertical polarisation)[34] whose UK Beam footprint primarily covers the UK, Ireland, Benelux and Northern France[35] but can be received in most of Europe with an appropriately sized parabolic antenna.[36]

Red Bee Media managed the playout of the channel at launch.[37] The channel will only be available in high-definition (HD) on satellite.[38] GB News is available on Freeview channel 236 and YouView 236,[39] Freesat at channel 216,[40] and Sky and Virgin Media at 515 and 626 respectively.[41]

On 26 May, it was announced that the channel would commence broadcasting at 20:00 on 13 June 2021.[42]

Radio

Following the launch of its television channel, GB News plans to launch a national 24-hour talk radio station, GB News Radio, in July, via the Digital One digital radio multiplex.[43][44]

Programming

The channel plans to air 6,500 hours of "original news, opinion and debate" per year and it has hired 120 journalists.[45][2][11] Neil has said that the channel would not provide rolling news, but would, in similarity with some US networks like MSNBC and Fox News, divide each day into "individual programmes, news-based programmes, built around very strong presenters".[46] He said that it would aim to offer programming that would become "an appointment to view".[47] CEO Angelos Frangopoulos added that it will be a "mix" of news coverage and opinion where it will be taking "a very different view on the regulatory environment" that is controlled by Ofcom.[48]

The channel has been forecast by the Financial Times to be "right-leaning"[49] and by The Guardian and City A.M. to be similar to Fox News.[47][7] BBC Media Editor Amol Rajan said that "it is not the first channel to be set up in Britain with a strong worldview... But GB News is the first to be set up with an explicit political leaning".[16] Rajan has also stated that "the validity of [the Fox News] comparison is limited".[16] GB News has not explicitly indicated a political allegiance, and UK news broadcasters are required by Ofcom to maintain "due impartiality."[50][2]

In a March 2021 episode of BBC Radio 4's The Media Show, Neil stated that his nightly news programme would contain segments such as "Wokewatch" and "Mediawatch".[31][51] In The New York Times, Neil was quoted as saying "In terms of formatting and style, I think MSNBC and Fox are the two templates we're following".[52] It is reported that the channel's breakfast show, The Great British Breakfast will have three co-anchors, in a similar style to Fox News' Fox & Friends.[25]

Free Speech Nation, a current affairs show hosted by Andrew Doyle, will air once a week.[22] Following its launch, the broadcast will be simulcast on GB News' radio station, GB News Radio.[45]

Launch

336,000 viewers tuned in to see the launch of GB News. However, the launch programme, presented by Andrew Neil had technical issues including a microphone being used by Neil Oliver not working, guests Nigel Farage and Sir Alan Sugar being cut off and poor visual quality.[53][54]

Andrew Neil launched the channel by saying "We are proud to be British – the clue is in the name." Yet, Neil's main residence is in France.[55]

Advertising for Swedish brewery Kopparberg appeared on GB News during the first week of programming. On 15 June 2021 Kopparberg announced the advertising ran without their knowledge or consent and they have pulled advertising on the channel and thanked customers for bringing the adverts to their attention saying they are a 'drink for everyone'.[56][57]

On-air staff

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kanter, Jake (26 May 2021). "Discovery-Backed GB News Sets UK Launch Date". Deadline. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Tobitt, Charlotte (11 June 2021). "GB News in-depth briefing: International expansion and DAB radio launch planned". Press Gazette. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  3. ^ Rajan, Amol (28 January 2021). "Dan Wootton leaves News UK for GB News and Mail Online". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2021. GB News has been talked up as Britain's answer to Fox News, but the validity of that comparison is limited. It is not the first channel to be set up in Britain with a strong worldview - RT, formerly known as Russia Today, has done that for years. But GB News is the first to be set up with an explicit political leaning.
  4. ^ Williams, Christopher; Malnick, Edward (12 June 2021). "BBC accused of attempting to shut out GB News at 11th-hour". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 June 2021. The BBC has been accused of an eleventh-hour "ambush" intended to "damage" Sunday's launch of the right-leaning television network GB News.
  5. ^ Butterworth, Benjamin (27 April 2021). "How 'anti-woke' GB News plans to cash in on loyal viewers". I. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  6. ^ Forrest, Adam (31 August 2020). "GB News: Former No 10 official 'leading effort to launch BBC competitor'". The Independent. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Waterson, Jim (29 August 2020). "Rivals plan Fox News-style opinionated TV station in UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  8. ^ Waterson, Jim (25 September 2020). "Andrew Neil launches 24-hour news channel to rival BBC and Sky". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  9. ^ Neil, Andrew [@afneil] (25 September 2020). "I look back on my 25 years doing live political programmes for the BBC with affection" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Andrew Neil to leave the BBC 'with heavy heart'". BBC News. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "Andrew Neil announces 24 hour GB News channel to rival BBC and Sky". ITV News. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Sir Robbie Gibb: Former Downing Street communications director joins BBC Board". BBC News. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  13. ^ Kleinman, Mark (31 December 2020). "City tycoon Marshall tunes into £60m GB News fundraising". Sky News. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  14. ^ a b Kleinman, Mark (6 January 2021). "GB News seals £60m funding ahead of 'boldly different' launch". Sky News. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  15. ^ Tobitt, Charlotte (25 January 2021). "GB News launches recruitment drive for 140 jobs and declares commitment to 'impartial journalism'". Press Gazette. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  16. ^ a b c Rajan, Amol (28 January 2021). "Dan Wootton leaves News UK for GB News and Mail Online". BBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  17. ^ Campbell, James (19 February 2021). "Michelle Dewberry to anchor prime time show on GB News channel". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  18. ^ Iman, Inaya Folarin (14 November 2019). "As a Brexit Party candidate I'm disappointed some are having to stand down". I. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  19. ^ Sherwin, Adam (2 March 2021). "GB News signs 'woke opponent' Inaya Folarin Iman as presenter". I. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  20. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (5 March 2021). "Our journalism team is growing! GB News welcomes Alex Phillips @ThatAlexWoman to our on-air team and @MitchellCMM as an executive producer" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Wilkes, Neil (13 March 2021). "Liam Halligan joins GB News as economics and business editor". Media Mole. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  22. ^ a b GB News [@GBNEWS] (18 March 2021). "Comedian, writer and cultural commentator @andrewdoyle_com is joining GB News" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 March 2021 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (23 March 2021). "Award-winning journalist and broadcaster @rosiewright99 is joining GB News" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 March 2021 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Sherwin, Adam (25 March 2021). "Simon McCoy leaving BBC News to join GB News - taking sarcasm and viral gaffes with him". I. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  25. ^ a b Butterworth, Benjamin (29 March 2021). "GB News hires presenter and model Kirsty Gallacher to front breakfast show". I. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Alastair Stewart joins GB News". The Telegraph. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  27. ^ Hutchison, Caitlin (16 April 2021). "Neil Oliver is latest signing to Andrew Neil's GB News channel". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  28. ^ Schwab Dunn, Billie (19 April 2021). "Ex-Labour politician Gloria De Piero joins GB News alongside Kirsty Gallacher and Andrew Neil". Metro. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  29. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (23 April 2021). "Writer, commentator and social policy researcher @MercyMuroki is joining GB News" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 April 2021 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (11 June 2021). "Isabel Webster joins GB News" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ a b "Andrew Neil: a 50-year media career". BBC Radio 4: The Media Show. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  32. ^ Sherwin, Adam (23 March 2021). "GB News channel targeted by 'elaborate LinkedIn phishing attack' ahead of launch". I. Retrieved 30 March 2021. state-of-the-art studios under development in Paddington
  33. ^ "New TV channel seals funding to challenge British media 'consensus'". Reuters. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Change Log: GB News HD". KingOfSat.net. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  35. ^ "ASTRA 2EFG UK Ku band spotbeam". Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  36. ^ "Astra 2F, UK Beam, Reception Reports". KingOfSat.net. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  37. ^ Miller, Max (16 March 2021). "Red Bee Media to manage GB News playout". Broadcast. Retrieved 30 March 2021. (subscription required)
  38. ^ "GB News information: launch, channel numbers, programmes and more..." RXTV info. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  39. ^ "GB News confirms Freeview channel". RXTV info. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  40. ^ "GB News confirms Freesat channel". GB News. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  41. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (26 May 2021). "We're excited to announce GB News will be available in HD on Sky channel 515 and Virgin Media channel 626" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ "GB News: New TV channel to launch on 13 June". BBC News. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  43. ^ "GB News Radio to launch on Digital One nationwide". Radio Today. 11 June 2021.
  44. ^ Sherwin, Adam (11 June 2021). "GB News to launch national talk radio station in surprise challenge to BBC and LBC". I.
  45. ^ a b Silvera, Ian (13 June 2021). "Can GB News capture the UK's post-Brexit mood?". Future News. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  46. ^ Forrest, Adam (28 September 2020). "GB News: Andrew Neil says new channel will have US-style 'anchors with a bit of edge'". Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  47. ^ a b Wilson, Eliot (2 October 2020). "Andrew Neil's GB News will test whether there is appetite for a Fox News-style news channel in the UK". City AM. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  48. ^ Colson, Thomas. "The man behind Britain's anti-'woke' GB News channel explains how he plans to revolutionize TV news in the UK". Business Insider. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  49. ^ Barker, Alex (25 September 2020). "Andrew Neil to lead new right-leaning UK TV news channel". Financial Times. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  50. ^ "Section five: Due impartiality and due accuracy". Ofcom. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  51. ^ Elmes, John (11 March 2021). "Andrew Neil unwraps GB News flagship format". Broadcast. Retrieved 14 March 2021. (subscription required)
  52. ^ Smith, Ben (14 March 2021). "Piers Morgan Can't Wait to Bring the Worst of America Home". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  53. ^ https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/gb-news-andrew-neil-launch-dan-wooten-b940381.html
  54. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jun/14/gb-news-launch-gains-more-viewers-than-bbc-or-sky-news-channels
  55. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jun/14/gb-news-launch-gains-more-viewers-than-bbc-or-sky-news-channels
  56. ^ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/kopparberg-suspends-ads-gb-news-b1866174.html
  57. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57483907
  58. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (24 May 2021). "Our new East of England reporter is @AmeliaHarperTV, joining us from LBC's East newsroom. Amelia has a first class BSc and an MA in journalism but says it's her dyslexia that helps her see the bigger perspective on stories, which is exactly what she'll be bringing to GB News" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  59. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (14 May 2021). "Announcing the latest recruit to our Yorkshire team, journalist @kevin_larkin" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  60. ^ GB News [@GBNEWS] (15 April 2021). "We're thrilled to announce the first of our regional reporting team. @RJSweeneyITV from County Durham has spent 13 years as a journalist for ITV Tyne Tees. She's brought GMB viewers their North East headlines for nine years and knows her patch inside out. Welcome, Rachel!" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 April 2021 – via Twitter.

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