BBC News (international TV channel)
- For the BBC radio network, see BBC World Service.
| Country | United Kingdom (for external consumption only) |
|---|---|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC |
BBC World is the BBC's most watched channel. Launched in 1991 as BBC World Service Television it is a 24-hour international news and information television channel. Programming includes BBC News bulletins, documentaries, lifestyle programmes and interviews. Its main global competitor is CNN International, though it also competes with other major news broadcasting companies.
The channel is transmitted by Red Bee Media from their network centre at the Broadcast Centre, part of the BBC Media Village in White City, west London. All news output originates from the nearby Television Centre where BBC World has a newsroom and studio separate from the rest of BBC News. This newsroom provides output from 0500-0030 British Time each weekday and from 0600-0030 each weekend. The news output from 0100-0500 is from the studio of the domestic channel BBC News 24
Although the BBC World News studio produces output in 16:9 SDTV in line with the rest of BBC News, the channel is transmitted in 4:3. The news output is converted into a 14:9 frame for both digital and analogue broadcasting, resulting in black bands at the top and bottom of the screen.
History
channel originally launched as BBC World Service Television, though unlike BBC World Service radio which has always been government funded, the British government refused to extend the Foreign Office grant-in-aid.
BBC World itself launched in 1995 with the split of BBC World Service Television into two stations: BBC Prime - an encrypted entertainment channel requiring subscription, and the free to air BBC World.
Throughout the past eleven years, the service has gone through several branding changes. From 1995 to 1997, the channel used few graphics to display the name of the channel, with the actual news studio modelled on that used for BBC News in the United Kingdom.
As part of the major relaunch of the image of the BBC including a new logo for the corporation in 1997, the channel received its first main refresh. Various fictional flags with some real were used. The idents were computer generated and developed by the Lambie-Nairn design agency.
The largest relaunch for BBC News came in 1999 with all output, both in the UK and for BBC World globally having a uniform look made up of red and cream. Music based on a style described as 'drums and beeps' was introduced, composed by David Lowe, a departure from the general orchestral versions of other news programmes.
In 2003 and 2004 a second makeover, using the same 'drums and beeps' style music but new graphics took place, although on a much smaller scale to that of 1999. The music was changed slightly while the main colour scheme became black and red, with studios using a frosted glass, white and red design for colourings. Later in 2004 the channel's slogan became Putting News First, replacing Demand a Broader View.
Distribution
BBC World is most commonly watched as a FTA Channel. The channel is available free-to-air in Italy via digital terrestrial television, and in all parts of Europe and many parts of the world FTA via satellite. (It was also available via terrestrial FTA in Berlin from c. 2000 to March 2007). Although not officially available in the UK it is available to people who point their satellite dishes at the Hotbird satellites. In most of the world, it is carried on nearly all satellite and cable platforms.
It is also available globally online through the website of Dong-a Ilbo, a Korean newspaper[1] and RealPlayer Plus. In Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates it is additionally available as a subscription mobile phone service, having also been available as a terrestrial channel.
A daily version of its news bulletins are also rebroadcast on many FTA terrestrial channels like in New Zealand, where it is carried overnight on TV One, and in Trinidad and Tobago where it is carried overnight on TV6.
In Europe, analogue satellite broadcasting via Hot Bird 6 ceased on 18 April 2006 at midday, although its digital free-to-air signal is replicated on Hot Bird 6, Hot Bird 7A, Thor 2 and on Astra 1KR.
It is also available 24/7 in Australia on Foxtel, Austar and Optus TV as well as the 3 mobile phone network. In New Zealand, it is also broadcast via satellite on SKY Network Television and via cable on TelstraClear.
In Asia, it was originally carried on Star TV, the pan-Asian satellite television service based in Hong Kong, which was later acquired by Rupert Murdoch, but switched to Panamsat in 1996. It is also available on Astro in Malaysia. In India it was FTA till 15 June 2006 but is now a pay channel.
BBC World has been available in Africa on DStv since late 1995, and its bulletins have also been rebroadcast on SABC's terrestrial channels in South Africa. In 1996, it became available in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In Canada, the channel is available on Bell ExpressVu and StarChoice satellite services, as well as on most digital cable services. Shaw Cable and Rogers Cable carry the channel as part of their analogue basic cable packages.[2] Most of the US can receive both satellite signals. The signal is encrypted, and will not work on a legal Free To Air receiver. It is, however, FTA on Galaxy 13 C-Band at 127 W.
BBC World programming in the United Kingdom
It is not officially available as a stand-alone, full-time channel in the United Kingdom, on the grounds that it carries and is funded by advertising (BBC's domestic channels are funded by a television licence fee which households and establishments with equipment capable of receiving television broadcast signals must pay), although it can be easily received due to its free-to-air status on many European satellites.
However there is a simulcast of "The World Today from BBC News" on BBC One and BBC News 24. It carries a twenty-five minute news bulletin, followed by an edition of World Business Report. Both half hours of "The World Today" include a quick UK news (approximately at 0515 UK time) and business (approximately at 0545 UK time) update while international viewers take a commercial break.
On weekdays BBC World also produces a version of World News Today at 1900 British Time. The first half hour of this programme can be seen in the UK on BBC Four.
A special unique edition of BBC World News was a regular feature six days a week at 0930 on BBC News 24 but following changes to the domestic channel's schedule, this edition is now seen only on Sundays at the same time.
Programming
Live News Programmes:
- BBC News For most of the day the channel produces 26 minute bulletins of international news beginning at the top of each hour. Each contain two breaks which are either filled by advertising or by continuing news depending on the region. The programmes at 2300 and 0000 UK time are presented from Washington and London and are rebroadcast via PBS stations in the USA. The 2300 UK time edition is also broadcast on BBC America and CBC Newsworld in Canada. Weekday presenters of BBC World News include Martine Dennis, David Eades, Nisha Pillai, Nik Gowing, Jonathan Charles, Mike Embley, Katty Kay, Lyse Doucet and Mishal Hussain. Each day during the overnight hours in the UK (0100-0500 local time), twenty-five minute news bulletins from the top of each hour on the channel are produced by and simulcast on BBC News 24, when they are simply identified as "BBC News" with no reference to any channel. During these overnight hours, the bulletins are usually presented from their studio (although the 'World' studio is sometimes utilised) with a static BBC World logo overlaying the 'News 24' logo and timepiece. The overnight bulletins are usually presented by Alastair Yates, Martine Croxall and Karin Giannone.
- The World Today Transmitted at 0500 UK time, an hour of News, Business and sport, which is also transmitted on the main domestic BBC network BBC One via a simulcast with BBC
News 24. The bulletin is hosted by Lucy Hockings and Sally Bundock.
- World News Today Transmitted at 1200 and 1900 UK time. Launched in July 2006, to coincide with the launch of BBC World as an independent channel in the United States, the 1200 UK time (0700 ET) edition was launched to appeal to the breakfast audience in the country and is presented by George Alagiah. The 1900 edition is aimed at European audiences and launched in May 2007. It replaced the 2100 edition which was launched on 18 September 2006. This edition is presented by Zeinab Badawi. The first half hour is broadcast on
the BBC's domestic channel BBC Four. Both programmes include an edition of World Business Report. There are additional editions of World News Today planned for 1600 GMT and for 0300 UK Time.
Business Programmes
- World Business Report International Business news. Live editions throughout the day between 0500 and 2300 UK Time. The 2230 edition is presented from London and New York. This edition is repeated several times between 2330 and 0500 UK time and can also be seen in the UK via BBC News 24.
- Asia Business Report Broadcast live from Singapore and only seen on the Asia feeds of BBC World.
- Middle East Business Report is pre recorded and broadcast at the weekend.
Other live programmes
- Asia Today - Asia-specific news broadcast from the main World Newsroom.. Transmitted live 3 times each day. The last edition is repeated at various times on the Asia feeds.
- Sport Today – International Sport news. Transmitted five times each day with one repeat.
Pre recorded programmes include:
- HARDtalk - individual interviews
- Click - technology
- Fast Track - travel
- Talking Movies - films (mainly from Hollywood)
- This Week - analysis of news from the past week
In addition, a special half hour version of the popular BBC Two programme Top Gear airs on weekends, and other BBC documentaries such as Holidays in the Danger Zone air from time to time.
In India, many programmes tailor-made for a local audience are shown , including Question Time India, quiz show University Challenge India, India Business Report, IT India Tomorrow, Face to Face and motor show Wheels.
Cancelled programmes
- The World was transmitted at 20:00 UK time. The programme ran from January 2004 until May 2007. It was a 27 minute programme with much deeper analysis of the days news, presented by Zeinab Badawi. This programme was also broadcast in the UK on the digital channel BBC Four. It was replaced in May 2007 by a version of World News Today.
Reputation and Criticisms
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The BBC has a reputation amongst many for independent and accurate reporting of news and current affairs[3] .[citation needed] However, being one of the newest of the BBC's media entities, BBC World is funded in part by commercial sponsors which has raised questions about its ability to report impartially.[citation needed]
Though generally considered quite accurate,[citation needed] BBC World has occasionally made mistakes, as in the incident where on the twentieth anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, 3 December 2004, BBC World was duped into broadcasting an interview with a hoaxer (later revealed to have been Andy Bichlbaum, a member of The Yes Men) claiming to be a representative of Dow Chemical offering a US$12,000,000,000 settlement to the 120,000 surviving victims of the Bhopal disaster.[4] Upon discovery of the hoax, the BBC's Press Office immediately put out a statement regarding what had happened and the story was dropped from subsequent BBC World News bulletins and those on the 24 hour UK news channel BBC News 24.[5]
Censorships
BBC News has been banned in several countries primarily for unbiased reporting which has been unfavourable to the ruling government. Most notable examples have been in Uzbekistan,[6] Zimbabwe, and, China,[7]
Variation
"BBC World" is, for the most part, the same channel all over the world — except for the commercials. However, there are some regional programming variations. For example, a number of programmes are made exclusively for regional viewings, such as Indian feeds, and The Record Europe, which can only be viewed in Europe. In addition, the Asia Business Report from Singapore is only aired in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. The rest of the world sees the World Business Report (World Business Report is showed in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East, but are on different times depands on country.)
On most feeds of BBC World, commercials are inserted by the cable or satellite provider similar to other channels. When a cable or satellite provider does not insert commercials, the "Breakfiller" (see right) shows promotions for upcoming programmes on the channel. During BBC News, a news story that has not been promoted airs during what would be the commercial break. This is the case on the broadband versions of BBC World, and on versions of BBC World aired in the United States on PBS. However, there are some global commercials and sponsorships which air throughout the network.
BBC World News
Half-hour BBC World News bulletins are made available to PBS stations in the United States through WLIW in New York. 80 to 90% of Americans are able to receive them, though broadcast times vary between different localities, with it airing on several PBS stations in markets such as New York City and Washington, DC.
On PBS stations, BBC World News does not appear with commercials (the breaks are replaced with news stories) but omits the Met Office international weather forecast at the end, replacing it with underwriting announcements. The PBS airings are tape-delayed on some stations.
BBC World News bulletins are also available on BBC America in the U.S. The network airs three bulletins on weekday mornings (as part of a 3-hour block of BBC World coverage), plus one in the evening. One bulletin airs daily on the weekends (in the morning). Met Office forecasts are removed, but commercials are included.
The bulletins also appear on CBC Newsworld in Canada, and Access 31 in Perth, Australia.
A half hour summary of the BBC World News was available on BBC News 24 every weekday and Sunday morning at 0930GMT/BST, but as a result of changes in the channel's schedule, this was discontinued, with the exception of updates on Sundays. British viewers can still get a flavour of BBC World, however, as the two channels simulcast the first twenty-five minutes of each hour between 0100GMT/BST and 0500GMT/BST every day. This simulcast also includes a further full hour of programming from 0500GMT/BST branded The World Today from BBC News until 0600 GMT/BST when both channels move back onto their own separate schedules. During The World Today, while BBC World goes to break, BBC One and News 24 viewers are given UK news as BBC's domestic channels do not allow commercials.
Travellers on the Heathrow Express rail service from London Paddington to London Heathrow Airport are also treated to a specially-recorded BBC World bulletin - introduced with a namecheck of "Welcome to BBC World News onboard the Heathrow Express" - during the fifteen minute journey. This short bulletin is updated twice a day, and is shown in both classes on LCD televisions throughout the train.
Many airlines from across the world also play pre-recorded extracts of the BBC World News, have text headlines from it or have a full bulletin available on the in-flight entertainment systems. Airlines with BBC World include Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Travellers can watch the bulletins on Channel 1 shortly after take-off on British Airways flights from the United Kingdom.
Present
The hourly countdown
Since its inception, and more so since its extensive association with BBC News 24, the countdown to the hourly news bulletin has been an attractive feature of the channel. With music composed by David Lowe, it has changed several times over the decade.
A 'ribbon-around-the-world' countdown was used starting in February 2003, when a large scale rebranding was brought out on both BBC World and BBC News 24. However, the countdowns in the latter featured some stunning visuals of the world and the UK in the background as the countdown proceeded, while the former merely had the usual 'world-spinning' image.
A new international version of the BBC News 24 countdown was introduced on 5 September 2005, using many clips featuring in the News 24 countdown. Content featured includes reporters and technical staff working in the field while unlike that of News 24, the countdown will end in an international location rather than a view of Television Centre. A week prior to the change, the channel's well established break-filler also switched to a new musical arrangement, without a change in its visuals.
The countdown received a new musical composition on 22 January 2007 as part of a wider refresh of BBC News bulletin titles though the visuals remained the same. Listen
References
- ^ Online broadcast of BBC World - Dong-a Ilbo
- ^ http://www.rogers.com/channelchange
- ^ Reputation of the BBC - tpr.org
- ^ BBC Press Office release regarding the hoax - BBC Press Office
- ^ Bhopal blunder hurts BBC - The Age
- ^ Uzbeks banish BBC after massacre reports - Monica Whitlock, BBC News
- ^ BBC banned in China - asiamedia.ucla.edu
See also
- BBC News 24
- International broadcasting
- Al Jazeera English
- CCTV-9
- CNN International
- Deutsche Welle
- EuroNews
- France 24
- Russia Today
External links
| UK channels | |
|---|---|
| UK nations and regions | |
| Services and programming blocks | |
| UKTV channels | |
| International channels and joint ventures | |
| Defunct channels | |
