BBC News (TV channel)
4621
225603888
2008-07-14T14:46:07Z
84.12.158.106
/* History */ It was known as "BBC News 24" in 1997, therefore should be described as such here.
{{Infobox TV channel
| name = BBC News Channel
| logofile = BBCNewsTVChannel.png
| logosize = 250px
| logoalt = BBC News
| launch = [[9 November]], [[1997]]
| share = 0.9%<br>
| share as of = April 2008
| share source =<ref>http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/monthreports.cfm?report=monthgmulti&requesttimeout=500</ref>
| owner = [[BBC]]
| sister names = [[BBC Parliament]];<br>[[BBC World News]]
| former names = BBC News 24
| web = [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news BBC News]
| terr serv 1 = [[Analog television|Analogue]]
| terr chan 1 = Overnight on<br>[[BBC One]] or [[BBC Two]]
| terr serv 2 = [[Freeview (United Kingdom)|Freeview]]
| terr chan 2 = Channel 80
| sat serv 1 = [[Freesat]]
| sat chan 1 = Channel 200
| sat serv 2 = [[Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)|Sky Digital]]
| sat chan 2 = Channel 503
| sat serv 3 = [[Astra 2A]]
| sat chan 3 = 11954 H / 27500 / 2/3
| cable serv 1 = [[Virgin Media]]
| cable chan 1 = Channel 601
| cable serv 2 = [[UPC Ireland]]
| cable chan 2 = Channel 201
| adsl serv 1 = [[Tiscali TV]]
| adsl chan 1 = Channel 501
| online serv 1 = [[BBC News Online]]
| online chan 1 = [http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7350000/newsid_7352600?redirect=7352691.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&asb=1 Watch online] (UK only)
| slogan = ''"Britain's most watched news channel"'' <br /> ''"Whenever you need to know"''
}}
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'''BBC News''' is the [[BBC]]'s 24 hour rolling news television channel in the [[United Kingdom]]. The channel launched as '''BBC News 24''' on 9 November 1997 at 17:30 as part of the BBC's foray into digital domestic television channels, becoming the first competitor to [[Sky News]] which had been running since 1989.<ref name = "kcvcng">[http://www.tvhome.co.uk/bbcnews24/about.phtml About BBC News 24] TV Home</ref> Since then, with several relaunches, an increase in funding and resources from the BBC and improvements in digital television technology, the channel has been able to diversify content, with two minute looped bulletins available to view via [[BBCi]], [[BBC News Online]] and the BBC's mobile website, alongside individual weather and sport bulletins. In May 2007 the channel became available for UK viewers to view through the BBC News website through a live [[Streaming media|stream]]. In April 2008 "BBC News 24" became "BBC News" as part of a £550,000 rebranding of the BBC's news output. The rebrand included new idents and a new studio/set. [[BBC World]] also had its name changed to "[[BBC World News]]".
As a major part of the [[BBC News]] department, the channel is based at and broadcast from the News Centre within [[BBC Television Centre]] in West [[London]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/aboutbbcnews/spl/hi/history/noflash/html/1990s.stm About BBC News] 1997: News on the move</ref> The channel was named [[Royal Television Society|RTS]] ''News Channel of the Year'' in 2006, a first for the channel after five years.
==History==
BBC News 24 was originally available only to analogue [[cable television]] subscribers. To this day it and [[BBC Parliament]] remain the only BBC "digital" channels which are made available to analogue cable subscribers. This coverage was improved in 1998 with the advent of [[digital television]] in the United Kingdom allowing [[satellite]] and [[digital terrestrial television]] viewers to also view the service. Initially it was difficult to obtain a digital satellite or terrestrial receiver without a subscription to Sky or [[ONdigital]] respectively, but now the channel forms an important part of the [[Freeview (United Kingdom)|Freeview]] package of channels.<ref>[http://www.freeview.co.uk/channels/news/news24 Freeview - Our Channels - BBC News 24] Freeview</ref>
The BBC had run the international news channel [[BBC World]] for two and a half years prior to the launch of BBC News 24 on [[9 November]] [[1997]]. [[Sky News]] had had a free hand with domestic news for over eight years (since [[5 February]] [[1989]]) and being owned by [[News International]] their papers were used to criticise the BBC for extending its news output.<ref>[http://www.chauy.com/2006/07/the-sky-news-blog-%E2%80%93-a-new-angle-in-the-news/ The Sky News Blog-A New Angle In The News?] Tips 'N' Tutorials</ref>
[[Sky News]] objected to the breaking of its monopoly, complaining about the costs associated with running a channel that only a minority could view from the [[Television licence|licence fee]]. Sky News claimed that a number of British cable operators had been incentivised to carry News 24 (which, as a licence-fee funded channel was made available to such operators for free) in preference to the commercial Sky News. However, in September 1999 the [[European Commission]] ruled against a complaint made by Sky News that the publicly funded channel was unfair and illegal under [[European Union|EU]] law. The Commission ruled that the [[Television licence|licence fee]] should be considered state aid but that such aid was justified due to the public service remit of the BBC and that it did not exceed actual costs.<ref>[http://www.reckon.co.uk/open/BBC_News_24 BBC News 24 (State aid)] Reckon Regulation & Competition Economics LLP</ref>
News 24 was one of the first BBC channels to make extensive use of new computerised broadcast technology, which was responsible for a considerable number of on-air gaffes and presentation errors in its early years.
The channel's journalistic output has been overseen by Controller of the channel, [[Kevin Bakhurst]], since [[16 December]] [[2005]]. This was a return to having a dedicated Controller for the channel in the same way as the rest of the BBC's domestic television channels. At launch, Tim Orchard was Controller of News 24 from 1997 until 2000. Editorial decisions were then overseen by Rachel Atwell in her capacity as Deputy Head of television news. Her deputy Mark Popescu became responsible for editorial content in 2004, a role he continued in until the appointment of Bakhurst as Controller in 2005.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4417472.stm BBC to revamp TV news operation] - BBC News Online, [[8 November]] [[2005]]</ref>
A further announcement by Head of television news [[Peter Horrocks]] came at the same time as Bakhurst's appointment in which he outlined his plan to provide more funding and resources for the channel and shift the corporation's emphasis regarding news away from the traditional BBC One bulletins and across to the rolling news channel. The introduction of simulcasts of the main bulletins on the channel was to allow the news bulletins to pool resources rather than work against each other at key times in the face of competition particularly from Sky News.<ref>[http://www.tvnewsroom.co.uk/newsdesk/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1131460853&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5& BBC announces changes to Television News] TV Newsroom, [[8 November]] [[2005]]</ref>
The [[Board of Governors of the BBC|BBC Governors]]' [http://www.bbc.co.uk/annualreport/ annual report] for 2005/2006 reported that average audience figures for fifteen minute periods had reached 8.6% in multichannel homes, up from 7.8% in 2004/2005.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review-report-research/bbcannualreport.pdf BBC Governor's Annual Report 2005/2006] Page 47</ref> The 2004 report claimed that the channel outperformed Sky News in both weekly and monthly reach in multichannel homes for the January 2004 period, and for the first time in two years moved ahead of Sky News in being perceived as the channel best for news.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds15400.html BBC News 24 edging ahead of Sky News]Neil Wilkes; Digital Spy, [[19 August]] [[2004]]</ref>
On [[22 February]] [[2006]], the channel was named ''News Channel of the Year'' at the Royal Television Society Television Journalism Awards for the first time in its history.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds29532.html BBC winners at TV journalism awards] Dave West; Digital Spy, [[23 February]] [[2006]]</ref> The judges remarked that this was the year that the channel had "really come into its own."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4740000/newsid_4742600/4742620.stm News 24 wins news channel of the year] Newswatch - BBC News Online, 23 February 2006</ref>
===2008 Rebranding===
On [[21 April]] [[2008]] BBC News 24 was renamed ''BBC News'' on the channel itself - but is referred to as the ''BBC News Channel '' on other BBC services.<ref>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3735982.ece] BBC News 24 to be renamed</ref> This is part of the creative futures plan, launched in 2006, to bring all BBC News output under the single brand name.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jun/12/digitalmedia.marketingandpr] Creative Futures Plan</ref>
News 24 moved from the Studio N8 set (now home to BBC World News) to what was the home of the national news in Studio N6, allowing the news channel to share its set with the ''[[BBC News at One]]'' and the ''[[BBC News at Ten]]'' - with other bulletins moving to studio TC7.<ref>[http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/idents/news24c.htm 2008 Changes]</ref>
==Programming==
===News===
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Each hour consists of headlines on each quarter hour, extended at the top of the hour to form the main part of the daily schedule though these are interspaced with other programmes, generally at weekends. This will be often be displaced by rolling news coverage including reports and live interviews. Weather summaries are provided every half hour by forecasters from the [[BBC Weather]] Centre while business and sport updates are also presented generally from within the main studio.
====Breaking news====
The BBC maintains guidelines for procedures to be taken for breaking news.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/impartiality_business/f2_news_submission.txt | title=Editoral processes - How BBC News works | publisher=[[BBC Trust]] | date=2007-01-22 | accessdate=2007-06-19 }}</ref> With domestic news, the correspondent first records a "generic minute" summary (for use by all stations and channels) and then priority is to report on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]], then on the BBC News Channel and any other programmes that are on air. For foreign news, first a "generic minute" is recorded, then reports are to [[BBC World Service|World Service]] radio, then the reporter talks to any other programmes that are on air.
A key claim made by Lord Lambert in his report had been that the channel was slower to react to breaking news compared with its main rival Sky News.<ref>[http://www.tvhome.co.uk/bbcnews24/about.phtml Getting creative breakthrough...-About BBC News] TV Home</ref> To counteract this, a new feature introduced with the 2003 relaunch was a 'breaking news sting': a globe shown briefly onscreen to direct a viewer's attention to the breaking news.
The graphics relaunch in January 2007 has since seen the globe sting replaced by a red strapline to highlight the breaking story immediately.
To complement this, a permanent live news ticker had earlier been introduced in 2006: this had only previously been in use sporadically. News statements are shown as continuously-scrolling upper-case text located at the bottom of the screen; some past ambiguities noted have included spelling the plural of [[Member of Parliament|MP]]s as "MPS", together with other occasional spelling and grammatical errors. The design of this ticker was slightly altered with the 2007 graphics redesign and from June turned red to indicate breaking news, as ''[[Newswatch (BBC)|Newswatch]]'' reported viewers' confusion.
====Overnight and special simulcasts====
The BBC began [[simulcast]]ing the channel overnight on [[Terrestrial television|terrestrial]] channels [[BBC One]] with the launch of the channel, ending the tradition of a closedown but at the same time effectively making the service available to many more viewers. In the early 2000s, [[BBC Two]] also started simulcasting the channel, although the weekend morning show ''Weekend 24'' had been simulcast on the channel in the early days. During major breaking news events, the BBC News Channel has been broadcast on BBC One; examples of special broadcasts include the [[September 11th attacks]], [[7 July 2005 London bombings]] and [[Operation Red Dawn|the capture of Saddam Hussein]].<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds23123.html News 24 claims July victory] Neil Wilkes; Digital Spy, 1 August 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.tvnewsroom.co.uk/newsdesk/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1124647138&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5& News 24 top for rolling news] TV Newsroom, 21 August 2005</ref> Coverage of major events has also been simulcast on BBC World.
====Simulcast BBC One programmes====
Since the launch of [[BBC Breakfast|''Breakfast'']] in 2000, the programme has been simulcast on both BBC One and BBC News, replacing the individual breakfast news programmes that had been run by both channels. Since May 2006, the simulcast begins with the programme at 06:00 until 08:30 when programming on BBC News begins. ''Breakfast'' on BBC One then generally continues until 09:15.
The ''[[BBC News at Ten]]'' began simulcasting on the channel on [[30 January]] [[2006]] as part of the ''Ten O'Clock Newshour'', followed by extended sport and business news updates. The bulletin was joined in being simulcast on [[10 April]] [[2006]] when the ''[[BBC News at One]]'' (with [[British Sign Language]] in-vision signing) and ''[[BBC News at Six]]'' bulletins were added to the schedule following a similar format to the ''News at Ten'' in terms of content on the channel once each simulcast ends.
During the Summer, the hour long programme ''News 24 Sunday'' is broadcast both on [[BBC One]] and the BBC News Channel at 9:00, to replace ''[[The Andrew Marr Show]]'', which is off air. It is presented by [[Peter Sissons]], and comes from the main News channel studio. The programme is made up mostly of interviews focusing on current affairs, and includes a full paper review, a weather summary, and a news update at 9:00, 9:30 and 10:00.
====Exclusive programmes====
[[Image:BBC News 24 set.jpg|thumb|right|Part of the previous BBC News set.]]
Other programming produced solely by the BBC News channel includes the ''[[BBC News at Five O'Clock|BBC News at Five O'Clock ]]'' with Huw Edwards (including ''Film 24'' with [[Mark Kermode]] at 17:45 on Fridays), ''E24'' (at 18:30 and 21:30, with [[Tasmin Lucia Khan]]), ''[[Sportsday]]'' (at 18:45, except on Friday and Saturdays when it is from 18:30, plus 22:30 every weekday) and ''[[Newswatch (BBC)|Newswatch]]'' (Friday 20:45, Saturday 07:45).
Programmes including ''[[Click (TV series)|Click]]'', ''[[Dateline London]]'', ''[[HARDtalk]]'', ''Our World'', ''E24'', ''The Record Europe'', ''[[Reporters]]'', ''Straight Talk'', ''[[Your News]]'' and ''Your Money'' appear regularly in the weekend schedules. Many of these programmes also appear throughout the week on BBC News's sister channel [[BBC World News]].
Previous BBC News programming includes ''Head 2 Head'', ''[[STORYFix]]'' and ''BBC News 24 Tonight'' a regular weekday evening programme providing a round up of the days news which ran from 2005 to 2008.
====BBC World News shared programming====
Between 01:00 and 06:00 UK Time (UKT) the channel simulcasts with its sister channel, BBC World News, for the first 25 minutes of each hour. Non-World programmes air generally on the half hour, notably ''[[World News with Charles Gibson|ABC World News with Charles Gibson]]'' at 01:30. Since 21 April 2008, the overnight bulletins, while produced by the BBC News Channel were broadcast from the studios of BBC World News.
On [[1 October]] [[2007]], BBC World News started broadcasting ''[[BBC World News America]]'' and ''[[World News Today]]'' at 00:00 and 03:00 UKT respectively. The programmes are also simulcast on the BBC News channel, except for ''BBC World News America'', which only broadcasts for half an hour from 00:30 UKT.
===Sport coverage===
In 1990, new broadcaster [[British Satellite Broadcasting]] launched its new satellite television service. During the news programmes on [[Galaxy (television)|Galaxy]] and [[Now (television)|Now]] and during the sports news programme on [[The Sports Channel]] clips from other broadcaster's sports output would be used to illustrate the sports headlines. The BBC took BSB to court to sue them for copyright violation for showing highlights of the BBC's live broadcasts of the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] football matches. The [[High Court of Justice]] decided that the ''rebroadcasts were for the purposes of reporting the news'' and were legal, even if the ''highlights were also entertaining'', the BBC lost the case but set a legal precedent.<ref>[http://nic.suzor.com/articles/TransformativeUse.pdf Transformative Use of Copyright Material] page 141</ref>
This has allowed all UK television broadcasters to legally package highlights from their own and other broadcasters' output into news programmes without payment or permission, as only a caption indicating the originating broadcaster is required.
This has allowed the BBC to benefit from the action it took against BSB, to provide a cut-price sport news service since the channel launched. As the precedent only applies to television, [[Sky News]] is not streamed online as the ''criticism and review'' provision used does not apply outside broadcast television. Since the beginning of May 2007, BBC News 24 has been streamed online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/05_may/08/news24.shtml|title=Press Release: BBC News 24 streamed live on BBC News website permanently|publisher=BBC Press Office|accessdate=2007-05-25}}</ref>
Sports bulletins are usually at 45 minutes past the hour, with headlines at 15 minutes past the hour. There are also two extended sports bulletins per day, entitled 'Sportsday' broadcast at 6.45pm (6.30 Friday and Saturday) and 10.30pm (weekdays only). Each bulletin is read by a single sports presenter, with the exception of Saturday Sportsday, which is double headed.
Bulletins during [[BBC Breakfast]] are presented by [[Chris Hollins]] or [[Mike Bushell]], with the latter also appearing on other sports bulletins on the channel. The other presenters for bulletins on the channel are [[Sonja McLaughlan]], [[Celina Hinchcliffe]], [[Francis Collings]], Dan Pallett [[Dan Walker (sports journalist)|Dan Walker]], Olly Foster, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/bbc_world/amandadavies.shtml Amanda Davies], [[Sean Fletcher]], [[David Garrido]], [[Adnan Nawaz]], Amelia Harris and [[Robin Bailey]]. These presenters also often produce reports on major sports stories, as well as appearing on the [[BBC One]] weekend bulletins.
===Business===
An hourly business update is included during the weekday schedule from the BBC Business Unit, usually presented by [[Declan Curry]] or [[Aaron Heslehurst]] during [[BBC Breakfast]] and through the morning until the [[BBC News at One]] and [[Maryam Moshiri]] later on in the day. Other presenters include Susannah Streeter, Barbita Sharma, [[Sara Coburn]] and Sally Eden. These updates are usually broadcast at 40 minutes past the hour from 8.40am until 10.40pm. The final bulletin is an extended roundup of the day's business news. It was during a Business segment that [[Karen Bowerman]] famously interviewed [[Guy Goma]] thinking him to be [[Guy Kewney]].
==News presenters==
{{detail|List of BBC newsreaders and reporters}}
===Regular presenters===
Since December 2007, the main regular presenters on the channel have been [[Simon McCoy]], [[Carrie Gracie]], [[Matthew Amroliwala]], [[Jane Hill]], [[Jon Sopel]], [[Louise Minchin]], [[Huw Edwards (journalist)|Huw Edwards]], [[Ben Brown]],[[Joanna Gosling]] and [[Chris Eakin]]<ref>[http://news-bbc.wetpaint.com/page/BBC+News+Channel+Presenters+-+Weekdays BBC News Channel Presenters - Weekdays]</ref>. The main weekend presenters are [[Maxine Mawhinney]], [[Nicholas Owen (journalist)|Nicholas Owen]], [[Peter Sissons]], [[Tim Willcox]], [[Chris Lowe]] and [[Sophie Long]]<ref>[http://news-bbc.wetpaint.com/page/BBC+News+Channel+Presenters+-+Weekends BBC News Channel Presenters - Weekends]</ref>. Some of these presenters also regularly stand in during the week. Overnight presenters on the channel include [[Karin Giannone]], [[Martine Croxall]], [[Alastair Yates]], [[James Dagwell]] and [[Deborah Mackenzie]], with Giannone and Croxall also appearing during the day.
Regular relief presenters on the channel include [[Julian Worricker]], [[Gavin Esler]], [[Sue Thearle]], [[Emily Maitlis]], [http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/northwesttonight/profiles/stuart_flinders.shtml Stuart Flinders] and [[Rachel Schofield]]. BBC News Correspondents [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/reporters/1789437.stm Jo Coburn],[http://www.gordonpoole.com/?artistID=1678 Navdip Dhariwal], [[Sangita Myska]] and [[Jonathan Charles]] also present on the channel.
The simulcasting of the main national news bulletins has led to the presenters of those bulletins appearing on the channel, with these presenters currently including [[Kate Silverton]], [[George Alagiah]], [[Huw Edwards]] and [[Fiona Bruce]]. The main [[BBC Breakfast]] presenters have also appeared on the channel since it was first launched as a simulcast programme in 2000, with the current presenters being [[Bill Turnbull]], [[Sian Williams]], [[Charlie Stayt]] and [[Susanna Reid]].
During a major news event one or more of the main news presenters may be sent to anchor live for the channel from the scene of the story, where they will conduct interviews with the people involved, question correspondents, introduce related reports and also give general information on the story, much as a reporter sent to cover a story would. The presenters often have expertise in the story they are sent to cover, for example, former [[Paris]] correspondent [[Jon Sopel]] presented coverage of the 2007 French presidential elections.
===Past presenters===
Past presenters on BBC News include [[Peter Coe]], [[Stephen Cole]] (now with [[Al Jazeera English]]), [[Peter Dobbie]] (now with BBC World News), [[Gwenan Edwards]], [[Mike Embley]] (now with BBC World News), [[Adrian Finighan]] (now with [[CNN International]]), [[Kate Garraway]] (now with [[GMTV]]), [[Krishnan Guru-Murthy]] (now with [[Channel 4 News]]), [[Jackie Hardgrave]], [[Andrew Harvey]], [[Philip Hayton]], [[Anna Jones]] (now with [[Sky News]]), [[Sarah Montague]] (now presenting Today on [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]]), [[John Nicolson (journalist)|John Nicolson]], [[Liz Pike]], [[Martin Popplewell]] (now with [[Sky News]]), [[David Robertson (broadcaster)|David Robertson]] (now with [[Reporting Scotland]]), [[Valerie Sanderson]] and [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/bbc_world/philippathomas.shtml Philippa Thomas] (now with [[BBC World News]]).
==Audio-visual presentation==
===General graphics===
Initially, the channel was criticised for its style of presentation with accusations of it being less authoritative compared to news on [[BBC One]] since male presenters were seen on screen in shirts but no jackets. [[Jenny Abramsky]]'s initial idea had been to have a television version of the informal news radio channel [[BBC Radio Five Live]], or a TV version of [[Radio 4 News FM]] both of which she had run. The bright design of the set was also blamed for this - one insider reportedly describing it as a "car crash in a shower"<ref name = "kcvcng"/> - and was subject to the large-scale relaunch on [[25 October]] [[1999]]. A new set, music and titles were introduced, based on the then recent new look of news on [[BBC One]].
Graphics and titles were developed by the [[Lambie-Nairn]] design agency and were gradually rolled out across the whole of BBC News, including a similar design for regional news starting with [[Newsroom South East]] and the three ''BBC Nations'' - [[BBC Scotland|Scotland]], [[BBC Wales|Wales]] and [[BBC Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]. The similarity of main BBC News output was intended to increase the credibility of the channel as well as aiding cross channel promotion.<ref name="aboutN24">[http://www.tvhome.co.uk/bbcnews24/about.phtml About BBC News] TV Home</ref>
A major graphics relaunch in January 2007 has since seen the look of the channel updated, with centred headline straplines, a redesigned '[[Digital on-screen graphic]]' and repositioned clock. The clock, originally placed to the left hand side of the channel name, could only be viewed in widescreen, being partially cut off when viewed in the 14:9 format or less. Following complaints, the clock was moved to the right hand side of the channel name in February 2007, shown in white within a small black rectangle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2007/01/fine_tuning.html|title=BBC News - The Editors - Fine tuning|date=[[22 January]] [[2007]]}}</ref>
The large straplines for story names have been replaced with smaller versions while only a 'Breaking News' strap has retained the size of text. Above the channel name a themed box now appears with different visual clues for news, sport and business. BBC World News bulletins also adopted this style on the same day, while bulletins on both channels as well as the bulletins on BBC One have the same title sequence, the only difference being the name of the channel or bulletin.
The graphics received a major revamp on [[21 April]] [[2008]], as part of a massive rebranding exercise set across the whole of [[BBC News]].
===The Lambert report===
The Lambert Report into the channel's performance in 2002 called upon News 24 to develop a better brand of its own, to allow viewers to differentiate between itself and similar channels such as [[Sky News]]. As a direct result of this, a brand new style across all presentation for the channel launched on Monday [[8 December]] [[2003]] at 09:00. [[Philip Hayton]] and [[Anna Jones]] were the first two presenters on the set, the relaunch of which had been put back a week due to previous power disruptions at Television Centre where the channel is based. The new designs also featured a dynamic set of titles for the channel; the globe would begin spinning from where the main story was taking place, while the headline scrolled around in a ribbon; this was occasionally replaced by the BBC News logo.
Bulletins on BBC One adopted the style later in February 2004 despite moving into a new set in January 2003 but retaining the previous ivory [[Lambie-Nairn]] titles. News 24 updated the title colours slightly to match those of BBC One bulletins in time for the 50th anniversary of BBC television news on 5 July 2004.<ref>[http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/idents/news24b.htm BBC News 24 2003-08] TV & Radio Bits</ref>
===Countdown sequence===
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[[Image:BBC News 2008 countdown.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The countdown since 2005 has shown the elements of journalism and production involved in bringing news stories to air ([[Huw Edwards (journalist)|Huw Edwards]] in April 2008 version).]]
{{Listen|filename=Bbc news theme 2007.ogg
|title=Excerpt of the 2007 BBC News theme|description=An excerpt from the ''2007 BBC News theme'' by [[David Lowe]]}}
An important part of the channel's presentation since launch has been the top of the hour countdown sequence, since there is no presentation system with continuity announcers so the countdown provides a link to the beginning of the next hour. A similar musical device is used on [[BBC Radio Five Live]], and mirrors the [[BBC pips|pips]] on [[BBC Radio 4]].
Previous styles have included a series of fictional flags set to music between 1997 and 1999 before the major relaunch, incorporating the new contemporary music composed by [[David Lowe]], and graphics developed by [[Lambie-Nairn]]. Various images, originally ivory numbers fully animated against a deep red background, were designed to fit the pace of the channel, and the music soon gained notoriety, and was often satirised and parodied in popular culture, perhaps most famously by comic [[Bill Bailey]] who likened the theme music to an "apocalyptic [[rave]]". Images of life around the UK were added in replacement later with the same music, together with footage of the newsroom and exterior of Television Centre. The 2003 relaunch saw a small change to this style with less of a metropolitan feel to the footage.
The countdown sequence was radically altered on [[28 March]] [[2005]] when a new version designed and created by [[Red Bee Media|BBC Broadcast]] and directed by Mark Chaudoir was launched. The full version runs for 60 seconds, though only around 30 seconds are shown on air. The music was revised completely but the biggest change came in the footage used - it now reflects the methods and nature of newsgathering, while a strong emphasis is placed on the BBC logo itself. Satellite dishes are shown transmitting and receiving red "data streams". In production of the countdown sequence, Clive Norman filmed images around the [[United Kingdom]], Richard Jopson in the [[United States]], while BBC News cameramen filmed images from [[Iraq]], [[Beijing]], [[Shanghai]], [[Africa]], as well as areas affected by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 Asian Tsunami]] and others.
On June 18, 2007, the countdown sequence was altered to put the countdown timer on the right side, with the usual channel BBC News 24 logo. Also, the footage shown is mostly news related, showing the main reporters and presenters such as [[Huw Edwards (journalist)|Huw Edwards]] during his stay in Iraq or [[Kate Silverton]] in London.
The accompanying music was remixed on 16 May 2006 with no change of the visuals. A full three minute version by composer David Lowe was later pasted on the [[BBC News Online|BBC News website]] and his own.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4992088.stm News 24 'releases' countdown music] - BBC News Online, 18 May 2006</ref>
An international version of the countdown launched on sister channel BBC World News on [[5 September]] [[2005]] with added international content and a similar musical accompaniment.
==See also==
{{Portal|BBC}}
* [[Sky News]]
* [[ITV News Channel]]
* [[BBC World News]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*{{bbc.co.uk|id=news|title=BBC News}}
**[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7459669.stm BBC News channel stream] (available to UK & Ireland viewers only)
*[http://www.tvnewsroom.co.uk/bbcnews/n24/ TV Newsroom presentation coverage]
*[http://www.tvhome.co.uk/bbcnews24/sounds.phtml MP3 tracks of BBC News music: 1997, 1999 and 2003] - See the [[David Lowe]] article for more.
*[http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/bbcnews/index.html BBC News at TV Ark]
{{BBC Television}}
[[Category:BBC television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:24-hour television news channels]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2008]]
[[Category:Television news in the United Kingdom]]
[[de:BBC News]]
[[fr:BBC News (chaîne TV)]]
[[id:BBC News Channel]]
[[nl:BBC News (televisiezender)]]
[[no:BBC News (TV-kanal)]]
[[pl:BBC News]]
[[pt:BBC News 24]]
[[fi:BBC News (televisiokanava)]]
[[sv:BBC News (TV)]]