A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.
- MON 30TH JAN (10.35AM)
More BBC One English regions launch HD service - MON 30TH JAN (12PM)
BBC Radio logos updated on Freeview - MON 30TH JAN (5.45PM)
Evidence of preparations for regional BBC One HD Freeview services - MON 30TH JAN (7.30PM)
BBC Reporting Scotland moves to temporary set - MON 30TH JAN (11.30PM)
Generic titles on late edition of BBC Look North (NE and Cumbria) - TUE 31ST JAN (12.30AM)
Animated service identifier for BBC Weather now on air - TUE 31ST JAN (12PM)
NUJ strike threat for BBC Local and BBC Northern Ireland - TUE 31ST JAN (3.50PM)
New satellite frequency for some BBC HD services - TUE 31ST JAN (11.30PM)
Lord Baker’s mobile phone becomes the story on Newsnight - WED 1ST FEB (10.45AM)
Challenge goes live on Ireland’s Saorview platform - THU 2ND FEB (10AM)
BBC News confirms main presenters for new-look TV channel - THU 2ND FEB (2.20PM)
More BBC HD channels testing on satellite - FRI 3RD FEB (1.15PM)
Audio description added to BBC Scotland/Wales HD channels - SAT 4TH FEB (1PM)
Changes for BBC Channel Islands from Monday - SAT 4TH FEB (8PM)
No BBC Look North from Hull this evening - SUN 5TH FEB (11AM)
Timeshifted schedule for BBC One East due to extended Politics East - SUN 5TH FEB (5.30PM)
BBC News presenters confirm permanent move to BBC One
Monday 30th January
10.35am More BBC One English regions launch HD service
The next phase of BBC One HD changes is being rolled out on Freesat today.
BBC One East Midlands HD and and BBC One East HD are now available.
Regional opt-outs are still upscaled. The BBC East Midlands Today studio has recently been updated but another part of the transmission chain is still pending an upgrade.
BBC One East Midlands HD and BBC One East HD will formally launch tomorrow on Sky.
Courtesy @a516digital.
12pam BBC Radio logos updated on Freeview
The MHEG logo images for BBC Radio services on Freeview have finally been updated.
Spotted today by @theidentgallery.
5.45pm Evidence of preparations for regional BBC One HD Freeview services
The first visible signs of preparations for the introduction of regional BBC One HD services on Freeview in England are beginning to appear at some transmitter sites.
In the below example from the Winter Hill transmitter, SID 17544 appeared today. It’s currently carrying the same video stream as BBC One England HD.
SID 17544 will eventually carry video for BBC One North West HD, and the existing BBC One HD SID (17540) will be deactivated.
Courtesy @a516digital.
7.30pm BBC Reporting Scotland moves to temporary set
As reported on Clean Feed recently, BBC Reporting Scotland is moving out of its usual home – Studio C at Pacific Quay in Glasgow – to allow for technical and set upgrades, which will take place over the next four months.
The programme broadcast from its temporary home on the third floor for the first time this lunchtime.
11.30pm Generic titles on late edition of BBC Look North (NE and Cumbria)
Having had the weekend off for technical upgrades, BBC Look North (NE and Cumbria) returned this lunchtime.
Today’s late edition used a more generic set of opening titles, with place names replaced by the programme title.
Thanks to Dylan L for flagging.
Tuesday 31st January
12.30am Animated service identifier for BBC Weather now on air
The animated version of the BBC Weather service identifier has appeared on air for the first time in recent days.
A short trail featuring the new logo is currently airing on the BBC News Channel.
12pm NUJ strike threat for BBC Local and BBC Northern Ireland
NUJ members working for BBC Local are being balloted to take industrial action over the corporation’s latest proposals to share local radio programming across the network.
Members in Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly for action over cuts at Radio Foyle.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC journalists ballot for industrial action over local radio cuts.
3.50pm New satellite frequency for some BBC HD services
BBC Two Wales HD, CBeebies HD, BBC Four HD and BBC Scotland HD have changed satellite frequencies. They are now broadcasting on 10818V.
Courtesy @a516digital.
11.30pm Lord Baker’s mobile phone becomes the story on Newsnight
Lord Baker’s appearance on tonight’s edition of Newsnight has caught the attention of many on social media – but not because of his commentary on the controversy surrounding Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs or the allegations of bullying against Dominic Raab.
The former education secretary’s mobile phone went off a number of times whilst being interviewed by presenter Victoria Derbyshire.
At one point, Victoria asked Lord Baker to pass the phone to her, so that she could put it on silent. However, the phone’s ringtone was heard again repeatedly in the background.
Wednesday 1st February
10.45am Challenge goes live on Ireland’s Saorview platform
Challenge went live on Ireland’s Saorview platform just before 10.30am this morning.
The channel appeared on Channel 8 during a trail for the Disney+ show Extraordinary. The first programme shown was Dale’s Supermarket Sweep.
Thursday 2nd February
10am BBC News confirms main presenters for new-look TV channel
The BBC has confirmed the five chief presenters for its new-look TV news channel, which will launch in April.
Matthew Amroliwala, Christian Fraser, Yalda Hakim, Lucy Hockings and Maryam Moshiri will be the faces of the global news channel, which will replace the BBC News Channel in the UK, and the international equivalent BBC World News.
The BBC says the new channel will be anchored from London during UK daytime/evening and from Washington DC and Singapore overnight.
The new channel will be branded “BBC News” and, according to the BBC, it will have the ability to split into two feeds. There’ll be dedicated UK programming at certain times of the day and at other times, it will have ability to cover developing UK stories for a domestic audience.
A process to fill eight other positions – combined correspondent/presenting roles – is now under way.
Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, says: “I’m thrilled to announce the faces of our channel.
“This team’s editorial leadership, talent, knowledge and flair make them the ideal presenters to bring the BBC’s trusted journalism to people at home in the UK and around the globe, and to guide audiences through the big stories as they break.”
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC unveils presenter line-up for news channel.
2.20pm More BBC HD channels testing on satellite
BBC Alba HD and BBC One West Midlands HD are now testing on Astra 2G, transponder 61 (11024H, SR 23000 FEC 3/4).
Service IDs:
- 8626 BBC Alba HD
- 8941 BBC One West Midlands HD
BBC One East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire HD is now testing on Astra 2E, transponder 50 (10847V, SR 23000, FEC 3/4).
Service ID: 6911.
All the HD regions testing now will pop up on Freesat, then Sky satellite next week.
Courtesy @a516digital.
Friday 3rd February
1.15pm Audio description added to BBC Scotland/Wales HD channels
BBC One Wales HD and BBC One Scotland HD now carry audio description on Sky/Freesat, ahead of the imminent removal of the SD versions of the channels, which carried audio description.
Courtesy @a516digital.
Saturday 4th February
1pm Changes for BBC Channel Islands from Monday
Last night’s late edition of BBC Channel Islands hinted there may be some changes to the programme from Monday.
Presenter Charlie McArdle said: “I’ll be back on Monday on the same sofa but the surroundings might look a little different.”
8pm No BBC Look North from Hull this evening
There was no dedicated regional news bulletin this evening for the East Yorkshire/Lincolnshire region.
Instead, the Leeds-based version of BBC Look North was broadcast on both BBC One Yorkshire and BBC One East Yorkshire/Lincolnshire. The programme covered stories in both regions.
The Hull programme moved to a temporary studio on 21st January, to allow construction of a new set in its main studio to get under way.
Sunday 5th February
11am Timeshifted schedule for BBC One East due to extended Politics East
This morning’s edition of Politics East was a specially extended debate on the Cambridge congestion charge, recorded on Friday.
As a result of running 15 minutes beyond the usual 30-minute slot allocated for Sunday morning regional/national political programmes, BBC One East had to timeshift some subsequent network programmes, and the accompanying network continuity.
In order to rejoin the network schedule in time for the national news at 1pm, BBC One East ran a shortened version of the one-hour edition of Bargain Hunt that was shown in the rest of the country.
BBC One Network schedule
10am Regional Political Programmes.
10.30am Sunday Morning Live.
11.30am Homes Under the Hammer.
12pm Bargain Hunt.
1pm BBC News.
BBC One East schedule
10am Politics East Special.
10.45am Sunday Morning Live.
11.45am Homes Under the Hammer.
12.15pm Bargain Hunt.
1pm BBC News.
NOTE: the BBC One East EPG data did not reflect this schedule on Sunday morning. The schedule was updated retrospectively for BBC One East on the BBC website, on Sunday afternoon.
5.30pm BBC News presenters confirm permanent move to BBC One
BBC News presenters Jane Hill and Reeta Chakrabarti have taken to social media this afternoon to confirm they are staying with the corporation and will be moving full-time to BBC One news programmes.
The statements come days after the BBC confirmed the five chief presenters for its new-look TV news channel, launching in April, which replaces the BBC News Channel (UK) and BBC World News (international): Matthew Amroliwala, Christian Fraser, Yalda Hakim, Lucy Hockings and Maryam Moshiri.
The successful candidates for eight other roles on the new channel – combined correspondent/presenter positions – are yet to be confirmed.
Jane Hill: “Realise there’s only one story in town #HappyValley – but just wanted to flag some job news, that I’m thrilled to be moving permanently to our BBC1 bulletins, working across @bbcnews at 1, 6 & 10. The volume of messages I’m receiving suggests this hasn’t been entirely clear…
“But this of course comes against the backdrop of some excellent colleagues not having certainty about the path ahead – so I post my news with some awkwardness. Thank you to everyone for the many very kind messages.”
Reeta Chakrabarti: “So pleased for Jane – and delighted to say that I too – along with the mighty @CliveMyrieBBC am moving to @BBCOne news permanently…
“I feel though for colleagues living through a period of uncertainty, and hope the jobs process delivers for them.”
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Acknowledgements
PICTURED: BBC One sting. COPYRIGHT: BBC.