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Timeline: 2024 Week 5


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A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.

Monday 29th January

1pm Channel 4 to cut 240 posts as part of digital strategy

Channel 4 has announced a five-year strategy, aimed at transforming the organisation into a digital-first streamer.

Headlines:

  • 240 posts to be cut (including 40 unfilled positions).
  • Fewer but more impactful new programmes.
  • Restructuring of commissioning team.
  • Move towards owning programmes.
  • More emphasis on FAST channels.
  • Move more roles out of London.
  • Move to a new, fit-for-purpose office space in central London.
  • Reduce number of linear channels: Box channels in 2024 and others “at the right time”.

EXTERNAL LINK: Channel 4 shares plans to become digital-first public service streamer by 2030.

Tuesday 30th January

7.05pm Sky announces 1,000 jobs to be cut

Sky is planning to cut about 1,000 jobs in the UK this year, as the media group moves towards more internet-based services.

It is understood a significant number will be engineers, as fewer people require satellite dishes to be installed at home.

Sky currently employs about 26,000 people in the UK.

The cuts announced on Tuesday represent about 4% of its workforce.

EXTERNAL LINK: Sky to cut 1,000 jobs in move towards digital.

Wednesday 31st January

7.15pm Technical fault disrupts live output on BBC News Channel

The BBC News Channel experienced technical issues for a time from 7pm this evening, resulting in a portion of the BBC News at Six being repeated.

At 7.09pm, normal programming resumed, with presenter Luxmy Gopal apologising for the brief break in live output.

VIDEO: technical fault disrupts live output on the BBC News Channel. Presenter: Luxmy Gopal. TX DATE: 31st January 2024. COPYRIGHT: BBC.

Thursday 1st February

6pm New chief presenters announced for BBC News Channel

Annita McVeigh, Ben Brown and Geeta Guru-Murthy will take up chief presenting roles on the BBC’s news channel – BBC News – which is broadcast in the UK and around the world.

Paul Royall, editor of the channel, says: “Annita, Ben and Geeta’s knowledge, experience, and presenting talent make them valuable additions to the team, bringing trusted BBC News to more than 100m viewers around the world on the UK’s most-watched news channel.”

EXTERNAL LINK: Annita McVeigh, Ben Brown and Geeta Guru-Murthy appointed as chief presenters for BBC News Channel.

RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2024 Week 4.

RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2024 Week 6.

Acknowledgements

FEATURE IMAGE:

PICTURED: BBC News Scotland editor James Cook. COPYRIGHT: BBC.