A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.
- MON 18TH MAR (12.05PM)
BBC News presenter Annita-McVeigh back on air - MON 18TH MAR (1PM)
BBC North West Today moves to temporary set - MON 18TH MAR (3.15PM)
BBC News Channel introduces new break filler - MON 18TH MAR (7.30PM)
Lower-third issues during this evening’s BBC Sportsday - WED 20TH MAR (1.40PM)
RTÉ One abandons schedule for breaking news - THU 21ST MAR (2PM)
BBC Radio 4 MW transmissions to cease next month - SAT 23RD MAR (1.30PM)
Paul Royall addresses viewer complaints about the BBC News Channel - SUN 24TH MAR (9.25PM)
Tony Blackburn bids farewell to BBC Local Radio
Monday 18th March
12.05pm BBC News presenter Annita-McVeigh back on air
BBC News presenter Annita-McVeigh has returned to an on air role today, on the BBC News channel.
Annita and a number of her colleagues have been off the air since the merger of the BBC’s UK and World TV news channels last April.
1pm BBC North West Today moves to temporary set
BBC North West Today takes up residence in a temporary set from today, whilst the programme’s main studio has a new set fitted.
3.15pm BBC News Channel introduces new break filler
A new text-based break filler mechanism is in use on the BBC News Channel from today.
7.30pm Lower-third issues during this evening’s BBC Sportsday
The 6.30pm edition of BBC Sportsday was impacted by a technical issue with the kit that generates lower-thirds in London.
Sportsday’s lower-thirds – generated by its team in Salford – were behaving normally.
Presenter Olly Foster apologised halfway through the programme.
Problems continued for a short time before London’s lower-third content was removed completely.
With thanks to @PATVOne1 for flagging this item.
Wednesday 20th March
1.40pm RTÉ One abandons schedule for breaking news
RTÉ One broke away from its planned schedule shortly after midday to bring viewers live coverage of the resignation speech by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Thursday 21st March
2pm BBC Radio 4 MW transmissions to cease next month
The BBC has announced that BBC Radio 4 will no longer be available on medium wave from 15th April.
BBC Radio 4 is available on medium wave in parts of the country where the station’s long wave signal is weak.
Locations and frequencies affected:
- Aberdeen: 1449 MW
- Belfast: 720 MW
- Carlisle: 1485 MW
- Cornwall: 756 MW
- Derry-Londonderry: 720 MW
- Enniskillen: 774 MW
- London: 720 MW
- Newcastle: 603 MW
- Plymouth: 774 MW
The BBC will cease broadcasting a separate BBC Radio 4 LW schedule from 1st April.
It’s believed the BBC had hoped to be in a position this year to shut down the long wave transmitters that carry BBC Radio 4.
However, the Radio 4 long wave frequency is also used to transmit Radio Teleswitching data to non-smart meters on behalf of the Electricity Networks Association.
The deadline to replace the old meters has been extended to June 2025.
In the meantime, long wave transmissions of BBC Radio 4 are expected to continue.
Saturday 23rd March
1.30pm Paul Royall addresses viewer complaints about the BBC News Channel
On this week’s edition of Newswatch, Paul Royall, the man in charge of the BBC News Channel, addresses a number of viewer complaints.
Among them:
- The sloppiness of the BBC News at Ten/Newsnight junction.
- The number of on-screen spelling errors/typos.
EXTERNAL LINK: you can find the full programme on BBC iPlayer.
Sunday 24th March
9.25pm Tony Blackburn bids farewell to BBC Local Radio
Tony Blackburn has brought his 43-year association with BBC Local Radio to an end this afternoon.
The 81-year-old DJ has decided to leave his Sunday show on BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Solent to pursue other projects.
It’s believed Tony will concentrate on his BBC Radio 2 programmes and his theatre tour.
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Acknowledgements
PICTURED: BBC News Channel break filler. COPYRIGHT: BBC.