A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.
- MON 25TH MAR (8AM)
No local breakfast news in the BBC Yorkshire area - MON 25TH MAR (8PM)
BBC Look East launches new-look studio - TUE 26TH MAR (11.45AM)
BBC to explore licence fee reform and look for additional commercial opportunities - WED 27TH MAR (11.30PM)
New break filler provides solution for awkward BBC News at Ten/Newsnight transition - THU 28TH MAR (12.10AM)
Complete STV News blackout expected as strike hits - THU 28TH MAR (11.50AM)
STV strike action causes news blackout - SAT 30TH MAR (2AM)
Final weekday 5.54pm Shipping Forecast broadcast on BBC Radio 4 LW
Monday 25th March
8am No local breakfast news in the BBC Yorkshire area
BBC Yorkshire has apologised for the lack of local TV news bulletins this morning: “We can’t bring you our usual Yorkshire breakfast bulletins today – but our colleagues in the North East have stepped in to help at short notice.
“We’ll be back for the lunchtime news at 1.30.
“Get the latest news on your local BBC radio station and online.”
The reason for the lack of local news in the region is not known.
8pm BBC Look East launches new-look studio
BBC Look East revealed its new-look set at 6.30pm.
The Norwich-based programme is the latest of the English regions to receive an updated set based on London’s Studio B.
Early this morning, BBC Look East apologised on social media outlets for the lack of local bulletins at breakfast and lunchtime: “Our technical facilities are being upgraded. That means we’re unable to broadcast our usual Look East bulletins this morning and at lunchtime.
“We’ll be back on Monday at 6.30pm.”
UPDATE: later in the week, the lead director on the project to update sets in the English regions – Russell Sheath – posted a behind-the-scenes tour of the BBC Look East set/gallery:
Tuesday 26th March
11.45am BBC to explore licence fee reform and look for additional commercial opportunities
The BBC’s director general Tim Davie has announced that the corporation will explore how to reform the licence fee.
Davie said the BBC will look at the licence fee’s scope, how progressive it is and how it is enforced.
In a speech on Tuesday, Davie said “it is right to ask fundamental questions about its longevity”.
Talking about the future, Davie said the BBC will “more actively utilise commercial partners” and “continue to aggressively grow BBC Studios internationally”.
“We aim to double Studios in five years to deliver over £3.2 billion in revenues by 2027/28,” he said.
EXTERNAL ARTICLE: BBC to explore how to reform licence fee, director general says.
Wednesday 27th March
11.30pm New break filler provides solution for awkward BBC News at Ten/Newsnight transition
No huge surprise that the new break filler is being used to provide a cleaner transition between the end of the BBC News at Ten and the start of Newsnight on the BBC News channel.
Thursday 28th March
12.10am Complete STV News blackout expected as strike hits
STV’s news service is expected to be blacked out completely later today as NUJ members walk out in a dispute over pay.
The BBC is reporting tonight that non-union staff will make no attempt to produce a news service.
EXTERNAL LINK: STV journalists on strike over bid for pay rise.
11.50am STV strike action causes news blackout
All today’s planned STV News programmes have been cancelled as a result of strike action by members of the National Union Journalists at STV.
Union members are seeking a 6% pay increase. STV management has so far rejected the union’s pay demand.
STV viewers received ITV Border News instead of STV News during this morning’s Good Morning Britain.
There was no reference to the STV strike nor that the ITV Border News bulletins were being received in the STV area.
The lunchtime edition of STV News was replaced by programme trails.
Other strike-related schedule changes today:
6pm Sean’s Scotland.
8.30pm Tonight.
10.35pm Scotland Revealed Moments.
There’s been no on air reference to the strike nor any apology for the programme changes.
Saturday 30th March
2am Final 5.54pm Shipping Forecast broadcast on BBC Radio 4 LW
BBC Radio 4 announcer Al Ryan presented the final 5.54pm Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4 LW yesterday.
From 1st April, BBC Radio 4 will cease running separate programming on long wave.
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Acknowledgements
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