The “pingdemic” has claimed a victim just as you thought TV was getting back to normal. English regional opts during BBC Breakfast are being suspended from Monday.
The hope is that this will help safeguard the 6.30pm programmes. All being well the local bulletins will return at breakfast time in early September.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will not be affected.
This is a reminder of one of the cuts made during the first lockdown last year. Breakfast opts were suspended in March and returned in the “national regions” first.
It is entirely understandable that if staffing issues are critical, the focus should be placed on safeguarding the main evening programme. These are hugely popular and staff cannot be overworked to breaking point.
However the move must beg questions about how well resourced some of the English regional newsrooms now are. Do some simply need more staff?
Dare I say this. Which is more important for the public service broadcaster? English regional news? Or four (curtailed) episodes a week of a soap opera which is no longer performing well in the ratings? Discuss.
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PICTURED: BBC Breakfast opening titles. COPYRIGHT: BBC.
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