BBC confirms TV news channel plans for 2023

The BBC confirmed plans to invest in "new capability to cover breaking news stories" for a TV news channel projected to launch in April 2023."In recent years we've seen a huge surge in audiences coming to our live coverage, with tens of millions following live pages when big stories and events unfold," BBC News digital director Naja Nielsen said."As the world's most trusted source of news, with a huge depth and breadth of expertise, the BBC is uniquely placed to offer audiences the best analysis and explanation as these stories are unfolding." She said investing in this would mean "our news channel and digital teams will work hand-in-hand to bring the best journalism to audiences both at home and abroad."

The channel, titled "BBC News," will serve as the replacement of the corporation's two existing, separate UK and global news channels. The launch now forms part of plans for a "digital-led, streamlined organization." Approximately 70 UK-based BBC staff will be laid off as a result of the merger. The positions will be replaced with 20 new fillings in Washington DC. According to BBC News digital director Naja Nielsen, current affair consumption is shifting.

The company will invest in "visualizing" programs based on popular radio shows, starting with the BBC Radio 5 Live "Nicky Campbell" program, which will be broadcast on BBC Two on weekday mornings, as well as on the UK stream of the new channel.

The move forms part of the company's strategy to save costs. In January, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries confirmed the BBC licence fee is to be frozen at £159 for two years. In May, the corporation announced that as well as merging its two news channels, it would stop airing CBBC and BBC Four as traditional broadcast channels. It also said it would axe its regional TV news programmes in Oxford and Cambridge.

With linear TV audiences declining, the BBC has suggested its obligation to take its programming to where those news consumers are now heading. The new news channel will be broadcast worldwide, with advert-free access for licence fee payers in the UK, who will also be shown more international coverage. It is believed that approximately £4m will be reinvested in new "future-facing" plans, financed from the £12.5m being saved by merging the channels. Those include a live and breaking news team it's believed will significantly increase the BBC's capacity to offer breaking stories across all its platforms, including, crucially, BBC iPlayer.