GB News will launch on Sunday 13th June at 8:00pm with a special launch show, “Welcome to GB News” ahead of its regular weekday schedule launching the following day.
Where to find GB News
The channel will be live on
- Freeview channel 236 (in standard definition only)
- YouView channel 236 (piggybacking on the Freeview signal – YouView is the platform that powers BT TV and TalkTalk TV)
- Freesat channel 216 (HD only)
- Sky channel 515 (HD only)
- Virgin Media channel 626 (HD only)
You won’t be able to watch if…
- You have an old Sky or Freesat standard definition receiver. The channel is HD only on satellite.
- You receive Freeview from a relay transmitter that only carries a small selection of channels.
Programmes
From Monday 14th June, the channel will start each day with The Great British Breakfast, hosted by Nana Akua, Kirsty Gallacher, Rebecca Hutson, Inaya Folarin Iman, Darren McCaffrey and Rosie Wright.
Simon McCoy and Alex Phillips are teamed up for the channel’s afternoon news coverage. Ex-Labour MP and Times Radio presenter Gloria De Piero and economist Liam Halligan are also paired for the channel’s news service. In the evenings, Andrew Neil will present a primetime news, opinion and interview programme bearing his name. Former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry follows with her own show – Dewbs & Co. Meanwhile, ex-Sun showbiz editor Dan Wootton presents Tonight Live.
Alastair Stewart & Friends sees the ex-ITN presenter return to UK screens with “warm conversation and analysis of current affairs through the lens of his 45 years’ experience at the sharp end of Britain’s biggest news events”. Ex-BBC Coast presenter Neil Oliver makes his debut on the channel with Neil Oliver Live.
It’s this mix of opinion and talking heads programming that aims to keep running costs for the channel down. Doing away with expensive networks of international correspondents and bureaus, GB News wants to keep annual running costs at £25 million, according to recent FT report. This is comparatively low. The BBC News Channel cost £57 million in 2019-2020. Russia’s media budget covering RT and radio station Sputnik is over $2 billion.
What’s the aim of GB News?
The backers of GB News want to create a new voice in news broadcasting and adjust the news agenda. They claim that existing media outlets don’t give a voice to people in the regions. Its right of centre opinion-based shows will sit alongside regular news programming to satisfy Ofcom impartiality rules. As a result, it will be similar in concept to LBC.
How will the BBC and Sky be affected?
Many with opinions associated with the political right feel traditional outlets are too left-leaning. Although those on the left of the political spectrum feel outlets like the BBC are too right-leaning.
As a result, many potential GB News viewers have already abandoned the BBC and Sky. GB News hopes to tap into this pool of disaffected viewers. And it hopes to convert some viewers with stories that appeal to their hearts and minds into paying members of its community.
How will GB News be funded?
The majority of the £60 million initial funding came from Discovery, the investment firm Legatum and hedge fund Sir Paul Marshall, investing in a personal capacity. It is notable that much of the money has come from outside of the UK.
But ongoing costs are to be met through advertising and donations from passionate viewers. To facilitate this, GB News is developing a user community. User data will be used for marketing, but also to offer members special access to offers and behind the scenes action. GB News expects to have 134,000 paying members in the next five years, according to figures seen by the FT.
This article is being updated as and when new pieces of information are released. This article was last updated following the confirmation of the channel’s Sky and Virgin Media channel numbers.