The BBC is accused of breaching its own guidelines, misleading viewers over a supposedly live news programme transmitted across many parts of England.
Industrial action in protest against cuts to local radio in England meant most regions were unable to offer late bulletins on Wednesday. In its place, the BBC broadcast a combined London and South East bulletin [pictured] to viewers from Canterbury to Carlisle, but welcoming viewers from other parts of the country.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) revealed today that the supposedly live programme was in fact three hours old, recorded at 7:30pm. The NUJ says this broke BBC guidelines that prohibit programmes pretending they are live.
The programme was broadcast in all but the south-west, west and Channel Islands.
During previous spells of industrial action where the BBC has had to show a recorded bulletin, a caption stating ‘recorded’ or ‘pre-recorded’ appeared on screen.
The industrial action has now entered its second day, and BBC schedules in England have replaced regional news shows in some regions with another edit of Blue Planet II at lunchtime and filler shows at 6:30pm. A repeat of the “national” London news at 10:30pm appears likely. The BBC is unable to switch to the BBC News Channel to cover the slot following cuts to the channel, which now simulcasts BBC Two at that time.
Local radio services are also affected. However, there are significant variations from station-to-station.
Parliamentary support
Meanwhile, MPs from all the main political parties voiced their support for the campaign behind the industrial action. The BBC plans to reduce local radio output to just 48 hours a week.
According to the NUJ, which lobbied in Parliament yesterday, among those in attendance were Bernard Jenkin, chair of the influential Liaison Committee, Labour shadow culture minister Stephanie Peacock, and Lib Dem Sarah Olnie – even Jacob Rees Mogg came to speak to the NUJ, among dozens more MPs.
BBC managers want to cut local radio to increase local output on the BBC News website and to generate new digital content, such as podcasts.
Despite the BBC’s effort to reduce the variety of local content in recent years, replacing existing schedules with generic four hour programmes, local radio still attracts over 5 million listeners each week. Local radio traditionally attracts a higher proportion of listeners who don’t use digital or online services.
Marc Thornham