New year BBC News Channel changes involve more than just the axing of the paper review, as additional UK-focused news slot is ditched.
One presenter role has been removed from the evening schedule, with pre-recorded programmes filling slots at 8:30, 10:30 and 11:30pm.
The duty presenter of The Papers was also responsible for presenting a UK-focused news slot earlier in the evening. That originally ran for an hour from 8pm, but was later cut to half an hour from 8:30pm. It has now been replaced by a reruns of a range of pre-recorded current affairs programmes, including BBC Wales Investigates and Martin’s Mountain, a BBC Breakfast documentary. On Friday, a short version of Click followed by Newswatch takes the slot.
The 10:30pm slot, which used to command some of the highest News Channel ratings of the day, is now replaced by interview show HARDtalk, first launched on BBC World in 1997.
At 11:30pm, viewers will see further reruns, including the documentary Bend It Like Beckham: 20 years on and 100 years of BBC News.
Sports News coverage
The changes confirm a reduction in sports bulletins from the BBC Sports Centre, which traditionally provided a short update after The Papers and originally offered an update during the 8pm UK-focused news hour, before it was reduced. Sportsday at 6:30pm will be the last dedicated sports slot of the day.
The BBC announced the end of its nightly paper review late on Friday afternoon, a time when it might have hoped for little coverage. Its schedules for the two weeks of January had been published as if there would be no changes. Revised schedules were only published on its website and Electronic Programme Guides on Tuesday afternoon, with just hours to go before the changes took place.
Critics have accused the BBC of being ‘sneaky’ about the changes. The BBC says the paper review will be “provided in a different ways” across the corporation’s services.
BBC World News and BBC News Channel are due to officially merge in April 2023. Presenters are being asked to reapply for roles.