BBC reporters protest at plans to shorten News at Ten
LEADING BBC journalists have protested over the decision to cut the News at Ten bulletin by 10 minutes in an effort to attract younger viewers.
Reporters including Jeremy Bowen, the Middle East editor, and other foreign correspondents have written to Lord Hall, the BBC director-general, to express their dismay.
It was announced this week that the national and local news will finish 10 minutes earlier to allow programmes from the youth channel BBC Three to be broadcast in a regular 10.35pm slot. Currently, the news runs until 10.45pm.
Bowen told The Guardian that the email to Lord Hall was a private communication, but added: “We all want the BBC to be the best it can be. To that end we have plenty of internal debates about what’s happening.” A source said Lord Hall “has received letters from some of the biggest names in news on screen. It has caused a huge amount of disquiet and anger”.
It is understood that the change was ordered by Charlotte Moore, the BBC’S director of content, as the corporation tries to attract younger viewers who are deserting it in droves.
From Monday to Wednesday, the new 10.35pm line-up will feature Fleabag, a dark comedy; Eating With My Ex, a reality dating show; and Glow Up,a make-up competition hosted by Stacey Dooley.
The corporation said anyone wanting more news could switch to Newsnight on BBC Two.
A spokesman said: “We believe the return to our original schedule will better suit all our audiences. The award-winning News at Ten will continue to bring high-quality reporting of the day’s news to our audiences, who will be able to switch immediately to our other flagship evening news programme, Newsnight, avoiding the current scheduling clash.”
There are also plans to revamp BBC iplayer by offering box sets and making shows available for at least a year, rather than just 30 days, keeping the BBC in line with Netflix and Amazon.
‘We all want the BBC to be the best it can be. To that end we have plenty of debates about what’s happening’