BBC backtracks on merger of news channels after criticism
THE BBC has backtracked on the controversial merger of its world and domestic news channels as the broadcaster’s new chairman warned the corporation faces a battle to stay relevant.
The broadcaster merged its BBC News and BBC World channels last April as part of wider efforts to cut out £500m of costs.
The move means programming has been combined into a single channel to serve both UK and international audiences. Uk-based viewers are switched to a separate feed focused on domestic news only if and when major news breaks. However, bosses are now preparing changes amid criticism from both journalists and audiences.
Under plans being drawn up, the news channel will focus on UK current affairs from 9am to 6pm rather than offering a global perspective at all times. The combined output, which covers both domestic and world news, will be relegated to evenings and overnight. A BBC spokesman insisted the changes were only temporary in the run-up to the general election.
However, it opens the door to a permanent reversal that would mean the channel focuses on UK news stories.
The merger of the two channels has fuelled accusations of bias at the public service broadcaster, particularly in the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct 7.
Viewers complained that the BBC’S coverage of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in January was biased in favour of Israel’s defence. The case was heavily covered on the international stream of the BBC News channel, while the domestic feed focused on the Post Office inquiry.
The channel’s popularity has also suffered from the changes. Viewing figures dropped by 1m in the first month after the merger as the more global outlook proved less engaging with the public.
A BBC spokesman said: “There’s no change to our plans, which have saved money and reduced staffing costs – as we’ve consistently said, this is a single operation which can run two separate news feeds when necessary – one for the UK, and one for the rest of the world.
“When there’s a big Uk-specific story; for example, a UK election, viewers in the UK see a separate UK feed.”
It came as Samir Shah, the new BBC chairman, warned that the broadcaster was facing “hard choices and tough decisions” as it battled to stay relevant amid competition from streaming platforms and social media companies.