This is the BBC News at Ten … minutes shorter
THE BBC News at Ten could be cut by more than ten minutes to appeal to younger audiences – just three years after it was extended to provide ‘more analysis and explanation’.
The corporation is said to be planning to trim the nightly news to stop viewers switching to ITV.
Currently, the News at Ten with Huw Edwards begins on BBC1 at 10pm, turning into the regional news from 10. 0-10.45pm.
A source said the timings have made it ‘difficult’ to schedule programmes to start after the news, and that it clashes with the
beginning of Newsnight on BBC2. Under the plans, five minutes would be cut from the main national broadcast, four minutes from the regional and 90 seconds from the weather.
The change could happen as soon as March and a BBC source said: ‘The news already finishes by 10. 5 on Friday, and often earlier on Saturday and Sunday. The current Monday-Thursday schedule has only been in place since 2015 and has meant a 15minute overlap with Newsnight on BBC2 and has also made scheduling programmes immediately after the news and weather more difficult.
‘Clearly for significant news events we would always retain the ability to extend the news, however it is sensible to explore all options and we expect ITV are doing the same.’
It is understood that the corporation hopes that a 10. 5pm finish time would help retain viewers for the next show.
The News at Ten was extended by ten minutes in January 2016 to give audiences ‘even more news analysis and explanation’.