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The BBC is understood to have shelved plans to potentially shut its 24-hour news channel.
The corporation has been exploring plans to make the BBC News TV channel online-only and replacing it with a mobile streaming service if further cuts need to be made.
The total costs associated with running the channel are in excess of £110m a year, including production, newsgathering, content, distribution and infrastructure.
However, it is understood a review of the cost benefits of closing the TV channel found that it was likely to only save perhaps £15m to £16m annually, not as big a saving as expected.
This is because a lot of the costs associated with the channel would not directly translate into savings because they would have to be reassigned to other areas of news.
It is understood that director general Tony Hall, who launched BBC News 24 and BBC News Online and went on to hold the post of chief executive of the news operation , was personally involved in the decision process.
It is understood that the BBC Trust has also seen the outcome of the review of the cost-benefit analysis of potentially shutting the channel and similarly believe the case is not strong.
In September, Hall outlined plans to move towards a mobile-focused streaming news service, called BBC Newstream , which would deliver more video-based stories “complemented by audio, graphics and text live from BBC News”.
Hall made the comments while outlining the corporation’s response to the government’s review of the BBC’s royal charter and funding deal.
At the time, he also acknowledged that the corporation would need to “ride two horses” over the next decade to cater for those who consume media over the internet and mobile devices and those that prefer traditional channels such as TV and radio.
The BBC declined to comment.
source: BBC shelves plans to shut news channel | Media | The Guardian
The corporation has been exploring plans to make the BBC News TV channel online-only and replacing it with a mobile streaming service if further cuts need to be made.
The total costs associated with running the channel are in excess of £110m a year, including production, newsgathering, content, distribution and infrastructure.
However, it is understood a review of the cost benefits of closing the TV channel found that it was likely to only save perhaps £15m to £16m annually, not as big a saving as expected.
This is because a lot of the costs associated with the channel would not directly translate into savings because they would have to be reassigned to other areas of news.
It is understood that director general Tony Hall, who launched BBC News 24 and BBC News Online and went on to hold the post of chief executive of the news operation , was personally involved in the decision process.
It is understood that the BBC Trust has also seen the outcome of the review of the cost-benefit analysis of potentially shutting the channel and similarly believe the case is not strong.
In September, Hall outlined plans to move towards a mobile-focused streaming news service, called BBC Newstream , which would deliver more video-based stories “complemented by audio, graphics and text live from BBC News”.
Hall made the comments while outlining the corporation’s response to the government’s review of the BBC’s royal charter and funding deal.
At the time, he also acknowledged that the corporation would need to “ride two horses” over the next decade to cater for those who consume media over the internet and mobile devices and those that prefer traditional channels such as TV and radio.
The BBC declined to comment.
source: BBC shelves plans to shut news channel | Media | The Guardian
