According to press reports The BBC News Channel could go 'on-line' only.

Effectively meaning- it's closed-down.


The direct result of this could be SKY News becomes the default source of TV News. (It already represents 'The UK' in Europe as Europeans are unable to see BBC News channel due to satellite restrictions).


This is called "A Monopoly". Is this what the UK Government intends?
A government that is said to encourage competition?


ITN had a news channel-  "ITV News Channel". It was on air from  August 2000 until December 2005.

When it closed Alistair Stewart said the following:-


"So that's the end of five years broadcasting as the ITV News Channel. Our thanks to all our contributors, studio and production staff, to all the reporters and correspondents and everyone who made the channel the professional and effective operation that it was. But most of all, you, our viewers. A big thank you to each and every one of you. We hope we both informed and occasionally entertained you over the years. It was our mission to bring you the fastest breaking news and the most comprehensive analysis. We hope that you'll think we succeeded..

The screen then faded out to black followed by a picture of the ITN end board. The station closed shortly afterwards"

(Source Wikipedia).


Who will read the BBC's close-down announcement?


(I could be tempted to write James Murdoch, but that could be misunderstood).

An under-resourced news channel may as well close down as viewers will always chose the channel with live pictures, and reports rather than 'today's news stories re-run, with updates to camera in the studio".


The cost to the BBC of paying for the TV Licence for the over 75s is the entire cost of running BBC Radio.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/07/bbc-considering-move-news-channel-o...

And to go to a "Skype" type coverage anyway?
http://www.theguardian.com/media/mediamonkeyblog/2015/jul/03/victoria-derbyshire...

Mike