By now regular commentators on my reviews will know I have invested in a freeview digital box and have started to review some of the free channels. BBC NEWS 24 is one. The next section draws some facts from Wikipedia a website.

THE FACTS

The station was launched on 9/11/1997, first broadcast at 17:30 that day and is owned by the BBC. Its sister channel and international counterpart is BBC World. Audience 0.6% (May ‘06) average weekly viewing per person, 0.5% share of the total viewing. Facts from the Broadcasters Audience Research Board Ltd.

Availability

Terrestial - Freeview channel 80
Satellite - Sky Digital channel 503
- Astra 2D 10773H/22000/5/6
Cable - NTL channel 10 or 125 depending on area
Telewest channel 610
Telewest channel 10 (and default (analogue)channel).

The channel forms an important part of Freeview channels.

Its public funding status has been questioned by EU competition law and has been jutified as a public service.

It is broadcast from News Centre West London.

On February 2006, BBC News 24 won the News Channel of the Year at the Television_Society Television Journalism Awards for the first time in its history. The judges remarked that this was the year that BBC News 24 really came of age.

CONTENT

The channel has been promoted through BBC1 & BBC2 making it available to non - digital analogue viewers. It is described as a rolling news channel. The channel has seen several changes to help increase its credibility. In December 2005 Kevin Backhurst was promoted to the newly created role of controller of BBC News 24. And attention seeking graphics and music, analysis and features.
The channel has regular slots simulcast on other channels including BBC 1 (1, 6, 10 oclock news) others World Business Report, News Tonight, Sportsday, dateline London, Fast Track, Head 2 Head, The Record Europe.
At other times the station mainly carries rolling news coverage with reports, interviews and features, interspersed with occasional feature programmes. There are also regular sports bulletins, an hourly business update and weather forecasts every half hour provided by forecasters from the BBC Centre.
From 01h00 UK time the channel simulcasts with its sister. These half hour BBC News branded programmes are normally produced by BBC News 24. Sometimes they move to BBC World's studio. The World Today and World Business Report shown between 05h00 and 06h00.

Awards

In February 2006 BBC News 24 won the News Channel of the Year at the Royal Television Society Television Journalism Awards for the first time in its history. The judges remarked that this was the year that BBC News 24 really came of age.

MY OPINION

Having 24 hour access to BBC standard news is a great asset and I use it regularly. It helps the BBC hold its own against more commercial channels. The user interface, the picture is eye catching with the BBC icon on the left hand corner and a 24 hour clock. The headlines scroll along the bottom reflecting news & weather broadcast ahead. Digital quality adds crispness to the presentations, I’ve yet to notice anything spectacular in the music section but will continue to check it out. Today John Prescot and his dealings with a billionaire dominates much of the time. Pictures of him with the PM and around the country are complimented with documentary.