Great channel shame about the news . (BBC News 24)

Member Name: eiley123

Product:	BBC News 24
Date:	08/08/07 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Informative , news as it happens , interactive , interesting , concerns us all

Disadvantages: News is repeated too often and can be intrusive .Becomes boring .

BBC News 24 runs quite literally 24 hours a day , 7 days a week on freeview channel 80 . It can be viewed over the internet via bbc.co.uk and on satellite channel 503 , and cable on channel 601 .BBC News 24 is also shown through the night on BBC one and two .

BBC News 24 is a dedicated news channel which was launched ,only on analogue cable television ,on the 9th of November 1997 at 17:30 . It was launched as the BBC began it's development of possible cable and satellite channels and as a rival to Sky News ,which had been on screen since 1989 .It took legal intervention from the European courts to fully allow its transmission and so end Skys cherished monopoly .

Breakfast was launched on BBC one in 2000 . Since then this programme has run simultaneously on BBC one and BBC News 24 .

BBC News 24 on-line service provides highly informative news and articles whilst remaining easy to navigate .There is the option to have your say and interact and to check out local , as well as world news .

As with most things there are good and bad aspects to viewing BN24 .

THE GOOD
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Events are often shown as they happen . There is usually a streaming banner running along side whatever news is being broadcast at the moment . This banner , at the bottom of the screen , will have the very latest news as it is happening .

BN24 is part of the BBC's interactive viewing . As such at the press of a red button on your remote control you can access individual local and world news plus information regarding the weather , stocks and shares and much more .

On the hour there are usually the days headlines with brief details . These headlines are usually mentioned each quarter of an hour . As soon as a significant event or news worthy moment happens you are taken to that item . The fact that news is viewed on an instantaneous basis often makes for moving and heart stopping reports .

The news is available in depth whenever you want to access it . This is perfect for shift and night workers . This is even useful just for parents who want to watch the news in depth but in peace without little ears around .

There are a couple of special programmes such as hard talk and click on-line and the occasional in - depth reporting of sporting ecents .

THE BAD
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New items are repeated far too often . I understand the thinking behind this but it can be a pain .

Some items which are sensitive are shown too much and the reports end up seeming intrusive and insensitive . There is also the risk of major events being trivialised in viewers minds and the viewer becoming desensitised.

If you are watching BN24 and the regional news comes on it will be London News . I often forget I am on this channel and for a moment wonder where Look North has gone .

BBC NEWS 24 AS A VIEWING EXPERIENCE.
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I watch BN24 on and off throughout the day and evening . If I hear or read about anything happening currently ,which I am interested in or which seems particularly significant , I usually put BN24 on .

It is strange to think how many events of major World importance have happened since BN24 came into exsistence and how many I have watched and been moved by on this channel .

September 11th 2001 .
My husband was ill that day and home from work . I only worked weekends at that time . We were watching a little news on the telly before Hubby's doctor's appointment . As I made a drink I heard him shout ' F****ing hell look at this ' Sorry for the language but it's as true an account as I can remember . Rushing through there was a replay of that first plane hitting the tower . We sat mesmerised as the minutes and hours passed and the days events unfolded . Initial thoughts that it was just a tragic accident were lost with the shock realisation that it was a terrorist attack on never before seen proportions .

Those first few hours viewing showed the true horrors of people screaming out of top windows in desperation . Of people jumping to certain death to escape the flames . I find I am still so moved just writing this .

Throughout the days and weeks I know these events were portrayed far too often . It became almost trivialised and like watching special effects . That is why I do not always agree with BN24 reshowing of new events . However it is necessary to see such happenings and not shy away from lifes horrors . To be aware is to be able to make a difference . At least that's what I hope .

Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami
Again a sad and traumatic piece of news . As we all sat enjoying our Christmas glow at this side of the world an unthinkable occurence was happening at the other side of the world . An enourmous Tsunami , or Tidal Wave as we called them as kids , was overpowering vast areas of eastern countries resulting in the killing of hundreds of thousands of people , loss of homes , livliehoods and animals .

Watching BN24 in depth brought tragedy to life again and into your very homes . I am sure this increased news coverage is one of the reasons this tragedy received such a large amount of charitable donations .I know it was also the scale of the disaster but with such news being so instantaneous and in depth it does touch you greatly .

April 9th 2003 Saddam Hussein toppled in Baghdad .
The regime of Saddam Hussein officially fell on this day although the Iraqi leader was not found for quite a while . This day saw scenes of jubilation which may have been brief but were welcome at the time . The sight of Iraqi citizens dancing with glee was welcome .

Eventually when Saddam was found hiding in a hole his arrest was televised also . Here lies the problem of infringing human rights no matter what we think of the person .

May 3rd 2007
Little Maddy missing in Portugal feared abducted to god knows where .The television coverage seemed too intrusive again but was wanted in an attempt to keep the public's interest alive and the hope of finding her possible .

And Many, Many more events .

OVERALL
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This has been a personal review for me as it has made me realise just what significant news , often bad , I have watched in a way my parents never could . Wars now have almost every action videoed . There is really nothing which is sacred these days although governements and producers often decide just what we can actually view .

Since BN24 has been on the air there have been just so many monumental happenings ;-
Peace in Ireland .
9 /11
Iraq
Afghanistan
The Tsunami
A royal wedding
George Bush
Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
July 7th's terrorist attacks.
Weapons of Mass destruction .
This years floods in England .
This years heatwave in Europe and the Meditteranean .
The Missipi flooding and hurricane Katrina .
Camp x.ray in America
The death of David Kelly .
Foot and Mouth disese and it's recent return .
And on and on .

On the whole it certainly has been the good , the bad and the ugly . As we entered this century it is sad how many news items have been bad and just how many relate to our climate and freedoms changing . BN24 has provided professional coverage throughout , though much of this reporting has happened as soon as things happen . You have to take your hats of to the reporters who risk life and limb to provide this wealth of information .

Whether you are into news and current affairs , or just give them a cursory glance , BN24 will cover as many events as possible and help you gain an insight . Personally I know the news can be depressing but as we all share the same planet I think it is all relevant and needs to be reported on .

Let's hope there is good news to come .

Thanks for reading
copyright Eiley 2007

Summary: News as it happens