Re: [Swprograms] BBC Newscast Shifts Lineup on U.S. Public TV Stations

[<jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think it always has been part of PBS's plans to have a more global-oriented newscast.  The BBC on PBS was never considered more than a stopgap until that could be done.  Martin Savidge is an excellent journalist and this broadcast will evolve if given the time to do so.  Lately, PBS programing managers have been less patient allowing programs to find an audience (sort of like their commercial counterparts, inexplicably), so that is not at all certain.  It was the co-creator of "World Focus"-- WLIW--that brought "BBC World News" here in the first place.

I'm afraid that those looking for their daily fix of BBC News on television will have to subscribe to satellite or digital cable to get BBC America.  The latter runs full hour long BBC World newscasts at 6, 7 , 8 in the morning ET and a "BBC World News America" hour long news at 7 and repeated at 10 in the evening ET.  BBC America also has ramped up its coverage of the US elections, carrying the three debates and planning full all night coverage of election day returns.  BBC America also has a US-edited version of "Newsnight" with the infamous <g> Jeremy Paxton on Friday nights.

John Figliozzi

---- Kevin Anderson <k9iua@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> The replacement program many PBS stations/networks are airing is "World Focus," which is a poor substitute for the BBC.  One of the two statewide PBS networks I can receive made that switch, at a premium 5:30 p.m. local time spot no less, which I just complained to them about on their feedback link.  (The other PBS network I get carries a much delayed BBC news broadcast at 11:00 p.m., which is after my bedtime, plus really old news.)  While I appreciate "world" news, I also want a non-U.S.-centric view, which World Focus is not.  I'm guessing the distributors of World Focus gave PBS stations a great introductory carriage rate, cheaper than the BBC news program it is substituting [poorly] for, which they couldn't refuse in the tight financial times of today.
> 
> The 24-hour BBC television stream in my area is only on the digital cable coverage, at premioum prices that I can't afford to pay.
> 
> Sad.
> 
> Kevin Anderson
> 
> -------------------------------------
> 
> 
> --- On Wed, 10/22/08, Sandy Finlayson <sfinlayson@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > From: Sandy Finlayson <sfinlayson@xxxxxxx>
> > Subject: [Swprograms] BBC Newscast Shifts Lineup on U.S. Public TV Stations
> > To: "Shortwave programming discussion" <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 2:32 PM
> > I realize this is off topic from shortwave radio but I
> > thought the
> > following article from the New York Times might be of
> > interest to some.
> > 
> > http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/arts/television/07bbca.html?_r=1&oref=
> > slogin
> > 
> > It looks as if my local PBS station WHYY Philadelphia has
> > dropped the
> > BBC news which used to be on at 11 PM.  Frankly I'm
> > disappointed with
> > this move.
> > 
> > It also remains a matter of distress to me that the 24 hour
> > BBC News
> > Channel isn't available here.  I think the USA is about
> > the only place
> > on the planet where it is largely unavailable.
> > 
> > Sandy
> > 
> >  
> > --------------------------------------------------------
> > Mr. Sandy Finlayson
> > Director of Library Services &
> > Professor of Theological Bibliography
> > Westminster Theological Seminary 
> > Philadelphia, PA
> >  
> >  
> > 'Nothing makes a man more reverent than a library'
> > Sir Winston Churchill
> > 
> > 
> > 
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