BBC News rebrands Click as Tech Now

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC News (DStv 400) has rebranded its long-running technology programme Click as Tech Now with the first episode under this renamed title which will broadcast on the TV news channel from 29 March and will also stream short videos from the programme on BBC.com as well.

Tech Now will continue to cover global trends and advancements happening in the technology space from AI and robotics, to health, climate, transport and gaming.

Tech Now has Adrienne Murray, Joe Tidy, Nick Kwek and Alasdair Keane as reporters.

Monica Soriano, Tech Now editor, says in a press release "With a wide network of technology reporters around the world, Tech Now brings a truly global perspective to the trends and advancements happening in the technology space today and showcasing their potential global impacts".

The first episode of Tech Now will be on Saturday 29 March at 00:30 (GMT), 06:30 and 18:30; Sunday 30 March at 04:30, 13:30, and Thursday 3 April at 08:30.

BBC News cancels HARDtalk after 27 years along with a further 130 newsroom staff cuts

by Thinus Ferreira

The BBC has cancelled its long-running HARDtalk interview show seen on BBC News (DStv 400) after 28 years which will end in March 2025 with the show's axing coming amidst further budget cuts and 130 news division workers losing their jobs.

On social media, Stephen Sackur, HARDtalk's presenter, said that "BBC News has announced plans to close HARDtalk after 3 decades holding the world's politicians and powerbrokers to account". He is also exiting the BBC.

Stephen Sackur noted "This is sad news for me personally, but much more important, I think it's depressing news for the BBC and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous, deeply-researched journalism. At a time when disinformation and media manipulation are poisoning public discourse".

He said "A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC director-general Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British government that the journalism of the BBC World Service is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it. Whatever the outcome of that, it seems it will be too late to save HARDtalk".

HARDtalk started in 1997. The BBC says "HARDtalk has done great work across the last 25 years, but we've had to make some tough decisions given the level of savings required and changing audience habits".

"People are coming to our news channel for live and breaking news, while across the whole of BBC News, we have hard-hitting long-form interviews and discussion on more platforms than ever, for instance via our global on-air editors, and our debate and discussion programmes."

BBC News ramps up coverage of United States 2024 presidential election, expands BBC World News America, adds Path to the Presidency roundtable show

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) is ramping up its coverage and airtime of the upcoming 2024 Unites States presidential election between vice president Kamala Harris and former American president Donald Trump, expanding World News America and adding a weekly Path to the Presidency roundtable show.

BBC News is adding extra hours of programming focusing on the upcoming US presidential election, including an expanded version of World News America anchored by Sumi Somaskanda and Caitriona Perry.

From 30 September World News America will be expanded from its 30 minutes to 90 minutes in total per day, airing at 23:00 for half an hour as the existing strand, and adding another hour from 01:00.

Sumi Somaskanda and Katty Kay are now also anchoring a limited-run, weekly roundtable show, Path to the Presidency at 00:30.

Sumi Somaskanda, Katty Kay and Caitriona Perry are also presenting the Swing State Voter Voices series, alongside correspondents Helena Humphrey and Carl Nasman in which swing state voters are interviewed about their opinions and concerns ahead of the election day.

Former BBC News anchor Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children, BBC 'shocked', admits it knew he was arrested.

by Thinus Ferreira

The former BBC News anchor Huw Edwards has pled guilty in a British court on three charges of making indecent images of children, according to overseas reporting.

The BBC in a statement said it was "shocked"; also that it secretly was aware that Huw Edwards was arrested last year and released on bail.

On Wednesday morning the disgraced Huw Edwards - who was the BBC's highest-paid presenter and resigned in April this year after he was simply gone and off-air for 10 months before that - appeared at the Westminster Magistrates Court in London.

Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to the charges of sex abuse images of children as young age age 7 for Category A - the most serious classification, Category B and Category C images.

BBC News reports the three charges relate to 41 images that were shared on a Whatsapp chat between 2020 and 2022. For this he was arrested in November 2023 and charged in April 2024.

These charges are also separate from other claims that were reported last year and that led to the spectacular downfall of the BBC News anchor.

Huw Edwards was suspended by the BBC in July 2023 following shocking revelations of sexual misconduct and that he had been paying a teenager for sexually explicit photos. He was hospitalised with depression shortly afterwards.

The BBC said it was "shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. We want to reiterate our shock at Huw Edwards' actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected."

The BBC in a statement said it was in fact " made aware in confidence that Huw Edwards had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation".

"At the time, no charges had been brought against Huw Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health."

"In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC. During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions."

Huw Edwards will again appear in Westminster Magistrates Court on 16 September when he will be sentenced and will likely receive a jail sentence which can be up to 10 years in prison.

BBC News investigation finds televangelist T.B. Joshua over decades raped, tortured, whipped and chained worshippers forced to undergo multiple abortions.

by Thinus Ferreira

A shocking investigation by BBC News in Africa is revealing that the late televangelist T.B. Joshua whose Emmanuel TV channel is shutting down on 17 January on pay-TV, over a period of decades raped, assaulted, tortured, whipped and chained worshippers in a secret compound in Lagos, Nigeria where he also ordered forced abortions.

BBC Africa's Africa Eye investigative unit did a 2-year investigation unearthing the shocking and numerous atrocities committed by the televangelist of the Synagogue Church of All Nations. 

The Synagogue Church of All Nations didn't respond to the allegations unearthed by BBC News' Africa Eye of T.B. Joshua who died in 2021.

The BBC's investigation found that T.B. Joshua carried out physical violence and torture - including child abuse and people who were whipped and chained - abuse corroborated by dozens of eyewitness accounts.

Multiple women on the record said they were brutally raped by T.B. Joshua - some for years in his secret compound in Lagos, Nigeria. Multiple women say they were forced to undergo abortions inside the church, with one woman saying she was forced into 5 abortions. 

One woman from Namibia was 17 when T.B. Joshua raped her the first time and she subsequently had 5 abortions.

Multiple witnesses have come forward to explain how T.B. Joshua did hoax "miracle healings" which were faked for the broadcasts on Emmanuel TV to viewers watching across the world.

ALSO READ: Emmanuel TV going dark on MultiChoice's DStv.

King Charles III coronation and concert: Your comprehensive TV guide.

by Thinus Ferreira

South African viewers will be able to watch the coronation of King Charles III today across multiple TV channels, with the unique Coronation Concert attended by the king and done by the BBC, which will be shown on Sunday night.

BBC News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256)), CNN International (DStv 401), Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat257), BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174), BritBox, Sky News (DStv 402 / StarSat 258) and SABC News (DStv 404) will all show the coronation of King Charles III today.

The unique Coronation Concert from the BBC featuring multiple performers will also be shown live to South African viewers on Sunday night at 21:00 on BBC Lifestyle.

BBC News

The BBC will have a live broadcast of the ceremony today.

"The BBC is committed to giving audiences everywhere a chance to follow the events around the Coronation, live," says Naja Nielsen, BBC News digital director. "We are determined to provide unique, first-hand access to this historic event through our programming and digital content with rich and distinctive coverage, expert analysis and the best video and pictures."

On Saturday BBC News will broadcast the coronation of Charles III live from 8:30. The live broadcast will cover all the ceremonial events as they unfold throughout the day, from the early military movements to the formal processions, and will give audiences a look at the ceremonial route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

Kirsty Young will be in a studio at Buckingham Palace and JJ Chalmers will speak to members of the military as they prepare for one of the largest parades in living history. 

Huw Edwards will provide commentary as the doors of Westminster Abbey open and Sophie Raworth will be outside speaking to guests as they arrive. Clare Balding will provide commentary for the ceremonial route and Anita Rani will join the gathered crowds.

The coverage will also feature reporting from teams around the world and major Commonwealth nations, who will provide global context and reflect on the legacy of the monarchy.

CNN International

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper will lead CNN International's special live coverage of the coronation of King Charles on Saturday beginning 11:00 outside Buckingham Palace with analysis and reporting from Christiane Amanpour and Max Foster.

CNN anchors Richard Quest and Julia Chatterley will contribute to CNN's coverage from the network's London studio alongside CNN royal historian Kate Williams, CNN royal commentators Emily Nash, Sally Bedell Smith and CNN contributor Trisha Goddard. 

They will provide expert analysis and share their unique perspectives on the historic coronation.

CNN reporters will be positioned along the coronation procession route including Bianca Nobilo outside Westminster Abbey, Salma Abdelaziz and Matthew Chance, who will report live from the crowds gathered along the Mall, and Anna Stewart.

CNN reporters will also provide perspective from commonwealth countries including India, Australia and Kenya. CNN's coverage of the coronation will also stream live on its website and app for free worldwide.

Sky News

On Sky News Kay Burley and Anna Botting will host coverage of the historic event, with Sky News royal events commentator Alastair Bruce and Sky News will also stream for free on its website and YouTube channel.

Kay Burley and Anna Botting will lead coverage throughout the day following the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey ahead of the service. Kay will be outside Westminster Abbey speaking to well-wishers and will be joined by historian Sir Anthony Seldon.

Anna will be live from Buckingham Palace at 11:00 with Patrick Harrison, former press secretary of 11 years to King Charles III and Sky News royal event commentator Alastair Bruce. 

Cameras will then follow the procession back to Buckingham Palace where Joanna Lumley will join the team for the famous balcony shots and flypast.

Sky News royal correspondent Laura Bundock will bring insight and analysis, while Sarah-Jane Mee and Kamali Melbourne will be amongst the action reporting live from the crowds on The Mall and other key locations around London.

From 19:00 Mark Austin will reflect on the key moments of a historic day at Buckingham Palace with Kristina Kyriacou, recent press secretary to King Charles III and Lord Simon Woolley, who has worked closely with the King. 

From 22:00 Gillian Joseph will present highlights of the coronation and at 23:00 Jonathan Samuels will do a special highlights hour.

BritBox

The coronation will be shown live and on-demand on the BritBox SA video streaming service, starting with live streaming from 12:00 on Saturday. 

BritBox will show King Charles III: The Coronation, produced by ITN and hosted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham.

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera's coverage will start at 09:00 on Saturday with Paul Brennan at Westminster, followed by ongoing coverage from 11:00 by Lauren Taylor, also from Westminster, and Jonah Hull and Charlie Angela from Buckingham Palace from 11:00. 

So Rahman will take over anchoring duties of the special event from Buckingham Palace from 17:00.

BBC Lifestyle

The BBC Lifestyle channel will carry a live broadcast of the day's coronation coverage from 08:30 on Saturday morning, done by BBC Studios Productions.

At 20:00 BBC Lifestyle has scheduled the special programme, Charles R: The Making of a Monarch. The programme tells the story of King Charles III's more than seven decades as heir to the throne. During that period, every step of Charles' life was captured on camera and his words recorded: from newsreel to home movies from interviews to documentaries - both about him and by him. This 60 minute documentary brings together a wealth of material, much rarely seen or unseen.

At 21:00 on Saturday night, BBC Lifestyle will have the special programme, Sing for The King: The Search for The Coronation Choir. A very special choir made up from singing groups of all shapes and sizes is given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing for King Charles III at the coronation concert.

On Sunday night at 19:30, BBC Lifestyle will show The Coronation: A Day to Remember. It will show moments of King Charles III's coronation, following the procession to Westminster Abbey, the ceremony and the return journey to Buckingham Palace where the newly crowned monarchs greeted the crowds.

On Sunday night at 21:00 BBC Lifestyle will show The Coronation Concert: Live. 

This unique Coronation Concert will take place at Windsor Castle. Produced, staged and broadcast live by the BBC and BBC Studios, the Coronation Concert will bring music icons and contemporary stars together in celebration of this historic occasion. 

The British pop group Take That, international superstar Lionel Richie, popstar Katy Perry, international opera star Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, singer/songwriter Freya Ridings and classical-soul composer/producer Alexis Ffrench are some of the artists who will be on stage at The Coronation Concert in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

They will perform in front of King Charles III and 20 000 members of the public and invited guests during the live broadcast.

BBC News channel removes 'World' but will still cover it as the BBC plans to cut back 1000 hours of TV programming on 2023.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Monday the BBC's global BBC World News channel will change its name to just BBC News when it merges its domestic UK channel with its global TV news channel and combine the roster of anchors in a dramatic cost-cutting move, with the broadcaster also announcing that it plans to cut at least 1 000 hours of original programming this year across its channels to save money.

A year in the making, BBC World News will delete the word "World" on Monday and just become BBC News - also changing its logo from white and red to black and red, as part of a massive cost-cutting drive merging the two channels into one and resulting in retrenchment.

Matthew Amroliwala, Yalda Hakim, Christian Fraser, Lucy Hockings, Maryam Moshiri and Sumi Somaskanda are becoming the new main anchors on BBC News.

Naja Nielsen, BBC News digital director, says that "Our aim is to create the best live and breaking news on both TV and on digital platforms, where more and more audiences are getting their news. We need to modernise the way we deliver the news – while addressing the financial challenges we face."

"The channel will be a single operation with two different feeds, just as now, so viewers in the UK and internationally will sometimes see the same content, sometimes different."

Naja Nielsen says "First, people should not expect any kind of ‘big bang’ at the beginning of April – we’re bringing in the changes gradually, in a phased roll-out, so things will continue to alter over the coming months. We want to keep the best of what we do at the moment, while introducing better ways of reporting what matters. Viewers will notice some differences from the beginning of next week."

"There will be more updates and live reporting from journalists across the UK and around the world, using modern mobile equipment to give audiences the latest information about what’s happening, where it’s happening – as well as information from reporters in the BBC newsroom."

"We will be putting the spotlight on our journalism, from our chief presenters to the newest reporters. Viewers in North America and anyone watching overnight) will see a new look from Washington DC, and we will be also broadcasting live from Singapore outside core UK hours."

The BBC tells TVwithThinus that BBC News (DStv 400) will continue to cover news around the world and will "move around the world from Singapore to the United States to London over every 24-hour period".

A BBC spokesperson said in response to a media query that "From 3 April our international TV channel will be called BBC News".

"It will – as today – have some output targeted at both global and United Kingdom audiences, alongside bespoke programming for global audiences."

"The anchoring of BBC News will move around the world from Singapore to the United States to London over every 24-hour period. The channel will carry the best of the BBC's journalism from our expert teams across our unique global footprint."

"It will offer enhanced coverage of breaking news and big live events reflecting the way in which audiences across all markets are increasingly coming together and seeking out trustworthy reporting and coverage during big shared moments such as the invasion of Ukraine, the fall of the Boris Johnson government, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the protests in Iran."

Hours cut

Meanwhile, in its latest annual corporate plan it released on Thursday, the BBC revealed that it will cut back at least 1 000 hours of TV programming this year as part of its cost-cutting drive, with half of the 1 000 hours coming from sport which the BBC will no longer be showing. 

The 1 000 hours programming cuts don't extend to news but the BBC notes that it is busy with "an annual reduction of 1 000 hours in content commissions across our portfolio". The BBC wants to try and focus more on producing "unique, high-impact content".

Tim Davie, BBC director-general, notes that the Coronation of King Charles and Eurovision 2023 are two of the global highlights that the BBC will be broadcasting this year.

The combined and relaunched BBC News and BBC World News TV channel will make its debut in April 2023.

by Thinus Ferreira

With Britain's BBC that is ending the separate BBC News TV news channel for viewers in the United Kingdom and BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) TV channel for global viewers, the British broadcaster plans to launch the new combined service in April 2023.

The new "BBC World News" - with a new name that has not yet been announced - will be shown globally, although domestic British viewers will get shortchanged as part of the BBC's drastic cost-cutting measures since the focus on the new TV news channel will be on global stories at the cost of reporting UK-focused news.

The new BBC TV news channel will be without any ads in the United Kingdom,will contain feature shows built around some of its high-profile journalists, and these shows will be available across multiple platforms.

According to the BBC, a new live and breaking news team will provide "universally available coverage of global breaking news" and "when relevant a UK-only stream for domestic news events".

Sports programming on the BBC news channel will feature a mixture of domestic and new global sports shows.

The new BBC TV news channel will broadcast from London during daytime hours in the United Kingdom which means that little will be changing for viewers watching the channel on for instance MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa or across sub-Saharan Africa.

The BBC TV news channel will then switch to broadcasting from Singapore, and then Washington D.C. to bring viewers news from the United States while its daytime hours there. This will again not be much of a change since BBC World News' American broadcast block has been following the British block in late-night hours as seen in Africa.

"Our aim is to create the best live and breaking video news service in the world - on our web pages, our apps, on BBC iPlayer and on our new TV news channel," says Naja Nielsen, BBC News digital boss in a statement.

"The way audiences consume news is changing. In recent years we've seen a huge surge in audiences coming to our live coverage, with tens of millions following live pages when big stories and events unfold."

"As the world's most trusted source of news, with a huge depth and breadth of expertise, the BBC is uniquely placed to offer audiences the best analysis and explanation as these stories are unfolding. So we are investing in new capability to cover breaking news stories - and our news channel and digital teams will work hand in hand to bring the best journalism to audiences both at home and abroad."

BBC Studios will be responsible for securing revenue for the new BBC TV news channel outside of the United Kingdom - primarily through ad sales - with that money then going towards funding the BBC that can be reinvested in the company's journalism.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 11 August 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:


■ BBC News finally apologises over its use of the "N"-word racial slur in a report - after 18600 complaints - and after a black BBC radio presenter had to quit.....
- After first defending the decision, outgoing BBC director-general now admits: "We should have taken a different approach". "We are very sorry for that".


■ South Africa's parliament again asks the SABC to stop its retrenchment plan at the South African public broadcaster.

■ Netflix is killing Christianity.
Instead of being out and about missionaries are sitting home binge-watching.

■ SABC foreign editor Sophie Mokoena accused of bribery and taking American money to tarnish Zimbabwe's image.

■ Meet the fund manager who doesn't like Netflix and won't touch it with investments.
"While Netflix can continue to add paying subscribers, they will never be able to deliver a high level of return on investment capital because a lot of that money is going to buy up new content."


■ Nigeria's disastrous and destructive National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) does propaganda for its controversial changes to the country's broadcasting code and banning pay-TV operators from acquiring exclusive content.
- Incompetence will destroy pay-TV in Nigeria.
- Confused director-general Armstrong Idachaba goes on a crazy rant against Iroko.
-  Armstrong Idachaba doesn't understand how English Premier League (EPL) rights work and are sold globally; gives non-sensical answer when confronted and told why pay-TV operators like MultiChoice and Supersport buy sports content in the first place.


■ There are 42 Easter eggs hidden in the second season of an Umbrella Academy on Netflix.
- Show creator responds over Umbrella Academy anti-Semitism claims.

■ Kenya DStv subscribers and GOtv subscribers furious at MultiChoice Kenya after shocking DStv price hike.

■ After both The Good Doctor and Grey's Anatomy will prominently address the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic in storylines in their upcoming new seasons, New Amsterdam will now as well.
All three American medical drama series seen on M-Net (DStv 101) will now incorporate Covid-19. The New Amsterdam change comes after the series pulled an unaired flu pandemic episode from broadcast earlier this year.

■ Netflix subscribers complain that there's nothing really worth watching (subscription required).
Video streaming services like Netflix promised near-endless choice. So why are viewers complaining and finding that there's nothing left worth watching?

■ The reality real estate star Ryan Serhant of Million Dollar Listing New York on VUZU (DStv 116 / Lifetime 131) turns to New Zealand after New York's housing market tanks because of Covid-19.

■ "Here's a question you shouldn't be able to answer: Computer, what is the nature of the universe?"
Voice search becomes more conversational.

■ MultiChoice's problem isn't going away as angry DStv Premium subscribers say the offering continues to be diluted and continue to flee DStv in droves.
"I'll soon wave goodbye to DStv."

■ Is Uyajola 9/9 on Moja Love (DStv 157) perpetuating negative stereotypes around black love?

■ Christopher Eccleston returns as BBC's Doctor Who - in radio stories.

■ Pakistan TV is changing: Lesbian lovers and a boxer in a burqa.

■ Disney is making its first Southeast Asia launch of its Disney+ streaming service.
Disney+ will launch on 5 September 2020 in Indonesia as Disney+ Hotstar.
- And: How Netflix went from foe to friend in Indonesia (subscription required).

■ Sundance, sunset: Is it over for independent film festivals?

■ Americans who no longer pay their monthly bills because of Covid-19 say they no longer pay their pay-TV account.

■ Creative TV creators should use the Covid-19 lockdown period as their moment to reinvent.

■ Formula 1 CEO confirms there will be a third season of the F1 reality documentary series Drive to Survive on Netflix.

■ South Africa's disgraced minister of communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, responds to photo of barefoot man in Eastern Cape kneeling in front of her as she wears Nike.


■ Global media and video streaming giants are putting the squeeze on smaller local media's plans for their own streamers.
As international TV business companies start to keep their library content for themselves and put new content on their own video streaming services, localised country and territory streaming services will have to evolve fast if they want to continue to try and compete against the world’s most powerful technology and entertainment companies.

■ Dan Levy says that his work as a red carpet correspondent was soul-crushing (starts at minute 5:35).
"It takes a very particular person to not be soul-crushed by the experience of interviewing on the red carpet. You're inherently not the person that the person answering questions wants to talk to."

BBC News announces it will get rid of 450 staffers in newsroom restructuring as the BBC plans to cover less stories, reduce spending on investigative reporting and journalists will increasingly be 'pooled' together to reduce duplication.

by Thinus Ferreira

The BBC's BBC News division is preparing to get rid of 450 staffers as part of a cost-cutting drive with the job cuts plan that was announced by the broadcaster on Wednesday.

BBC News has to save £80 million by 2022 (the BBC overall has to save £800 million) and retrenching part of the 6 000 staff complement is part of the plan. From this 6 000, 1 700 BBC News staffers work outside of the United Kingdom.

The job cuts and newsroom restructuring will very likely impact the BBC's global TV news channel BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 400) although it's not yet exactly clear how.

The BBC's Newsnight will axe around 12 positions while production of its in-depth films will be halved and spending on investigative journalism will be reduced.

On-screen BBC news presenter jobs willalso be cut down.

Fran Unsworth, BBC News director, says "The BBC has to face up to the changing way audiences are using us. We need to reshape BBC News for the next decade in a way which saves substantial amounts of money".

"We are spending too much of our resources on traditional linear broadcasting and not enough on digital."

BBC journalists will increasingly be "pooled" in centralised teams, instead of working for specific programmes to reduce duplication by doing multiple versions of a story for different programming parts.

Fran Unsworth told BBC News staff that BBC News covers around 100 news stories daily across all of its output platforms which is "overwhelming" the public and not reaching audiences.

"Producing fewer stories means we have to be a smaller organisation. Never in my career have I felt this organisation is quite under the threat that it currently is. There are many that believe that how we are funded is no longer appropriate when consumers seem to prefer to pay just for what they use."

"I do need to be honest with you: this organisation has to face up to the changing way that audiences are using us. We have to adapt. We need to create a modern newsroom that is built for the future and not for the past."

"A modern newsroom needs to work smarter. We need to collaborate more and put the BBC News brand first."

BBC News' Africa editor and correspondent Fergal Keane stepping down from reporter role after revealing he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC News'Africa editor and correspondent Fergal Keane is stepping down from his editor and reporter role after revealing that he's been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for several years.

The multiple award-winning veteran war reporter who was seen on BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 400) covered and reported from multiple international conflict zones for years, including the genocide in Rwanda.

Jonathan Munro, the head of BBC News newsgathering in an email to staff announced that Fergal Keane is leaving his position and that "the reasons behind the decision are personal. For several years, Fergal Fergal has been dealing privately with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from several decades of work in conflict zones around the world".

"He has been supported throughout this time by friends and colleagues in News, as well as receiving professional medical advice. However, he now feels he needs to change his role in order to further assist his recovery. It is both brave and welcome that he is ready to be open about PTSD."

Jonathan Munro praised the highly-respected foreign correspondent for bringing "huge insight, experience and thoughtfulness to the role, covering a wide range of different stories across the continent".

Fergal Keane is in discussions with BBC News over a new role "that will enable him to continue to provide original and compelling journalism". He will also "help to "guide and nurture emerging talent in the United Kingdom and around the world".

The Irish Fergal Keane joined the BBC in 1989 as Northern Ireland correspondent and became Southern Africa correspondent in 1990, after which he also became Asia correspondent for the BBC. He was later appointed as BBC News Africa editor.

BBC News wants a review of Donald Trump's rally security after BBC cameraman Ron Skeans is physically attacked at campaign rally in El Paso.

BBC News wants a review of the security at campaign events of the American president Donald Trump after the BBC News cameraman Ron Skeans was physically attacked at a campaign rally in El Paso, Texas in the United States on Monday.

Ron Skeans, covering Donald Trump's El Paso campaign rally for BBC News, told BBC News that the man wearing a red Make America Great Again cap, shoved and swore at him and other TV news crews. "I didn't know what was going on".

The man, allegedly drunk, almost knocked him and his camera over twice before he was wrestled away by a blogger.

Donald Trump witnessed the attack. He stopped his speech to ask if Ron Skeans was okay with a thumbs-up, and continued on with his speech after the cameraman returned the gesture.

The BBC says it has written to Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, asking for a review of security arrangements for the media attending the president's rallies following the attack on its cameraman.

The BBC's Washington correspondent Gary O'Donoghue was sitting in front of the camera and told the BBC in a radio interview that "it was an incredibly violent attack. This is a constant feature of these rallies - a goading of the crowds against the media".

The BBC Washington editor Eleanor Montague said: "The crowd had been whipped up into a frenzy against the media by Trump and other speakers all night."

Paul Danaher, the BBC’s Americas bureau editor said "Access into the media area was unsupervised. No one in law enforcement intervened before, during or after the attack. It is clearly unacceptable for any of our staff to be attacked for doing their job".

BBC News Africa sending 50 reporters to cover Nigeria's upcoming elections on the day and in the run-up to 16 February, election coverage fused into several BBC programming strands.

As Nigeria prepares to hold elections on 16 February the BBC News plans comprehensive coverage from the West Africa nation for local, African and international audiences, sending 50 reporters to cover it.

BBC News will do special programming on TV, radio and online across all BBC Africa's 12 language services including English and French as well as Nigeria-based BBC News Yoruba, BBC News Hausa, BBC News Igbo and BBC News Pidgin.

BBC News will also continue with its Countering Fake News information and educational campaign.

"BBC News pioneered fact checking programming in the United Kingdom. In 2018 I pledged that the BBC's international services would move beyond just talking about the global 'fake news' threat," says Jamie Angus, director of BBC World Service group.

"We commissioned in-depth research that helped us to understand the processes and motivations behind 'fake news'. We have taken action in Africa and in India to provide fact-checking services that will help audiences to identify reliable sources and disinformation from fact."

The BBC will be sending over 50 reporters to cover the elections - the largest election coverage deployment by an international broadcaster.

"For the first time, a pre-election fact-checking project will aim to verify or debunk claims made by candidates," says BBC News.

From 4 February each morning, the global breakfast show Newsday (6:00 to 10:00 South African time) will offer an insight into how Nigerians and people from various other parts of Africa view this election.

The BBC's TV programme for Africa, Focus on Africa on BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256 / Cell C black 501 / Openview 121) at 17.30 will be live in Nigeria for two weeks and will be analysing the media campaigns by candidates and bringing to you a variety of voices from across the country.

Fact Finder will present a special edition on the growing use of fake news in elections. The programme will be working with credible fact-checking organisations to evaluate the veracity of claims and counter-claims as well as pledges made through the Nigerian electoral period.

BBC Africa's daily business programmes Money Daily, Mitikasi Leo (Swahili) and Cash Éco (French) will all air live from Lagos on 13, 14 and 15 February ahead of the presidential election and after the poll.

The following daily TV news programmes which are rebroadcast by partner stations across Africa will also bring in-depth reporting around the elections: Afrique - BBC Infos, Hausa - Labaran TV, Swahili - Dira Ya Dunia, Somali - Caawa iyo Caalamka.

On 16 February throughout the day there will be commentary and analysis from the BBC's correspondents across the African continent and updates will continue daily as the results come in.

"We are prepared to deliver memorable coverage of what is set to be the most competitive election in Nigeria and even across Africa, says Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, the BBC’s Head of West Africa Languages.

"Our audiences across the continent and around the world can now keep up to date with the action in 12 languages including English, Hausa and the newly launched Igbo, Pidgin and Yoruba languages."

"We will bring key interviews from politicians, commentators and viewpoints from voters on the ground. From every state, whatever the issue, BBC Africa will be there."

BBC News appoints Ben Hunte as its first gay correspondent, will focus on 'finding and telling stories from the LGBT community'.

The BBC has named Ben Hunte as the British Broadcasting Corporation's first gay correspondent for BBC News.

In the newly-created role, BBC News says that Ben Hunte as its first LGBT correspondent, will report on the stories, issues and debates surrounding sexuality and gender and focus on providing insight and analysis on matters affecting the LGBT community in the United Kingdom.

Ben Hunte who also appears on BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256 / Cell C black 501 / Openview 121) in 2018 became the presenter of BBC What's New?, the BBC's first TV programme and digital service for children in Africa.

"I'm delighted to be taking on this important new role for BBC News and I am looking forward to finding and telling stories from the LGBT community," says Ben Hunte in a statement.

"BBC News has a rich heritage of covering issues and debates from the LGBT community," says Richard Burgess, BBC News' UK news editor.

"I'm thrilled that Ben will be taking up this dedicated role which aims to strengthen our offering of LGBT stories and original journalism across the BBC".

Ben Hunte graduated from the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus with a degree in neuroscience, before studying TV journalism at City University of London.

BBC News launching Cut Through the Noise, as a new weekly news programme on Facebook Watch.

The BBC's BBC News division is launching a new weekly news programme, Cut Through the Noise, on Facebook Watch, it's first non-American news programme on the social media platform.

Cut Through the Noise will be done from BBC News' Washington bureau or somewhere else in the field and cover a different issue weekly.

Facebook Watch rolled out internationally in August, a year after it became available in the United States only.

"Social media is an important source of news and information for many Americans, so we are always looking for new ways of bringing our audiences high-quality, non-partisan news coverage they can trust from around the world," says Jim Egan, BBC Global News chief executive, in a statement.

Campbell Brown, head of global news partnerships for Facebook, says: "Earlier this year we made a commitment to show news that is trustworthy, informative, and local on Facebook."

"As a part of that commitment, we are creating a dedicated section within Watch for news shows produced exclusively for Facebook by news publishers, and they will receive marketing support in News Feed."

BBC News boss James Harding quits to start a new media company 'with a distinct approach to the news and a clear point of view'.

James Harding (48) has quit as the boss of BBC News and will be starting his own media company.

James Harding will leave the British Broadcasting Corporation in early 2018 where he has been director of news and current affairs.

James Harding in an email to BBC staffers says "There is some journalism that the BBC, for all its brilliance, can't, and probably shouldn't, do. And that's what I want to explore: I am going to start a new media company with a distinct approach to the news and a clear point of view."

"I know I will enjoy the chance to do some more journalism of my own and, at such a critical time, I'm seriously excited about the prospect of building a new venture in news."

Knowing that his letter would be leaked, James Harding says of BBC News "We have our shortcomings, no doubt."

"But, in these fast-changing times and on the back of a crisis five years ago, I am proud to have worked for BBC News as we renewed our reputation for responsible, powerful journalism: agenda-setting coverage of politics, business and the society we live in; current affairs exposing controversial issues with discipline and determination; the best and bravest international reporting, when big moments in history unfold and when under-reported stories desperately need to be told."

Tony Hall, BBC director general, says "James has done an incredible job during a hugely complex and momentous period of British and world history".

"He has led the BBC's coverage through two referendums, two general elections, an astonishing US presidential election, not to mention a series of extraordinary events at home and abroad."

"In the years James has been with us he's played an important part in modernising and changing the BBC, but beyond that, he has been a first-class colleague and a pleasure to work with."

The BBC will announce a BBC News replacement for James Harding at the end of 2017.

The end of the CBS Evening News for DStv subscribers on Sky News as CBS News suddenly drops Sky for a new news sharing pact with BBC News.

For South African and African viewers it's abruptly goodbye to the daily CBS Evening News that DStv subscribers have been able to watch on Sky News (DStv 402) for years, with the BBC's news division, BBC News and the news division of America's CBS broadcasting network that have joined forces to share resources.

The BBC News and CBS News deal means an end to the deal Sky News and CBS News had.

One of the casualties for South African and African DStv subscribers is the loss of the daily half hour TV news bulletin CBS Evening News.

African and South African DStv subscribers can also watch the NBC Nightly News on CNBC Africa (DStv 410).

Until now, the only one of America's big three nightly TV news bulletins that couldn't be seen in South Africa was ABC's World News Tonight. Now the CBS Evening News is gone too.

The Sky News electronic programme guide (EPG) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform still shows the CBS Evening News listed at 03:30, although it's been dropped immediately, with the new BBC News and CBS News deal that has come into effect immediately.

It's not clear if the BBC might add the CBS Evening News to its BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) channel, although its unlikely since it didn't show ABC's World News Tonight while it had a news deal with ABC, the one that is being replaced by CBS.

The BBC News and CBS News deal means the two global news operations will share resources, including news gathering and editorial output in New York, London, Washington and around the world. Both would be allowed to access news videos and reports from each other.

"CBS News is completely committed to original reporting around the world – a commitment clearly shared by the BBC," says CBS News president David Rhodes in a statement. "There's no better partner to strengthen and extend our global coverage than BBC News."

In a statement Jonathan Munro, head of news gathering at BBC News, says BBC News "will benefit from CBS News' focus on original journalism, their significant radio and digital operations and their extensive affiliate network which covers every state in the Union."

James Harding, the BBC director of news and current affairs in the statement says "there's never been a more important time for smart, courageous coverage of what's happening in the world".

"This new partnership between the BBC and CBS News is designed to bring our audiences - wherever you live, whatever your point of view - news that is reliable, original and illuminating. Our ambition is to deliver the best in international reporting on television."

KEEP CALM. Epic TV news blooper leaves BBC News in utter silence as news anchor Huw Edwards sits quietly for over 4 minutes.

Technical problems at the Beep left the BBC News channel out of news and viewers looking at the stoic BBC news anchor Huw Edwards who literally sat in silence for over 4 minutes behind the anchor desk in London.

Besides the BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) channel seen in South Africa and worldwide, the BBC also runs the domestic BBC News 24-hour TV news channel that experienced problems on Tuesday night, creating an epic "silent movie" blooper for the ages.

At 22:00 on Tuesday night, viewers watched in silence as Huw Edwards simply sat in silence and proved why the British are renowned for their "Keep Calm and Carry On".

After four minutes the BBC managed to sort out the technical problems and Huw Edwards calmy said sorry to viewers and apologised for "a few technical problems".

Later during a radio interview he said that "it has never happened before. No matter how experienced you are, and I have been presenting for 25 years, its a very unusual set of circumstances".

The BBC said its system crashed and the BBC had to switch to a back-up system.

Some viewers were quick to chip in with chirps on Twitter:

Watching Huw Edwards do nothing on BBC news is kinda absorbing, like a lava lamp

— Ian Ford (@ij_ford) June 20, 2017

BBC headquarters right now #bbcnewsten pic.twitter.com/UatJL0RBBA

— Joanne the Scammer (@KnightDamian) June 20, 2017

BBC considering merging its international TV news channel, BBC World News, with its domestic BBC News channel in the UK to cut costs.

The BBC is considering merging its two news channels, its international TV channel BBC World News, and its domestic BBC News channel in the United Kingdom to cut costs.

In July last year plans emerged to turn the BBC News channel seen in the UK only, into an online channel only.

That has not happened. 

Of course, the TV viewership and reach of the BBC's international TV news audience keeps growing, making it unlikely that BBC World News will become an online-only channel or close down. 

And yet the BBC is being forced to dramatically cut costs. Now, one of the solutions on the table is to merge the local and the international BBC News channels, as first reported by The Guardian.

The BBC runs BBC News as a domestic 24-hour TV news channel, alongside an international and slightly differentiated channel feed, BBC World News, using the same resources.

Sometimes international viewers get to see BBC News coverage when BBC World News switches to BBC News for certain events - similar to when CNN International (DStv 401) switches to the CNN version seen in America.

Programmes like Outside Source is also simulcast and shown on BBC World News and BBC News at the same time.

James Harding, the BBC's director of news and current affairs, has said that closing down one of the channels is not on the agenda.

Yet, possibly merging the two channels into one will effectively mean the loss of a channel if the plan is enacted.

In South Africa and Africa, BBC World News is carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform on channel 400, and on On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat on channel 256.

As part of cost-cutting plans announced on Tuesday, the BBC is looking at the possibility of replacing BBC News and BBC World News with just one 24-hour TV news channel as "a single new BBC channel offering a global agenda from London".

The BBC News channel alone costs the BBC £63 million (R1,45 trillion) per year to run. It's not clear how much BBC World News costs per year to operate.

BBC considering making its 24-hour TV news channel, BBC News, an online channel only; will have implications for BBC World News.

As part of dramatic cost-cutting the BBC is considering making its 24-hour TV news broadcast channel an online news channel only which could mean the disappearance or radical changes to BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256).

The British Broadcasting Corporation runs BBC News as a domestic 24-hour TV news channel, alongside an international and slightly differentiated channel feed, BBC World News, using the same resources.

The Guardian reports that the BBC is considering changing BBC News into an online news channel only to cut millions of pounds in cost, scrapping its broadcasting footprint.

Taking BBC News off air and online only will undoubtedly impact BBC World News as the international version of the channel seen in South Africa and elsewhere in the world.

The BBC has not taken a final decision on the move, and declined comment when The Guardian asked about the plan. BBC News remains the most watched TV news channel in the United Kingdom.

A paper has been put together about the news channel from the British public broadcaster and its future, and the BBC is considering ending BBC News as a TV channel because rolling broadcast news has become too expensive as people increasing move to the internet to get their news.

In South Africa, 24-hour TV news channels like eNCA (DStv 403) and ANN7 (DStv 405) have similarly started with cost-cutting and scaling back on budgets.

James Harding, the BBC director of news, recently said "there is a shift from rolling news channels on TV to streaming news on mobile. This represents an opportunity as exciting as the launch of 24-hour news in 1997 and will force the BBC to think how best we reach people".