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.

Queen Elizabeth II funeral: How to watch today's TV and live-stream coverage.

by Thinus Ferreira

While millions of people will line the roads today in London, billions of people are expected to watch the live televised state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey today streamed online and broadcast in over 200 countries, in what is sure to set a new record for the world's most-watched TV event ever. 

The BBC is producing the bulk of today's live feed of the funeral ceremony and will be making use of a whopping 213 HD cameras placed inside Westminster Abbey, as well as St. George's Chapel and Westminster Hall, with 14 outside broadcast (OB) trucks transmitting from 10 different locations.

Here is how viewers in South Africa and across Africa can tune in:

ABC News

America's ABC News on YouTube will live stream the event starting from 11:15 with anchors David Muir and Amy Robach, along with correspondents Ian Pannell, Deborah Robert, James Longman, Maggie Rulli, Lama Hasan and Will Reeve.

Royal contributors are Omid Scobie, Robert Jobson, Imogen Lloyd Webber, Victoria Murphy and Ailsa Anderson.

Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 257 / TelkomONE)

Al Jazeera will cover the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II live from 10:00 this morning as part of special Newshour coverage, themed "Queen Elizabeth II: A Final Farewell".

BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256)

On BBC World News coverage starts at 11:00 led by Huw Edwards, Kirsty Young, Fergal Keane, David Dimbleby and Sophie Raworth.

Allan Little will be inside Westminster Abbey with analysis from royal correspondent Jonny Dymond. From five different points along the procession route Ken Bruce, Mishal Husain, Emma Barnett, Clive Myrie, Adele Roberts, John Murray, Mike Costello, Rachel Burden, Nuala McGovern, Chris Mason, Jamie Coomarasamy, Andrea Catherwood and James Naughtie will do reporting and commentary.

Britbox SA

Britbox will stream live coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, starting today at 10:30. Coverage will also be available to stream on-demand on Tuesday.

CBS News

Live-streamed on cbsnews.com and YouTube, Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell will anchor a CBS News Special Report live from London, with royal contributors Tina Brown, Julian Payne, Roya Nikkhah, Amanda Foreman and the former BBC royal correspondent Wesley Kerr.

CNN International (DStv 401)

Anderson Cooper and Erin Burnett will be anchoring live from London with special coverage kicking off at 11:00 today, with Christiane Amanpour, Max Foster and Richard Quest in London.

Like the BBC, CNN has reporters stationed throughout London, including at Westminster Abbey and along the procession route and at Windsor Castle.

Nada Bashir, Matthew Chance, Bianca Nobilo, Nic Robertson, Isa Soares, Anna Stewart and Clarissa Ward will provide commentary and reports, with Zain Asher and Julia Chatterley covering from New York.

CNN royal historian Kate Williams, CNN royal commentator Sally Bedell Smith and CNN contributor Trisha Goddard provide expert analysis and insights.

euronews (DStv 414)

euronews will cover the funeral proceedings of Queen Elizabeth live on the channel as well as live-streamed on its website from 11:00.

FOX News (StarSat 261)

FOX News will start live coverage at 10:00 today, with Martha MacCallum anchoring from The Canada Gate at Buckingham Palace. She will be joined by Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt and the British commentator Piers Morgan.

France24 (StarSat 259 / Openview 121 / TelkomONE)

France24 will broadcast the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II live on its TV news channel, with "special edition" live coverage also streamed from 10:00 this morning on France24's YouTube feed.

MSNBC (StarSat 263)

MSNBC's live coverage will start at 09:00 today with Chris Jansing anchoring. From 11:00 Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist and Katty Kay will anchor from London. From 16:00 Andrea Mitchell, Katy Tur and Chris Jansing will anchor MSNBC's special coverage.

NBC News Now

NBC News Now on YouTube and on nbcnews.com will live-stream the funeral ceremony as well, with Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Lester Holt anchor special live coverage of the funeral services starting at 11:00 today.

Showmax

Subscribers of MultiChoice's video streaming service across sub-Saharan Africa will be able to live-stream Queen Elizabeth II's on the BBC World News TV channel made available for free until 23 September. The live news channel is available to all Showmax subscribers regardless of their plan.

Sky News (DStv 402)

Sky News starts its special coverage today at 8:00 with anchor Kay Burley live at Westminster Abbey outlining how the day will unfold, with the channel's live feed also available on YouTube.

Anchors Anna Botting and Dermot Murnaghan start at 10:00 and will anchor for the day, with Anna Botting live from Westminster and Dermot Murnaghan reporting live from Windsor Castle as the procession begins to make its way from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, before concluding at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Sky News royal events commentator Alastair Bruce will provide analyses throughout the day. Kay Burley, Sarah Jane Mee and Gillian Joseph will be in the crowds in London and at Windsor Castle throughout the day.

Jayne Secker will be live from Windsor Caste at 18:00. Mark Austin will be anchoring from 20:00 as Sky News reflects on the day from Buckingham Palace with a look back at the events and key moments. 

Sky News will broadcast a round-up show of the day's proceedings and highlights at 22:00 tonight with Johnathan Samuels. Anna Botting will conclude coverage with the News at Ten at 23:00 South African time, live from Buckingham Palace.

Nigeria fines MultiChoice, StarTimes and TStv over R200 000 for airing BBC Africa Eye investigative documentary on Nigerian gangs.

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria has fined MultiChoice's DStv, China's StarTimes and TelCom's TSTV over R200 000 each for broadcasting the insightful "Bandit warlords of Zamfara" documentary as part of the BBC's BBC Africa Eye investigative news programme.

In a statement from Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), it announced that it has "imposed a N5 million (R201 467) sanction, each" on MultiChoice Nigeria, StarTimes Nigeria and TelCom Satellite Ltd., claiming that the BBC Africa Eye episode "glorified the activities of bandits and undermines national security in Nigeria".

Another Nigerian TV channel, Trust TV, was also fined the same amount for its own news documentary about the same topic entitled "Nigeria's banditry - The Inside Story".

BBC Africa Eye as an investigative TV news programme is broadcast on the BBC's BBC World News channel carried on various satellite pay-TV services throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and is shown on various terrestrial TV channels across African nations as part of syndicated BBC News content deals.  

It's not yet clear whether MultiChoice Nigeria, StarTimes Nigeria, TelCom or Trust TV will appeal the fines for broadcasting the deeply sourced and fact-filled documentaries bringing viewers first-hand accounts and footage of the criminal gangs in northeast Nigeria who are raiding villages, attacking drivers, abducting schoolchildren and killing people.

The hourlong BBC Africa Eye documentary with reporter Yusuf Anka and produced and directed by Kai Lawrence and Daniel Adamson, with Tom Watson as BBC Africa Eye editor and Marc Perkins as head of investigations, has already been watched over a million times on YouTube.

In "Bandit warlords of Zamfara", as told through the eyes of a Nigerian law student living in Zamfara and who has first-hand experience of the crime and violence perpetrated by the gangs, the BBC documentary shows the bodies of those killed - including children - and includes interviews with gang leaders as well as victims.

The NBC, in its statement about the imposed fines for credible news reporting content, claims that "While appreciating the need of educating, informing and enlightening the public on issues bordering on developments and happenings within and outside of the country, the commission wishes to seize this opportunity to advise broadcasters to be circumspect and deliberate in the choice and carriage of content deleterious to Nigeria's national security".

According to the NBC, the BBC Africa Eye documentary contravened regulations that states "no broadcast shall encourage or incite to crime" and that broadcasters must "ensure that law enforcement is upheld at all times in a manner depicting that law and order are socially superior to, or more desirable than crime or anarchy".

The pay-TV operators have to pay the fines before 30 August with the NBC warning them "to desist from falling into antics of using their platforms to promote and glamourise subversive elements and their activities".

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.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee TV coverage: BBC Lifestyle, Sky News and BBC World News.

by Thinus Ferreira

Viewers who want to follow the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the United Kingdom will be able to tune in to live coverage of various proceedings, as well as TV specials and special coverage on the BBC World News, BBC Lifestyle and Sky News channels.

BBC LIFESTYLE (DStv 174)

BBC Lifestyle will do both live coverage of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations of her 70-year reign, and air 5 special TV documentaries between Saturday 4 June and Monday 6 June.

The Queen Mother (2 episodes), Saturday 4 June 17:00

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was a wife, monarch, much-loved public figure and one of the most respected members of the British royal family.  This 2-part documentary reveals the dramatic inside story of the Queen Mother's life, highlighting the moments of pain and upheaval that ultimately defined her legacy.

The Queen at War, Saturday 4 June 19:00

This hourlong documentary is an exploration of Queen Elizabeth II’s experiences during the Second World War transformed a teenage princess into Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. 

BBC Platinum Party at the Palace, Saturday 4 June 20:30 (LIVE)

This two and a half hour-long show, broadcast live, is a variety TV special bringing entertainers together for musical performances from a star-studded line-up of artists. 

 Artists include Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow, George Ezra, Duran Duran, Andrea Bocelli, Mimi Webb, Sam Ryder, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sigala and Diversity. 

Other stars appearing at the event and in recorded messages include Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews, The Royal Ballet, Ellie Simmonds, and a specially recorded performance from Sir Elton John. Closing the show will be Diana Ross with her first UK live performance in 15 years. 

Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal (2 episodes), Sunday 5 June 17:00 

 This 2-episode documentary profiles Princess Margaret, whose life and loves reflected the social and sexual revolution that transformed Britain during the 20th century. 

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Sunday 5 June 19:05

The coronation of Elizabeth II was an enormous logistical operation, and an event of huge cultural significance. This fascinating documentary reveals the behind the scenes story of the momentous occasion, drawing on hitherto unseen archives and made with the co-operation of Buckingham Palace.

Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen, Monday 6 June 21:00

The territory premiere, Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen, will broadcast on BBC Lifestyle on Monday 6 June at 21:00, featuring never-before-seen home movies of the Queen filmed by the British royal family.

The 75-minute programme produced by BBC Studios shows Elizabeth II as a young girl and tells more of her story and her life as a young princess seen through her eyes and in her own words.

The unique documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of her upbringing and reveals the warmth of her relationship with her parents. 

It captures the first extended visit of Prince Philip to Balmoral in 1946 while the couple's engagement was still not public – a beaming Princess Elizabeth showing the camera her engagement ring. It also shows Princess Elizabeth as a young mother, with the King and Queen as fond grandparents to Prince Charles and Princess Anne. 

BBC WORLD NEWS (StarSat 256 / DStv 400) 

BBC World News will be doing comprehensive coverage in the build-up to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend, covering the official celebrations in London and how communities across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth are marking the occasion.

BBC World News special coverage will start on Thursday 2 June, until Sunday 5 June.

Platinum Jubilee: Trooping the Colour, Thursday 2 June 11:00 - 12:15 (LIVE)

Live coverage of the Queen's birthday parade, consisting of 1 400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians who will be joined by royal family members on horseback and in carriages. Viewers will also get to see the family during the famed "balcony" moment at Buckingham Palace.

BBC News Special: The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Thursday 2 June 19:00

An hour-long special by presenter Katty Kay, looking back at the day and forward to the rest of the weekend, include interviews with royal watchers, people partaking in the events, and members of the public.

Platinum Beacons: Lighting up the Jubilee, Thursday 2 June 22:00

The United Kingdom has a long-standing tradition of lighting beacons to celebrate royal weddings, coronations and jubilees. 

BBC World News will be broadcasting the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacons where thousands of candles will be lit by charities and community groups across the UK. A total of 54 Commonwealth beacons will be lit (one in each Commonwealth capital city), and the principal beacon will also be lit – an illumination of a "tree of trees" sculpture at Buckingham Palace.

Platinum Jubilee: A Service of Thanksgiving, Thursday 2 June 11:00

A service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London with BBC World News broadcasting outside of Saint Paul's in the morning, moving back to Buckingham Palace in the afternoon. The channel will not be broadcasting live footage of the service due to rights restrictions.

BBC News Special: The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Thursday 2 June 18:00

An hour-long special presented by Katty Kay, looking back at the Saint Paul's Cathedral Service of Thanksgiving earlier in the day.

The Big Jubilee Lunch, Sunday 5 June (LIVE)

Over 10 million people in the UK are expected to join the celebrations, with events including world record attempts for the longest street party. The occasion will be marked internationally too, with over 600 lunches planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond from South Africa to Canada. BBC World News will cover the event live globally from various street parties.

This special coverage will be presented by Annita McVeigh and Martine Croxall.

SKY NEWS (StarSat 258 / DStv 402)

Sky News will be covering the Queen's Jubilee celebrations with build-up programming starting on Thursday 2 June, covering public events and royal moments.

Absolutely Fabulous  actress Joanna Lumley will be a special guest for the famous balcony flypast at Trooping the Colour on Thursday 2 June, before joining Kay Burley and Sky royal commentator Alastair Bruce from 12:00 on Sunday 5 June for a full day of festivities. 

Sky News correspondents will be reporting live from street parties in the country for the Jubilee Big Lunch and from 15:00 on Sunday Joanna Lumley and commentators will cover the Platinum Jubilee Pageant where hundreds of artists, musicians and schoolchildren will come together to perform different chapters of the story of the country's longest-serving monarch.

Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills will be on hand throughout the 4 days of celebration with the latest news and analysis and a series of big-name guests, while royal insiders and people whose lives have been touched by the Queen will join Sky News daily.

Jubilee Breakfast with Kay Burley, Thursday 2 June 8:00 - 11:00

Kay Burley will be live outside Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The Queen's Birthday Parade (Trooping The Colour), Thursday 2 June 11:00 - 14:00

Sarah-Jane Mee presents live coverage of Trooping The Colour from outside Buckingham Palace.

The Jubilee Beacon Show, Thursday 2 June 22:00

Gillian Joseph is live at Buckingham Palace as more than 2 000 beacons are lit around the United Kingdom and Commonwealth to mark 70 years of the Queen's reign.

Jubilee Breakfast and Service of Thanksgiving with Kay Burley, Thursday 3 June 8:00 - 14:00

Kay Burley is at St Paul's Cathedral on the day a special service of thanksgiving is held to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Kay will be joined by those taking part in the service as well as Sky News correspondents around the UK.

Jubilee Breakfast, Saturday 4 June 7:00 - 11:00

Kamali Melbourne is outside Buckingham Palace as people around the country mark the third day of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Jubilee Breakfast with Sophy Ridge, Sunday 5 June 7:00 - 11:00

Sophy Ridge is live at Buckingham Palace on the final day of celebrations to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Sophy will be looking ahead to the day's Jubilee pageant, and the many big lunch events taking place around the UK.

The Jubilee Big Lunch, Sunday 5 June 12:00 - 15:00

Kay Burley presents live coverage from around the UK of the many big lunch events taking place to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, with special guest Joanna Lumley and Sky royal events commentator Alastair Bruce.

The Jubilee Pageant, Sunday 5 June 16:00 - 19:00

Kay Burley presents live coverage of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in central London, with special guest Dame Joanna Lumley and Sky Royal Events commentator Alastair Bruce.

All of your viewing options today to watch the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip on TV and as live streams online as a global audience of millions is expected to tune in.

by Thinus Ferreira

The funeral of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will be broadcast globally today on TV and streamed online to a worldwide audience from St George's Chapel with millions of people who are expected to tune in. Here is how you can watch:

The broadcast of Prince Philip's funeral service will start at 16:01 (South African time) after a national minute's silence starting at 16:00.

Only 30 people, including Queen Elizabeth II, will attend the service in person, along with the duke's four children: Charles, the Prince of Wales; Anne, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York; Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and their eight grandchildren.

Prince Philip's body that is now at a private chapel at Windsor Castle will be moved to the State Entrance and his coffin will be placed on a modified Land Rover that the duke himself helped to design.

The funeral will be held within the grounds of Windsor Castle and will be proceeded by a ceremonial procession inside the grounds of Windsor Castle that will start at 15:45, led by the band of Grenadier Guards with Charles and members of the royal family and staff from the royal households who will join the procession. 

Prince Philip's body will be carried in the procession across the short distance to St George's Chapel. The funeral service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with the Archbishop of Canterbury doing a blessing.

TV news channels will be accessing the feed and have lined up their anchors, royal correspondents and commentators for the funeral.

The BBC's official pre-coverage today will start at 13:30 today on BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) with coverage that will run until 17:20 and with the entire broadcast that will also be simulcast on BBC Brit (DStv 120), running on both channels under the theme "The Funeral of HRH Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh".

BBC News' Huw Edwards will anchor the BBC's coverage, with special guests ranging from Sir David Attenborough, Baroness Scotland, Alan Titchmarsh, and Baroness Grey-Thompson, who will weigh in to remember the man behind the crown.

Reporters include JJ Chalmers and Sophie Raworth are in Windsor reporting on the events from key locations around the castle, and will meet people participating in today’s ceremonial events.

Kate Shiers is the programme's executive producer.

CNN International's (DStv 401) pre-coverage today will start at 14:00 today with Christiane Amanpour who will anchor live coverage from Buckingham Palace leading into the funeral of Prince Philip. 

At 15:00 Anderson Cooper will anchor both funeral pre-coverage and the funeral event until 17:30, and he will be joined by Julia Chatterley and Richard Quests in New York, as well as CNN International correspondents in Windsor, London and Edinburgh.

From 19:00 Hala Gorani will take over as CNN International anchor for a 90-minute programme of funeral post-coverage and analysis. CNN will also live stream its funeral coverage on its website.

Fox News (StarSat 261) will also broadcast the funeral starting with pre-coverage at 14:00 with Martha MacCallum anchoring. 

MSNBC (DStv 263) will also broadcast Prince Philip's funeral with Alex Wit and Katy Tur anchoring.

Sky News (DStv 402) will start dedicated funeral pre-coverage today at 13:30 and is using the theme "Prince Philip's Funeral" for its rolling coverage. 

Sky News will broadcast the funeral proceedings in its entirety today, as well as doing funeral post-analysis. Sky News will also live stream its funeral coverage online on its YouTube channel.

Sky News will start pre-coverage on Saturday at 11:00 with Sarah Hawson from Windsor Castle, followed from 13:30 with Dermot Murnaghan anchoring. 

Mark Austin will take over anchoring duties from Windsor Castle at 18:00, with Anna Botting also anchoring from Windsor Castle from 20:00. At 22:00 tonight Anna Botting will reflect on the events of the day live from Windsor Castle.

America's NBC News Now at www.nbcnews.com/now will live stream the network's coverage to a global audience with Savannah Guthrie anchoring.

America's CBS will also do live coverage of Prince Philip's funeral with Gayle King anchoring today, and it will also stream live to a global audience on its streaming service CBSN on its www.cbsnews.com/live website.

America's ABC News will also do a live broadcast with David Muir and Deborah Roberts who will be anchoring. ABC News's coverage will be streamed to a global audience as well on its ABC News Live service at its abcnews.go.com/Live website.

PROGRAMMING NOTE. 2020 American presidential election: Coverage plans, times, anchors, correspondents and commentators of BBC World News, CNN International, Sky News and Al Jazeera.

by Thinus Ferreira

With Americans going to the voting booth on Tuesday in the 2020 American presidential election, here are the coverage plans of the various international TV news channels, including their programming times, the anchors, correspondents and commentators they will be using - including Omarosa Manigault Newman!

BBC WORLD NEWS (DStv 400 / StarSat 256)

Katty Kay and Andrew Neil who co-hosted the 2016 American presidential election will present the BBC's coverage under the themed banner of US Election 2020.

BBC World News will be reporting the race as it unfolds with live results and expert analysis from London and the United States. 

Katty Kay and Andrew Neil will start the BBC US Election 2020 programme from 01:30 (SAST South African standard time) on Wednesday morning.

Katty Kay will be broadcasting from Washington, with Andrew Neil providing interviews and analysis from London. 

Jon Sopel and Clive Myrie will be with the Donald Trump and Joe Biden campaigns during the course of Tuesday and into election night, with BBC reporters including Emily Maitlis and Nick Bryant in the crucial battleground states. A panel of expert political strategists will be assessing how the night is unfolding.

BBC US Election 2020 will feature big-screen graphic analysis from Christian Fraser, and Tina Daheley will also be bringing audiences news bulletins throughout the course of Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning BBC coverage will see Laura Trevelyan taking over in Washington, and Matthew Amroliwala and Reeta Chakrabarti in London from 11:00 SAST, running through to 15:00 on Wednesday afternoon; and from then on anchored by Jane O’Brien in Washington and Lucy Hockings in London. Katty Kay and Christian Fraser will be providing further analysis from 22:00 on Wednesday night.

"The 2020 US election cycle has been endlessly surprising, which is fitting for a year that’s been anything but normal. It will be a hard-fought contest right to the end, and I’m excited to bring global BBC audiences the story on election night and in the days after," says Katty Kay.

Jonathan Munro, the BBC's head of newsgathering, says "The US Presidential election is one of the world’s most important political events, and always has a big impact on politics across the world. Our goal is to make sure that we provide our audiences with the complete picture".

CNN INTERNATIONAL (DStv 401)

On CNN International Wolf Blitzer, Dana Bash, Anderson Cooper, Abby Phillip and Jake Tapper will lead coverage from the CNN Election Center on Tuesday 3 November and into Wednesday under the themed banner of Election Night in America.

CNN's Election Night in America coverage will officially start on Tuesday night at 23:00 (SAST). 

Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon will anchor CNN's late-night coverage into Wednesday morning. CNN correspondents Jim Acosta and Kaitlan Collins will be live from the Donald Trump campaign headquarters while Arlette Saenz and Jeff Zeleny will be reporting live from the Joe Biden campaign headquarters.

Also in CNN's Election Center will be its chief national correspondent John King who will report live from the CNN Magic Wall, as well as CNN political director David Chalian who will cover exit polls. 

CNN's senior White House correspondent Pamela Brown will be at the voting desk reporting updates from voting locations across the United States. Senior political analyst Mark Preston will provide analysis throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.

CNN's chief political analyst Gloria Borger, host and commentator Van Jones, and senior political commentators David Axelrod and Rick Santorum will do coverage from the analyst desk.

Senior legal analyst Lauren Coates and CNN contributor Ben Ginsberg will provide legal analysis.

SKY NEWS (DStv 402 / StarSat 258)

Sky News will start its rolling coverage on Tuesday night under its themed banner of America Decides from midnight (00:00 SAST) and into Wednesday.

Dermot Murnaghan who will anchor Sky News' coverage will be joined by the US correspondent Cordelia Lynch, as well as Omarosa Manigault Newman (former Donald Trump aide), as well as Kim Darroch (former British ambassador to the US).

Sky News says that its America Decides coverage will include live results, expert analysis, special guests and a bespoke augmented reality studio allowing viewers to visualise the "Race to the White House" like never before.

AL JAZEERA (DStv 406 / StarSat 257)

Al Jazeera says that the TV news channel will have comprehensive coverage of the 2020 US Election with anchors and correspondents reporting from the White House and on-the-ground in key battleground states across that country.

Al Jazeera's special, extended coverage under the themed banner of America Decides will kick off on Tuesday night 3 November from midnight (00:00 SAST) and into Wednesday morning as polls in America begin to close and results start to come in.

"We’ll have correspondents at the party headquarters of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and across the US in locations such as Washington D.C., Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles – speaking to voters about the issues that matter to them, and how they voted."

Al Jazeera says that the latest results and expert analysis will come from its Doha and Washington D.C. broadcast centres, with international reaction from Al Jazeera English’s extensive network of reporting teams around the world.

Viewers hugely upset after eMedia's Openview abruptly replaces BBC World News after 3 years with France24, says it's sorry for causing viewers 'distress' with the channel swop without warning.

by Thinus Ferreira

Openview decided to switch the BBC World News channel on its satellite pay-TV service for France24 – but Openview viewers are angry and upset, especially because it happened without warning and because they don’t see the French-based TV news channel to be in the same league as the global news reach of the BBC.

Viewers are mostly quiet about so-called “boring” TV news channels and their often seemingly mundane rolling 24-hour TV news coverage. 

But Openview didn’t bargain on just how much viewers actually value, want and watch BBC World News in South Africa and the rest of Southern Africa.

An avalanche of viewers have reacted negatively and with an outpouring of anger after e.tv abruptly replaced the international TV news channel BBC World News with France24 from 1 August 2020 on its Openview free-to-air satellite service without warning.

eMedia Investments added BBC World News on 4 September 2017 to Openview.

At the time, e.tv said in a statement that "BBC World News' reputation for global breaking news is a huge drawcard for us and we're delighted to be able to offer our viewers a window to the world of quality and integrity".

Now BBC World News is abruptly gone and replaced on Openview by the English-language feed of the French TV news channel France24.

Viewers flooded Openview with complaints.

On social media, Openview said "We have seen all your comments about BBC World News and France24.

"Our intention is not to make you unhappy, and we are sorry to have caused you distress. Let's welcome France24 as our new normal and continue getting the best news from around the world".

In response to a media enquiry e.tv says that the BBC World News contract ended and that it decided to go with France24.

 "The carriage agreement between BBC World News and Openview has ended," says Marlon Davids, managing director of e.tv channels.

"In accordance with our mandate to give our audience a range of choices, we’ve brought France24 on board. It’s not new to our platform and fared well when it was carried on our news and sport channel."

Viewers are extremely unhappy with the OpenView channel change that elicited hundreds of angry comments from furious and disappointed Openview viewers.

Richard Ainstley said "this is a real step backwards. France24 is pushing news from a French perspective, whereas BBC World News is a proper international news channel. Please reconsider. Have both if you like but I will not be watching France24".

Steven Hill said "Why don't you admit that BBC World News was no longer going to give it to you for free? France24 is giving it to you for free".

Richard Bamhare said "This is really bad. At least you could have asked us. BBC World News is much better than France24. And add Sky News while at it."

Clive Gumbo said "In terms of news BBC has got quality and world-class standards. The best that you could have done for your fans was to introduce both channels or at least just retained BBC World News".

Isaac Moleleki said "France24 is highly irrelevant to South Africans. I'm contemplating to reconnect my DStv if France24 keeps showing me North and West African pictures".

Moses Mavicks said "In future, give us notice and reasons in advance for removing a channel" and that "BBC World News wasn't the best but much better than this France24".

Rachel Theunissen said "BBC was giving us the real story of what's going on here in South Africa".

Sushil Magoo said "What a great disappointment. What a pity we bought this box. BBC World News is all we watch. Please bring it back now".

Graham Thomas said "Clearly nobody likes France24. If you can no longer broadcast BBC World News, at least go over to one of the other international news stations, for example TRT, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle news, CGTN. You are currently broadcasting on a channel that few or none watch".

Mandy Goettsch said "Openview is a total waste of time. BBC World News was the only reason I got it to start with. France24 has nothing to do with us and half the time we can't understand it either".

Johan Joubert said ""I joined Openview for the reason that BBC World News was the channel I was drawn to watch. Now there is nothing else. France24 definitely does not have the same quality news broadcast. We can just as well just watch one of the SABC news channels - not worth it sorry".

Mark Andrews said "the way the BBC World News channel was removed without warning or consultation with customers will damage the Openview brand going forward. I am fortunate enough that I am able to stream other international news channels but for many Openview customers this is not possible. Hopefully in future Openview will engage in communication with their loyal customers".

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 21 July 2020.

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


■ Netflix "losing its luster as a stay-at-home play".
Credit Suisse downgrades the video streamer.

■ Internal revolt inside racist FOX News (StarSat 261).
Anger and distress over rampant racism at FOX News, both on-air and off-air with growing despair behind-the-scenes under staffers about FOX News' role in demonising and spreading fear about black Americans in increasingly unhinged rants.

■ Fired American sports analyst Jeremy Roenick sues, claims he was sacked because of heterosexual discrimination.

■ Celebrities in masks are a bummer for for the paparazzi trade.
As Hollywood is in social distance-mode, celebrity photogs struggle to get the shots.

■ After this BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 400) report on how terrified Eastern Cape staffers are to work in horrific hospitals ...
... clueless and uninformed so-called Twitter commentators felt the need to weigh-in on the lack of coverage in South African media. A message to these "commentators": It helps to read.

■ Netflix's first original Egyptian series is ready.

■ M-Net's (DStv 101) MacGyver star Lucas Till says he was "suicidal" because of the now-fired, abusive showrunner Peter Lenkov.
Endured numerous instances of verbal abuse, bullying, and body-shaming.

■ Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and more FOX News (StarSat 261) anchors named in new sexual assault and harassment suit.

■ Netflix decides to cancel the Turkish drama series If Only after the Turkish government demanded censorship and that a gay character be removed.
Netflix execs decided to rather cancel the entire production rather than write out the gay character.

■ What we have learnt from the sudden disappearance of live sports on TV.
It created a buyer's market for advertisers.

■ Covid-19 forced Disney to delay production on all of its live-action Marvel shows for Disney+.
Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision pushed out, already-filmed second season of The Mandalorian will arrive later in 2020.

The new Netflix drama series Cursed is accused of stealing prop designs.
Staff with a spine cradling a skull mounted on top was created 4 years ago.
- Netflix's Cursed tried to imitate Game of Thrones but fails.

■ Ugly legal fight continues between the SABC and Owen Ndlovu.
Both the public broadcaster and the producer claim the other one owes them money.

■ eNCA (DStv 403) in a real fright as TV news channel's programming strategies fly out the window along with senior news executives after the arrival of competitor Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405).


■ Former SABC staffer entangled in R300 million Bakgatla Ba Kgafela’s TV academy saga.
The former SABC News executive producer Samuel Nakedi allegedly took R1.5 million of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela's R3.5 million investment into a media centre meant to operate as a TV academy to train young people in TV and film.

■ Netflix announces its most expensive film yet.
A Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling spy thriller, The Grey Man.

■ What Netflix can teach us about font psychology and branding [infographic].
Netflix is very intentional about every detail included in a show's thumbnail design.

■ KaNyamazane filmmaker wants to nurture local talent.
Thulani Mandlazi, director and founder of Mpumalanga Motion Pictures in Mpumalanga, struggling with equipment and funding, trying to get films on MultiChoice and M-Net's Mzansi Bioskop channel.

BBC Global News appoints Yewande Adewusi as new regional director for Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC Global News, the BBC’s international commercial news, sport and features arm, has appointed Yewande Adewusi as the new regional director for Africa.

Yewande Adewusi has been the commercial representative for BBC Global News in West Africa since 2016, focusing on rejuvenating the West African marketplace and driving key commercial partnerships in the region.

Based in Lagos, Nigeria, in her new role, Yewande Adewusi will have overall revenue responsibility for growing the commercial opportunities for BBC World News, BBC.com and BBC World Service.

Since the creation of the Africa regional office in 2015, BBC Global News says that it has made significant headway in growing its business through new long-form content and branded content initiatives.

Isla MacLeod, vice president for commercial partnerships in Europe, Africa and Central Asia at BBC Global News, says "Africa offers a wealth of opportunities for BBC Global News, with the team having recently secured clients across a broad range of sectors from the region".

"Strong relationships have been fostered with key individuals within the public and private sector, and having Yewande at the helm puts us in a great position to expand our commercial footprint across the continent."

Yewande Adewusi says "The BBC is unrivalled in its international news coverage of Africa. Known for the highest editorial standards, trust and impartiality, it’s an exciting time to connect African brands with our global audiences".

"I’m looking forward to furthering our commercial success within the region."

Coronavirus: BBC Africa launches The Breakdown as a weekly TV special with a summary of Covid-19 news for the continent.

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC Africa has started The Breakdown as a weekly Covid-19 TV special as a summary about the spread of the novel coronavirus, targeted for African viewers, as well as the Africa Coronavirus Minute that is done twice daily.

The Breakdown explains what governments in Africa and around the world are doing, the true cost of the lockdown and the science and health information audiences need to know.

The BBC's Africa news division incorporates health, business and fact-finding experts into the show to answer audience questions and concerns, while exposing the myths surrounding the pandemic.

Nisha Kapur, head of TV commissioning for Africa, says "With the amount of information and disinformation around Covid-19, audiences can turn to The Breakdown for factual, accurate and engaging content on what is actually happening and what they can do. The Breakdown brings the best of BBC Africa all in one place".

Coronavirus: MultiChoice's Showmax adds linear TV news channels for streaming during Covid-19 pandemic.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's video streaming service, Showmax, is adding the live feeds of 7 linear TV news channels to its offering as the world battles the Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic which has led to a 21-day national lockdown in South Africa that will start on Friday 27 March.

Showmax says it's adding the TV news channels to help keep subscribers up to date with information, news and developments around Covid-19 for people who want to stream-watch the news channels.

Showmax has added BBC World News, CNN International, Sky News, SABC News, Newzroom Afrika, Al Jazeera and euronews.

Showmax's TV news channels addition follows after MultiChoice made a selection of TV news and some other channels available on its DStv Now video streaming platform available for free to all South Africans including People’s Weather, SuperSport Play, PBS Kids, Channel O, TBN, BBC World News, CNN International, Sky News, eNCA, SABC News, Newzroom Africa and euronews.

StarTimes/StarSat now live streams over 100 international and local TV channels for free through its StarTimes ON app in South Africa and for users elsewhere in Africa, including BBC World News, africanews, NTA News, CGTN, Al Jazeera, France24 and CNC World.

Showmax was asked if it will be opening up access to content for free in the way that Amazon Prime Video this week started giving free access to multiple series from its kids catalogue. Spokesperson Richard Boorman told TVwithThinus that Showmax "is exploring a number of measures".

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 World News adds new weekly business show, In Business Africa, from February on Fridays, with Nancy Kacungira and Lerato Mbele-Roberts as presenters.

BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256 / Cell C black 501 / Openview 121) is adding a new weekly business show, In Business Africa, on Fridays at 20:30 with Nancy Kacungira and Lerato Mbele-Roberts as presenters.

Nancy Kacungira from Uganda will present In Business Africa from Lagos, Nigeria, while Lerato Mbele-Roberts will present from Johannesburg, South Africa.

In Business Africa the programme will try "to change the narrative of African storytelling by showcasing some of the continent’s most prolific business stories to global audiences".

In Business Africa will weekly look at "the major changes and progression happening on the continent" and will consist of a mixture of interviews, discussions and inserts about a wide variety of business topics from the continent. 

The 16 BBC News bureaux across Africa and its various correspondents will help contribute to the show., the show will also draw on the knowledge from an unrivalled network of correspondents.

The first episode of In Business Africa looks at what it takes to develop products that are truly made in Africa, to serve African consumers and create meaningful jobs along the supply chain. 

This will be followed by an episode about Africa’s move towards cashless transactions, particularly looking at the growing number of fintech start-ups and the rise of internet penetration. 

In the third episode, In Business Africa will explore how major infrastructure projects are transforming transport across the continent, and explore what that means for trade and travel. 

"There’s a growing appetite from global audiences for African news," says Charlie Villar, chief operating officer (COO) at BBC Global News.

"With two of the continent’s best business presenters and some of the world’s most established African journalists, In Business Africa highlights our commitment to the continent by offering positive, high production value programming that clients can partner with."

In Business Africa will repeat on Saturdays at 18:30, Sundays at 07:30 and 20:30, Mondays at 12:30 and Wednesdays at 12:30.