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."

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".