BBC News 24 is now a permanent fixture on the BBC website. A ‘Watch Live’ link has been added to the BBC News front page to access the new stream and the channel’s availability will also been mentioned in relevant news stories.
Previously News 24 has only been available during major news events. The channel is being geographically restricted to the UK. International news channel BBC World is also available in a streamed version, but as a paid for service through providers including Real Networks. Other news and current affairs programmes are available internationally, but viewers see these at the relatively low bit rate of 34 kbps compared to the 225 kbps enjoyed in the UK.
The addition of News 24 follows the approval by the BBC Trust of on demand plans that include the streaming of all the BBC’s TV and radio networks.
