BBC News has given details of how it intends to maintain its coverage during the Coronavirus Crisis.
Domestically, resources will go into Breakfast, News At One, News At Six and News At Ten broadcast on BBC One
The BBC News channel will have a reduction in branded programmes; shows including Politics Live and Victoria Derbyshire that are seen on BBC Two will be replaced with output from the news channel that will provide live coverage of major news conferences and government briefings.
There will also be a reduction in branded programmes on BBC World News – and more integrated working across live TV output behind the scenes. Some Persian TV programmes will be suspended.
Newsnight and The Andrew Marr Show with fewer technical staff, Newswatch, The Travel Show and Hardtalk will all be suspended.
Newsnight and The Andrew Marr Show will remain on air but will be operated by fewer technical staff; while The Andrew Neil Show, Newswatch and The Travel Show will be suspended. HARDtalk will also be suspended from next week.
Discussion show Question Time will move to the earlier time of 8pm on Thursday evenings, but without its usual live studio audience.
Director of News, Fran Unsworth, said: “These are unprecedented and difficult days. Trusted, accurate information is vital in a public health emergency and the BBC has a key role to play. We will continue offering our audience a continuous news service on TV, radio and online but this will look a bit different in the weeks ahead.
“Like many organisations we are unable to have all our staff on site due to the Coronavirus outbreak. We are therefore making some changes to what we do to streamline our output to ensure we can work with fewer people and protect the staff who are at work.”
Separately, continuing dramas including EastEnders, Casualty and Doctors have now ceased production.
