The BBC is to extend News and Ten by ten minutes on most days in the New Year.
The changes comes as the BBC responds to a revamped and reinvigorated rival News and Ten on ITV presented by Tom Bradby.
Here is the announcement from the BBC:
The BBC’s News at Ten is getting more airtime. After the success of a five month trial earlier this year, the extended Ten will give audiences even more news analysis and explanation of the day’s biggest local, national and international stories.
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From 11th January there’ll be more news from the Nations and Regions. The whole News at Ten will run to 10.45pm Monday to Thursdays – over a fifth longer.
We made the bulletin longer in the run-up to the General Election to offer more time to regional and national news. The extension allowed us to do a wider range of stories, across the UK and from around the world. The trial proved popular with audiences so we’re now able to make the change permanent.
The news bulletin will now have even more scope for considered and in-depth takes on the most significant news of the day, from the global to the local, with increased commitment to news in the nations and regions. The coverage will continue to reflect our public service commitment to giving audiences across the UK the most trusted and impartial news.
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Gavin Allen, Controller of Daily News Programmes, said: “Along with its sister programme at 6, the BBC’s 10 o’clock News is already the most popular news bulletin in the UK and in the New Year it will offer even more. Viewers will continue to see the fullest range of stories – and now we’ll have still more scope to explain the events that impact the country and help to make sense of the changing world around us.”
David Holdsworth, Controller of English Regions, said: “Through research, our audience has told us that they want more from our evening news service. The format we first tried before the election allows audiences to see more regional stories and gives us the opportunity to get under the skin of the issues alongside content that reflects arts and culture in different parts of the UK.”
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