This article featured in the January issue of the RTS members magazine Television. To read more visit: rts.org.uk/television-magazine/january-2016.

Next month, the BBC will unveil a longer version of the BBC Ten O’Clock News. The flagship bulletin will also come with enhanced production values. Even though the changes to the programme, fronted by Huw Edwards, have been under consideration for months, it will be seen as the latest round in the “battle of the bongs”, following the October relaunch of ITV’s News at Ten, with the user-friendly Tom Bradby.

The 26-minute Ten is the shortest of the BBC’s main bulletins and is produced in its newsroom with robotic cameras. Apart from being longer, the rebooted programme is likely to occupy a bespoke Studio B, at present home to Newsnight, with its integral camera crews and specialist graphics.