George Hill wrote:Clearly a cost saving - in effect removing one programme. The World Today has a large roata of presenters as well, so it will be interesting to see what happens to all of them. I am looking forward to hearing this. 5 and a half hours is a long programme for two people to present. Currently the world today has three who do it, with them taking an hour of in turn. But I can't help feeling that a very specialised regional programme dominating a large part of a global network's schedule may loose listeners in other places. They are saying it will be the biggest radio programme in the world.Ste wrote:Newsday to launch on Radio to merge Network Africa and The World Today. To be broadcast for five and a half hours each morning hosted from Johannesburg by Lerato Mbele formally of CNBC Africa and in London.
http://vibeghana.com/2012/06/26/new-bbc ... audiences/
World Service to axe The World Today
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George Hill
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From the BBC World News thread in the newsroom:
It will probably have more content actually broadcast from Africa in the programme. The only bit from Africa except reports on Network Africa is the news bulletin which are often read by Tom Jappani in the Nairobi studio.
Although I have always wondered why they do this just for the news bulletin and then nothing else throughout the programme?
Although I have always wondered why they do this just for the news bulletin and then nothing else throughout the programme?
Hello,
just wanted to let you know some information I got from the BBC WS about the upcoming changes. I emailed them with a couple of questions and this is what I got back:
just wanted to let you know some information I got from the BBC WS about the upcoming changes. I emailed them with a couple of questions and this is what I got back:
The World Today Weekend will apparently continue though, at least according to BBC website.You are correct the BBC World Service is launching the new programme after 'working' on it for more than a year. Also, it shall in effect replace the World Today though the new programme 'Newsday' will to a large degree, be the product of the World Today newsroom. It shall be augmented with news staff to handle the 'African stories'.
Though the programme will, obviously, have a heavier focus on African stories it shall cover other international events in the same manner as it does so at present. Though it is impossible to say, the general presumption is that the stories split will be 50/50.
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George Hill
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I wonder why they are continuing the World Today Weekend brand. I presumed that it would just be reconfigured as 'Newsday Weekend.'Markos wrote: The World Today Weekend will apparently continue though, at least according to BBC website.
It does seem a bit strange. On the other hand, TWT Weekend has a completely different format than the weekday edition so maybe their reasoning is to keep the name, format and the rotating presenters and leave the African news tsunami to Newsday on working days.
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George Hill
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mon 30 Apr, 2012 17.42
Last edition of The World Today from 3-8.30am tomorrow. I somehow don't think I will be listening to most of it live! 
Am working one of my strange shifts, so I was able to hear much of the show.
It was mostly a somewhat somber atmosphere, every half hour they were mentioning it's the last show, they read some Facebook comments and played a montage of biggest news events covered by TWT over the years. Max Pearson, who left the show last year, came back for a special 15-minute farewell segment which began at 8.15.
Having seen the promotional video for Newsday posted on BBCWS Facebook page, I have a feeling the decision to axe TWT will haunt the BBC rather soon. In that promo, Newsday seems like a dumbed down marathon of infotainment with a way too heavy focus on Africa. If it really turns out to be that bad, World Service's global influence could shrink to levels of Voice of America which once had a nice news service, but is now reduced to global irrelevance mostly because majority of its programmes are produced in and for Africa.
It was mostly a somewhat somber atmosphere, every half hour they were mentioning it's the last show, they read some Facebook comments and played a montage of biggest news events covered by TWT over the years. Max Pearson, who left the show last year, came back for a special 15-minute farewell segment which began at 8.15.
Having seen the promotional video for Newsday posted on BBCWS Facebook page, I have a feeling the decision to axe TWT will haunt the BBC rather soon. In that promo, Newsday seems like a dumbed down marathon of infotainment with a way too heavy focus on Africa. If it really turns out to be that bad, World Service's global influence could shrink to levels of Voice of America which once had a nice news service, but is now reduced to global irrelevance mostly because majority of its programmes are produced in and for Africa.
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adamcobb55
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A very good send off but a very somber show. It's clear that this is just another budget cutting measure (the BBC makes 2 English language programmes on weekday mornings, as of Monday it will only make one) but it is clear that The World Today is well regarded across Europe and North America (I think a lot of NPR stations air in as an overnight programme). We haven't heard Newsday yet and we'll see how the 'irreverence' goes (if it's Newsnight or Eddie Mair PM style 'fun' then it could be ok) but (and I know this sounds bad) but an Africa news tsunami isn't what I'm looking for from the 'World' service. I tune in to it looking for a truly global perspective not a national (or in this case continental one).
On a somewhat different note how awesome was the second World Today theme? (in the montage at about 38 minutes http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/p00vj1xf/). I don't suppose anyone has a copy? (or indeed any BBC WS music from that era?)
On a somewhat different note how awesome was the second World Today theme? (in the montage at about 38 minutes http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/p00vj1xf/). I don't suppose anyone has a copy? (or indeed any BBC WS music from that era?)
I hope they include some of the features from Network Africa to make it a more interesting programme. I listen to it sometimes either via the stream online or shortwave (17830khz from 7:00GMT is very clear for me) and features like proverb of the day, the music segments and Resident Presidents would be a good addition to the new show considering I'm sure they have enough time to fit them in.
Some of the jingles from Network Africa I will miss though. I hope if funding can be sorted out sometime in future that we could see a separate programme for different parts of the world again.
Is Focus on Africa the only difference now between the main BBC WS English schedule and schedules for different regions (except time shifting)?
Some of the jingles from Network Africa I will miss though. I hope if funding can be sorted out sometime in future that we could see a separate programme for different parts of the world again.
Is Focus on Africa the only difference now between the main BBC WS English schedule and schedules for different regions (except time shifting)?
Despite the schedule on BBC's website saying The World Today Weekend will be on as usual, that show has also been axed... sort of. Actually, only the name has changed - it's now called "Weekend". The intro music is the same and the format with two guests for the entire hour remains. The shorter bulletin airing at 5am BST, which until last weekend was called The World Today is now branded as generic "World Briefing".
@adamcobb55 Completely agree with you about the global perspective World Service is supposed to offer. It would be unfair to write off Newsday before it even begins, but having seen that trailer and knowing that at least half of the show will be devoted to Africa, I'm not terribly enthusiastic about it. Even the intro music gives you the feeling this is a show for one continent only. Also agree about the older version of TWT music, it was one of the better tunes on WS. I've been trying to find it for a while around the web, but it was mission impossible so far.
@Ste There are a couple of other more local variations, for example Kenya gets a few programs in Swahili on the WS English frequencies, I'm sure there are other similar cases. But on a wider region basis, I think you're right, Focus on Africa seems to be the only variation left.
@adamcobb55 Completely agree with you about the global perspective World Service is supposed to offer. It would be unfair to write off Newsday before it even begins, but having seen that trailer and knowing that at least half of the show will be devoted to Africa, I'm not terribly enthusiastic about it. Even the intro music gives you the feeling this is a show for one continent only. Also agree about the older version of TWT music, it was one of the better tunes on WS. I've been trying to find it for a while around the web, but it was mission impossible so far.
@Ste There are a couple of other more local variations, for example Kenya gets a few programs in Swahili on the WS English frequencies, I'm sure there are other similar cases. But on a wider region basis, I think you're right, Focus on Africa seems to be the only variation left.