BBC to relaunch News 24 in wake of Lambert Report

by Jennifer Whitehead,, Brand Republic 12-Nov-03, 11:00

LONDON - BBC is set to relaunch News 24 next month with more international, regional and breaking news, following criticisms in the Lambert Report earlier this year.

According to the Financial Times, News 24 has been undergoing a review by Mark Popescu, who edits the BBC 'Ten O'Clock News', and that £1m is being spent on the relaunch.

The digital news channel was criticised in a report commissioned by the government and written by former Financial Times editor Richard Lambert in February this year. It said that the service should take on Sky News and make sure that it is the first on air with breaking news, and that it should rely less on other BBC services.

Today's Financial Times quotes a BBC insider saying that the relaunch has taken on some of this criticism. "We are taking on board quite a few things on domestic news, better flagging of breaking news and news from around the UK."

However, the BBC press office refused to comment on the reports.

Sky News has not stood still since the Lambert Report was published, announcing in the summer that it will be boosting its coverage with more staff, an "eye in the sky" news helicopter and a new bureau in India.

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