In July 2022, the BBC announced plans to merge the largely UK-focused BBC News Channel and the international service BBC World News.

The new channel will be commercial and aimed at an overseas audience. The UK licence payer will not recognise it.

The BBC says there will be UK-specific "opt-outs" - content you already get elsewhere on the BBC - such as: Nicky Campbell's BBC Radio 5 Live phone-in show in the mornings; BBC One news programmes; Newsnight.

There will be no UK content specific to the news channel apart from during short ad breaks or where a duty editor decides it's worth mobilising staff and a small studio to cover a breaking UK story.

Ofcom plans to remove regulations relating to the BBC News Channel. This will allow the BBC to make the changes without the need for Ofcom approval and a public consultation.

RELATED ARTICLE: Viewers have less than a month to persuade Ofcom not to remove all regulatory conditions relating to the BBC News Channel

Please sign this petition to register your objection to the BBC proposal to close down the service that currently serves UK viewers and provides dedicated, in-depth coverage of domestic stories.

BBC management is claiming there's been no pushback from viewers since the announcement about the planned merger in July. However, it seems they may not have been entirely transparent with viewers about the extent to which UK news coverage will be cut back.