News Channels
Changes to GB News line up and shows
Changes at GB News with presenters axed and schedule changes…
It’s not a cost-cutting exercise, as according to GB News they’re regularly thrashing other news channels so it’s all about improving the offering. GB News notes that the ‘People’s Channel has overtaken Sky News and continues to go from strength to strength’ although the breakdown of ratings haven’t been published in full for episode-by-episode comparison – just weekly averages – so there is no clue to whether they’re talking about full programme slots beating Sky News or just ‘peaks’ which are short bursts of high viewing.
A swift look at YouTube also tells a similar story with GB News on
With this apparent television broadcast success, even if everywhere else they’re behind the BBC and Sky, the ‘news channel’ has today revealed a revamp of its output with a couple of presenters swiftly axed and others moved around the schedules.
GB News ‘clock up’: Showing a four-hour difference between Washington DC time and London, when it actually was five hours between the cities.
‘From January, Ben Leo will be presenting a new look show, Ben Leo Tonight, on Saturday and Sunday nights. He will also continue to co-host Britain’s Newsroom on a Friday.’ the company notes, adding, ‘Ellie Costello will now co-host GBN Breakfast five days a week, presenting alongside Eamonn Holmes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and with Stephen Dixon on Thursday and Friday. Stephen and Anne Diamond will continue to co-present GB News Breakfast at Weekends.’
GB News also confirmed that Miriam Cates has been given a permanent contract and will host Dewbs & Co every other Friday, as well as programmes across their daytime schedule.
‘Author, political commentator and pollster Professor Matthew Goodwin will join GB News as a permanent presenter in 2025’, the broadcaster added. Goodwin will be seen presenting State of the Nationon a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night. Jacob Rees Mogg will continue as the show’s host on Monday and Tuesday. Audience and panel debate show Free Speech Nation has a new host in comedian Josh Howie who is known to viewers on the station as a regular on newspaper review slot Headliners. Former Free Speech Nation host Andrew Doyle, who has a penchant for blocking people on social media, will continue as a contributor to the channel.
Ben Briscoe, Head Of Programming and Talent on GB News:
“2024 has been a truly fantastic year for us. Not only are we regularly beating the other established news channels, but we are also making inroads against the big public service broadcaster terrestrial channels. Our initiatives will allow us to build on this success with a renewed focus and ambition.”
Names shown the door as part of these changes include Mark Dolan and Isabel Webster. The former took to social media to suggest he will be telling his side of the departure shortly.
“My personal highlight of the year from GB News was the American election coverage where for nearly an hour their clock was an hour wrong for the Washington DC time. It then took them another hour to fix all their graphics as part of correcting the error. World class broadcasting.” – TV Critic Vivian Summers
