World News Today

Infobox Television
show_name = World News Today


caption = Title Sequence of World News Today
show_name_2 =
genre = News, Business, Sport
creator = BBC News
for BBC World News
director =
creative_director =
developer =
presenter = George Alagiah (1200 GMT)
Mishal Husain (1400 GMT)
Nik Gowing (1600 GMT)
Zeinab Badawi (1900 GMT)
Tanya Beckett (2100 GMT: Business Edition)
Philippa Thomas (0300 GMT)
theme_music_composer = David Lowe
country = UK
language = English
executive_producer =
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location = BBC Television Centre, London
runtime = 54 minutes (excluding Commercials)
network = BBC World News
BBC America
BBC Four
BBC News channel
picture_format = 14:9 on BBC World News and BBC America
16:9 on BBC Four, BBC News and BBC One
first_aired = 03 July 2006
last_aired = Present
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related = "BBC World News"
"BBC World News America"
website = http://www.bbcworld.com/Pages/Programme.aspx?id=29 World News Today

World News Today is a current affairs news programme produced by BBC News. It was originally conceived as a morning television show aimed at American audiences, hosted by George Alagiah, but later expanded to its current 5 editions a day aimed at different markets.

It is somewhat similar to its sister-programme, "BBC World News at 0500 UKT", which includes "World Business Report" as a 30-minute edition starting at :30 Past Hour. Meanwhile, World News Today shows a 10-minute edition of WBR at :40 past hour.

Editions

1200 GMT - George Alagiah

The 12.00 GMT edition was the original edition of the programme, aimed at the morning audience in the United States where BBC World had been recently launched after a decade, first aired on 03 July 2006 at 07.00 (ET).

Even before the channel launched in US, there had been a simulcast of the channel on BBC America. World News Today was added as part of this 3-hour morning broadcast when it launched. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworld/worldstories/pressreleases/2006/06_june/worldnewstoday.shtml BBC World introduces a new hour-long news programme - World News Today] BBC Press Office; 30 June 2006] .

It is also shown on BBC World News in other regions, especially Asia-Pacific at 20.00 (HK/Phil), where the programme had been considered as their evening news programme.

1600 GMT - Nik Gowing

On 16 September 2006, the Nik Gowing edition had originally been dedicated for the audience in Asia-Pacific, which had been shown at 05.00 (HK/Phil) or 21.00 (GMT) [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworld/worldstories/pressreleases/2006/09_september/world_news_today_nik.shtmlBBC World to target European evening time peak with the launch of World News Today with Nik Gowing] BBC Press Office; 18 September 2006] but it had been replaced by the Zeinab Badawi edition.

This edition debuted on 23 July 2007, and is now considered as an evening news programme for viewers in South Asia and is shown at 21.30 (India)/ 24.00 (HK/Phil). This edition has not moved for BST and remains at 16.00 GMT all year round.

1900 UKT - Zeinab Badawi

This edition had replaced the Nik Gowing edition on 29 May 2007 and a previous programme which had been also a BBC World and BBC Four simulcast, "The World". [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworld/worldstories/pressreleases/2007/05_may/wnt.shtml Zeinab Badawi - new face of BBC World’s European evening news] BBC Press Office; 23 May 2007]

The new World News Today bulletin is shown on BBC Four for the first half-hour (followed by a weather update) & exclusively on BBC World News for the second half-hour.

Unlike the other editions, this has a different calmer theme tune which has some similarities with the original theme.

2100 GMT (Business Edition) - Tanya Beckett

This edition premiered on 27 May 2008. It features reports from New York with Karen Nye, and Singapore with Rico Hizon. Although the focus is on business news, it does include world news.

Some of the differences from the other editions of the programme:
*The presenter idenifies the show as "the Business Edition", rather than "World News today", which is used in all other versions.
*Because it is the business edition, it does not feature World Business Report.
*It is also shorter than the other versions (45 minutes; compared to 60 minutes for the other versions). As it is shorter, it is followed by Sport Today.

0300 UKT - Philippa Thomas

This edition started on 01 Oct 2007 and is also dedicated for the viewers in the United States but shown at 2200 ET. This edition airs on BBC World, BBC News Channel, and sometimes on BBC One (as a part of its "Overnight Broadcast").

This edition is different from other editions of the programme:
* It has 3 hosts: Philippa Thomas in the BBC studio in Washington DC, a presenter in Television Centre (whichever one is doing the 'overnight' BBC World News/BBC News Channel simulcasts) and Rico Hizon for World Business Report in Singapore.
* Similar to overnight broadcasts & BBC World News at 0500 UKT, they also present UK news every 15 minutes.
* Because it is also shown at Saturdays (in Asia-Pacific), World Business Report from Singapore is not possible and is replaced by Sport Today on BBC America and BBC World News, but for viewers in UK, a short business update and UK News is shown.
* Unlike the other editions of World News Today, which had been produced by BBC World News, this is the only edition which has been produced by BBC News 24, since it was part of the overnight broadcasts. It is now produced by BBC World News, who have assumed control of the joint broadcasts.

Relief Presenters

*Jonathan Charles
*David Eades
*Lyse Doucet
*Kirsty Lang
*Gavin Esler

Show times

* - All Times are for BBC World News, unless indicated.

See also

* BBC World News (programme) - "Similar format and is shown on BBC World News and on BBC News channel at 0500 BST (0400 GMT)."
* BBC World News America - "Hour-long news programme with a similar graphics, but difference in timings and music."

WNT broadcasting on other channels

* This programme also broadcasts on Lider TV (Azerbaijan) which shortens the duration of Yeni Səhər on Thursdays and Fridays.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbcworld.com/Pages/Programme.aspx?id=29 "World News Today"] at BBCWorld.com