BBC shifts Nine O'Clock News

Peter Sissons will continue with Michael Buerk to present the bulletin

The BBC is to end 30 years of tradition by moving its flagship Nine O'Clock News to 10pm.

The corporation's director general, Greg Dyke, is expected to confirm the decision as part of his plans for BBC Television. ITV has welcomed the move, which has received a mixed reaction elsewhere.

We should give Greg Dyke a fair wind to get his audiences and some serious programming at the same time

Martin Bell MP

Mr Dyke, who is to deliver the annual MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival on Friday, will also outline his vision for the BBC developing in the face of increasing competition from commercial digital channels.

It is thought he will announce a desire to move towards seven digital television services.

'Dumbing down' fear

But it is the shifting of the Nine O'Clock News which has caused most controversy.

The shadow culture minister Peter Ainsworth said he hoped Mr Dyke was not clearing the decks for a ratings war, and said Parliament would not stand for the BBC "dumbing down".

Liberal Democrat broadcasting spokesman Norman Baker said it was an attempt by the BBC to push news and current affairs to the margins. He was also concerned that it would mean there would be no news on the major two channels between 6.30pm and 10pm.

Greg Dyke will address the Edinburgh Television Festival

ITV has been criticised by MPs and the Independent Television Commission for ending the ITN News at Ten, a move which has led to a sharp decline in audiences for news on the main commercial network.

The ITC has ordered ITV to bring its 11pm bulletin forward to an earlier time, and a judicial review into the order is to be heard in court next month.

If it means fewer people having access to news and current affairs it's not all right

Norman Baker MP

Should the ITC win the case, it raises the prospect of a head-to-head clash of bulletins on BBC One and ITV, the two most popular channels. ITV has welcomed the BBC's decision, saying that it would help it resist the ITC's demand.

Since ITV moved its bulletin, its revenues have been boosted by up to £70m because its peak time audience has been increased by 1%.

But this has been accompanied by a 13.9% decline in its news audiences. Two million fewer people watch ITV news than they did a year ago.

In turn, ratings for BBC One's news programmes have increased by 15%.

But having the main BBC News at 10pm is thought to be attractive to Mr Dyke because it will give him freedom to show more programmes in peak viewing time. He believes it will also lead to increased audiences for the bulletin.

Votes and sports

It is also a move favoured by some of the corporation's senior journalists as it would mean being able to cover important votes from the House of Commons, news from the US and sports results.

News at when? (Current schedules)

6pm:
BBC One, Channel 5

6.30pm: ITV

7pm: Channel 4

9pm: BBC One

10.30pm: BBC Two

11pm: ITV

Martin Bell, a former BBC correspondent and now independent MP for Tatton, said: "As long as it's in prime time, and as long as it maintains a serious agenda...I don't think we should worry too much.

"What we should worry about is the lack of prime time news on ITV."

Tim Gardam, Channel 4's director of programmes, said a BBC News at Ten was entirely consistent with its public service responsibilities.

"While other broadcasters adjust their news priorities, Channel 4 remains committed to a one-hour, broadcast news programme at 7pm on weekdays and early evening bulletins at the weekend," he added.

ITV's news audience has fallen 14%

Tony Hall, the chief executive of BBC News, told staff that Peter Sissons and Michael Buerk would continue to present the programme, which would be known as the BBC Ten O'Clock News.

Channel strategy

Mr Dyke's other plans are thought to include the introduction of at least two additional publicly-funded digital channels - BBC Three and BBC Four - to which licence-payers would have access without having to pay an additional subscription.

Two children's services would be broadcast during the day on those networks. BBC News 24 would be the corporation's seventh main channel.

Mr Dyke would need the consent of both the corporation's Board of Governors and the Culture Secretary Chris Smith.