1954: BBC launches daily TV news
The BBC has broadcast its first daily television news programme.
The 20-minute bulletin was introduced by Richard Baker as an "Illustrated summary of the news... Followed by the latest film of events and happenings at home and abroad."
The present Television Newsreel programme, which is to be discontinued, is prepared in advance and contains news items which are often days old.
The new service is intended to be more up-to-date and will also eventually include studio interviews.
Tonight's edition began with news of truce talks being held near Hanoi and an item on French troop movements in Tunisia.
While the news was read, a series of headlines, still photographs and maps were shown on the screen.
BBC Director General Sir Ian Jacob acknowledged last week there had been significant difficulties producing the new television bulletins.
"News is not at all an easy thing to do on television. A good many of the main news items are not easily made visual - therefore we have the problem of giving news with the same standards that the corporation has built up in sound."
He added that the format of the programme was likely to change, but said the BBC was committed to television news.
"This is a start on something we regard as extremely significant for the future," he said.
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