Funding cuts could spell the end for BBC's 24 hour news coverage

Under threat: The BBC's 24 hour news channel could be scrapped
Jonathan Brady/PA
Hannah Al-Othman24 January 2016

The BBC's rolling news coverage could be axed as the organisation seeks to make savings in the face of funding cuts.

The Trust's chairman Rona Fairhead said some services will be affected as a result of a "tough" financial settlement.

When asked whether the BBC's news channel could be scrapped, Ms Fairhead said "nothing is off the table".

However, Scotland could be given its own television channel as part of a shake up of services, she suggested.

She told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "Everything is being looked at. Nothing is off the table. It's a tough settlement but the executive will work out what it is that they need to cut, the efficiencies will be put, the priority will be on making sure the programmes, stations that people listen to will be protected as much as possible.

"I can't say that anything is off the table, it's not."

She added: "We have been very clear from the start, that everything will be done to improve efficiency but that it is likely that some programmes and potentially some services will be affected."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for more Scottish programming and a dedicated Scottish channel.

Asked about the possibility, Ms Fairhead replied: "It think we are looking at all options right now."

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