May 1999 - January 2003 Miscellaneous
BBC One National News
Monday May 10 1999 saw a new look for BBC News on BBC One. All news programmes had the same graphical look (with the exception of 'Breakfast News' initially). The same studio and set was used for all programmes - again, with the exception of 'Breakfast News'.

A new BBC News signature tune accompanied the new look graphics. Composed and produced by David Lowe, the new theme was to be modern and elegant, to take news music in a totally new direction, from the familiar and almost clichéd sounds of TV news themes of the past. Less pompous and orchestral, cleaner and simpler, with a strong central idea, easily and closely associated with BBC News. Importantly, it had to be able to front any news story, whilst still retaining the reliability, authority and prestige of the BBC.
Above: daytime bulletin opening sting (weekdays and weekends).
Above: images from daytime updates/bulletins [1]. Presenters: George Alagiah; Sian Williams.
Above: images from daytime updates/bulletins [2]. Presenter: Huw Edwards.
Above: images from daytime updates/bulletins [3]. Presenter: Anna Ford.
Above: images from daytime updates/bulletins [4]. Presenters: George Alagiah; Huw Edwards.
Above: weekend/bank holiday programme opening titles. These titles were used for news programmes of longer than ten minutes.
Above: images from a weekend programme [1]. Presenter: George Alagiah.
Above: images from a weekend programme [2]. Presenter: George Alagiah.
Above: images from a weekend programme [3]. Presenter: Sian Williams.
Above: images from a weekend programme [4]. Presenters: Sian Williams and Rob Bonnet (sport).
Above: examples of astons.
Above: examples of graphics [1].
Above: examples of graphics [2].
Above: examples of graphics [3].
Above: closing sting.
Above: weekday 'One O'Clock News' opening titles.
Above: images from the 'One O'Clock News' [1]. Presenter: George Alagiah.
Above: images from the 'One O'Clock News' [2]. Presenter: George Alagiah.
Above: images from the 'One O'Clock News' [3]. Presenter: George Alagiah.
Above: examples of astons.
Above: examples of graphics.
Above: weekday 'Six O'Clock News' opening titles.
Above: images from the 'Six O'Clock News' [1]. Presenter: Huw Edwards.
Above: images from the 'Six O'Clock News' [2]. Presenter: Fiona Bruce.
Above: images from the 'Six O'Clock News' [3]. Presenters: Fiona Bruce; Isobel Lang (weather).
Above: images from the 'Six O'Clock News' [4]. Presenter: Isobel Lang.
Above: examples of astons.
Above: 6.55pm update sting. The English regions returned to BBC One Network at 6.55pm for a quick recap of the national news. Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland did not broadcast this update.
Above: closing sting. This was used at the end of the 6pm programme as well as the 6.55pm update.
Above: weekday 'Nine O'Clock News' titles.
Above: images from the 'Nine O'Clock News' [1]. Presenter: Peter Sissons.
Above: images from the 'Nine O'Clock News' [2]. Presenter: Peter Sissons.
Above: images from the 'Nine O'Clock News' [3]. Presenters: Michael Buerk [left and middle]; George Alagiah [right].
Above: examples of astons.
Above: closing sting.
In early October 2000, the BBC announced that it was moving its 9pm weekday news programme to 10pm. The Corporation claimed that the move would allow it to cover more news as it happens, including late night votes in Parliament. The BBC decision came a matter of days before ITV announced that it was bringing back its 'News At Ten' programme in January 2001; the UK independent TV regulator, the ITC, demanded that ITV reinstate the 10pm news programme, as the late night 11pm news programme that replaced it was suffering poor ratings.

The final 'Nine O'Clock News' went out on Friday October 13 2000.

LINKS  BBC UK Presentation  •  Five Presentation  •  Sky Presentation