Channel 4 Axes News Programmes

Channel 4 is axing News at Noon and More4 News at the end of the year.

The cost-cutting move will lead to the lost of up to 20 jobs.

Channel 4 News’ Technology correspondent, Benjamin Cohen broke the news just before 2pm on twitter saying “Grim staff meeting. News at Noon and More4 News cancelled. Wonder how it will be reflected on-screen tonight.”

A spokesman for the network said: “Channel 4 has agreed a revised news deal with ITN with a view to preserving the reach and impact of Channel 4 News, by concentrating resources around the peak bulletin, while increasing the range and quality of news content available digitally.

“Under the terms of the revised deal, Channel 4 will continue to broadcast the same number of hours of news in peak. In addition, Channel 4 is investing extra resources in news online to create an improved political news service.

“In order to afford this investment at a time when the advertising downturn is forcing Channel 4 to cut its programme budget, we need to find efficiencies elsewhere in our news budget and have decided to cut More4 news and News at Noon, although we do intend to offer a short summary bulletin at lunchtime.

“We have tried to minimise the impact of these savings on viewers while preserving the quality and integrity of our widely acclaimed evening programme in the face of severe financial pressures.

“These changes come against a backdrop of a severe economic slowdown. We are endeavouring to maximise efficiencies whilst maintaining quality and have had to make the tough but necessary decision to prioritise and protect our award-winning news service.”