GB News’ debut Sunday evening programme attracts more viewers than Sky News and BBC News
GB News #GBNews
GB News had more viewers than BBC News and Sky News during its debut on Sunday evening, official figures show.
In a sign of the excitement – and perhaps even some of the skepticism – surrounding its launch, the new network scored a debut night win over its more-established rivals.
The channel, the first news network to start up in Britain in 24 years, was watched by an average of 164,400 people on its launch night, according to ratings organisation BARB.
The figure means GB News beat BBC News, which attracted 133,000 viewers, and Sky News, which attracted 57,000 viewers, in last night’s ratings war.
Viewers who tuned in to GB News last night witnessed veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil deliverer a five-minute monologue setting out the channel’s aims and objectives.
MailOnline columnist Dan Wootton then followed up with his new show, before viewers woke up to the channel’s breakfast offering – ‘Great British Breakfast’ – earlier today.
Hosts Nana Akua, a former BBC presenter, Darren McCaffrey, from Sky News, and broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher, a familiar face to Sky Sports fans, kicked-off the brand new morning show – which will look to take on the likes of BBC Breakfast and ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
Left to right: Kirsty Gallacher, Andrew Doyle, Neil Oliver, Darren McCaffrey, Alex Phillips, Rebecca Hutson, Simon McCoy, Nana Akua, Liam Halligan, Gloria Del Piero, Dan Wootton, Andrew Neil, Michelle Dewberry, Mercy Muroki, Tom Harwood, Colin Brazier, Inaya Folarin Iman, Alastair Stewart
Andrew Neil pledged his new 24-hour news channel will tackle cancel culture and will not be ‘yet another echo chamber for the metropolitan mindset’ as it launched at 8pm last night
Hosts of Great British Breakfast, Nana Akua (centre), a former BBC presenter, Darren McCaffrey (left), from Sky News, and broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher (right), a familiar face to Sky Sports fans, today kicked-off the brand new morning show – which will look to take on the likes of BBC Breakfast and ITV’s Good Morning Britain
‘GB News is a breath of fresh air’: Viewers lap up launch of Britain’s new TV news network
GB News viewers have taken to social media to praise the launch of the ‘refreshing’ TV channel as it becomes the first new broadcaster to hit the UK’s airwaves in 24 years.
The right-leaning channel, which aims to cater to a broad audience including those under-represented in the 2016 Brexit debate, was a hit with viewers as it began on Sunday night with an introduction to the GB News team by presenter Andrew Neil.
Neil began the show by calling ‘cancel culture’ a ‘threat to democracy’, telling viewers: ‘GB News will not be yet another echo chamber for the metropolitan mindset that dominates much of the media’.
Viewers took to social media calling the addition to British television ‘a breath of fresh air’ and ‘a lifeline for the despairing public’. GB News is the first new channel to launch since BBC News 24 in 1997.
Viewer Siân Davidson wrote: ‘Great to have a news channel where different views are shared rather than one viewpoint and Andrew Neil launching it #GBNews.’
Praising Neil’s introduction to the station author Martin Knight wrote: ‘Andrew Neil has just thrown a lifeline to the despairing viewing public. An inspiring introduction promising much. #GBNews’
Another GB News viewer, Jonathon, tweeted: ‘Well done Andrew Neil – a brilliant, refreshing and much needed introduction to our new news station!’
Liam Fitzsimmons tweeted: ‘One thing I’d personally like to see is @GBNEWS actually represent the North West – Not just #Manchester, but my home city of #Liverpool too. For far too long, the @BBC and @ITV have neglected us in favour of Manchester and that shouldn’t always be the case. #GBNews.’
ITV’s Eamonn Holmes showed his support for GB News, tweeting: ‘I hope @GBNEWS gets a decent chance …. we need a shake up on the News front . May it keep all the other News providers on their toes. I have huge respect for TV news but this is a reminder that News is not just Westminster or a constant woke agenda.’
Whilst Piers Morgan tweeted: ‘Good luck to my old mucker Andrew Neil and to Angelos Frangopoulos & the whole team on the launch of @GBNEWS tonight. Great to see a new TV news network on the airwaves & already making waves.’
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Discussions included a segment on cross-Channel migration, accompanied by a pre-recorded interview with Home Secretary Priti Patel, while England players taking the knee and the Freedom Day delay were also hot topics.
A short preview of ‘the making of GB News’ – a behind the scenes look at the creation of their new London studio – was also part of this morning’s broadcast.
Former Sky News anchorman Colin Brazier and Mercy Muroki, a former Sun columnist and the youngest member of the Government’s recent race report, followed up with ‘Brazier and Muroki’ at 9am.
It comes as Neil the channel’s chairman, pledged his new 24-hour news channel will tackle cancel culture and will not be ‘yet another echo chamber for the metropolitan mindset’ as it launched at 8pm last night.
Today, the newly launched breakfast show was met by positive reviews by many Twitter users, who praised it as a ‘breath of fresh air’ in the morning TV market.
One Twitter user said: ‘Refreshing new breakfast alternative. GB News is smashing it.’ Another said: ‘Watched this morning and it was a breath of fresh air news-wise. You will now be my first choice for news from now on.’
It was also praised by ex-England cricket star Monty Panesar. The former Sussex spinner tweeted this morning: ‘You can already see the difference from other news channels. You get the sense of what the public really thinks about daily news. So refreshing.’
However the breakfast show launch was not without hiccups, with sound issues bugging some of the live ‘on-location’ broadcasting. Meanwhile, others viewers complained the studio was ‘too dark’.
One Twitter user said: ‘Loving GB News, but the sound and production needs to be much better. The studio is too dark and and it’s really hard to hear almost every guest. And what are those lanterns over the desk about?’
Another added: ‘I love GB News and want it to succeed but the set is far too dark and complicated… a brighter set would be far more positive.’
However others hit back at the complaints, saying that other shows, including the long-established BBC Breakfast, also faced technical difficulties, despite running since 2000.
One Twitter user said: ‘People slagging off GB News for technical hitches… on their first night. I now count THREE times in the past 45 minutes on BBC Breakfast where sound has cut out or poor sound quality…. don’t hear about that do you?’
GB News, which is aiming to reach those who feel ‘unheard’ by the media, launched with a special programme titled ‘Welcome To GB News’ last night.
It is the first new British news network in 24 years – since BBC News 24 launched in 1997. Although foreign channels have launched in the UK in that time, such as Al Jazeera English, this is the first new network specifically for UK audiences.
It has brought in big names ahead of its launch, including signing Simon McCoy, Sky News anchor Colin Brazier and new MailOnline columnist Dan Wootton.
Neil, who will present a show four nights a week, is the face and chairman of GB News, announcing its birth last year while also signalling the end of his relationship with the BBC, where he was one of the most respected political interviewers.
At 8pm last night, as the channel launched, he gave a five minute introduction for viewers, saying the network would concentrate on ‘the stories that matter to you and that others are neglecting’.
He added: ‘We are committed to covering the people’s agenda, not the media’s agenda.
‘GB News will not be yet another echo chamber for the metropolitan mindset that already dominates so much of the media.
‘We are proud to be British, the clue is in the name, and while we will never hold back from covering our country’s many flaws and problems… we won’t forget what the B stands for in our title.
‘We will puncture the pomposity of our elites… and expose their growing promotion of cancel culture for the threat to free speech and democracy that it is.’
Seasoned broadcaster Mr Neil had sidestepped early teething trouble when presenter Neil Oliver’s microphone failed, and later returned to Mr Oliver, joking about the minor hiccup.
Global media and entertainment company Discovery, Inc is the lead investor. GB News will feature more than 6,500 hours of content a year, made exclusively for the channel, which has secured broadcasting licences from Ofcom.
It has been founded by media executives Andrew Cole and Mark Schneider. They plan for the channel to reach 96% of British television households via Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.
Other names to feature on air include former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher, Darren McCaffrey and Rosie Wright, who will host morning show The Great British Breakfast, while also working on other programmes.
The news channel, launched as a rival to the news and current affairs offerings on the likes of BBC and Sky, has also signed up businesswoman and former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry (pictured)
MailOnline’s Dan Wootton hosted Tonight Live, the first show after Andrew Neil’s introductory hour-long programme
Coast host Neil Oliver, who is among the presenters hired by the network, featured prominently on its opening night shows
Other names to feature on air include former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher (pictured taking a selfie), Darren McCaffrey and Rosie Wright, who will host morning show The Great British Breakfast, while also working on other programmes
Pictured: The countdown timer on the GB News channel ten minutes before it launched at 8pm last night
Piers Morgan wished good luck to his ‘old mucker’ Andrew Neil ahead of the launch of GB News last night
Nigel Farage, who was interviewed by Dan Wootton, was among the first faces to appear on GB News’s launch-night schedule
Former Fleet Street editor and BBC political heavyweight interviewer Andrew Neil will be the face of the new channel
Members of the backroom production team watch on as the network’s opening night programmes hit the air last night
On air: Andrew Neil chats to colleague Neil Oliver during the opening moments of GB News’s first night, as the network took to the airwaves at 8pm last night
Michelle Dewberry told Andrew Neil how her difficult upbringing will aid her empathy with viewers on her evening show
Economist Liam Halligan, former Labour MP Gloria Del Piero, Mercy Muroki and Colin Brazier seen for first time in the studio
The studio of British television news channel GB News at The Point in Paddington, north London
Computers and TV monitors from the offices of new British television news channel GB News on May 31
It will be available to watch in HD on Sky channel 515 and Virgin Media’s channel 626, as well as also showing on Freeview and YouView channel 236, Freesat channel 216 and online.
The news channel, launched as a rival to the news and current affairs offerings on the likes of BBC and Sky, has also signed up businesswoman and former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry.
The launch came after the BBC was accused of a last-minute ‘ambush’ of GB News. The national broadcaster was alleged to have been calling for the new station to be barred from accessing footage of public events which is available via a ‘pooling’ system run by the UK’s three main broadcasters.
The pool is made up of the BBC, Sky News and ITN, which produces the news operations of both ITV and Channel 4.
But A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We are very happy for GB News to be part of the pool and we are happy to discuss how that could happen.’
Broadcaster and author Neil Oliver, known for programmes including Coast and A History Of Ancient Britain, will host Neil Oliver Live, while Andrew Doyle will host Free Speech Nation.
Former ITV presenter Alastair Stewart will anchor Alastair Stewart And Friends, featuring conversation and analysis of current affairs.
Producers work at their desks as they prepare to go live this weekend as GB News begins to broadcast to the nation
The channel is launching at 8pm on June 13 with a special programme called Welcome To GB News amid much fanfare
It will be available to watch in HD on Sky channel 515 and Virgin Media’s channel 626, as well as also showing on Freeview and YouView channel 236, Freesat channel 216 and online
Brazier and social commentator Mercy Muroki will host a joint show, as will former Labour MP Gloria De Piero and economist Liam Halligan.
GB News has also recruited a team of regional reporters to help serve its mission of involving ‘non-metropolitan voices in the national conversation’.
Director of news and programmes John McAndrew said: ‘It’s a huge task to launch even one new programme, never mind a whole channel to run 18 hours a day.
‘The team has been working flat out and of course there’s a sense of nervous excitement, but mostly excitement. We can’t wait to get started now.’
The intriguing new pictures show the new set which looks very futuristic with its black decor and neon lit stage
The behind the scenes pictures give a hint on how the shows on the new channel might look when it finally launches this week
A two chair and table set up appears to be a second stage for face-to-face interviews with individual people
Former Daily Politics presenter Andrew Neil will lead the channel’s evening line-up with a prime-time news and interviews
Other high-profile signings to the channel include ex-BBC presenter Simon McCoy and MailOnline columnist Dan Wootton
Following his departure from Good Morning Britain, reports have suggested Piers Morgan could be another addition to the GB News line-up.
Neil told the Evening Standard it would ‘be nice to have him’, adding: ‘But he’s got his own idea of what he is worth and we have a slightly different idea of what he’s worth.
‘He is in a lucky situation because ITV are continuing to pay him a tonne of money so he doesn’t have to do anything in the short run.
‘I don’t think he’s going to go anywhere else in the UK. If he has a huge American offer that’s a different matter.
‘No-one in the UK can compete with that, but if he’s going to do more UK news TV I hope it will be with us.’
Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, Neil praised the launch line-up of presenters as representative of ‘modern Britain’.
He said: ‘On Sunday night we hope to launch GB News, a new channel.
‘It is quite fraught, as you can imagine, trying to do this in the middle of a pandemic, but we are getting there.
‘We are using lots of the latest new technology, which will be great.
‘But, as you know, new technology doesn’t always work first time round and all the journalists and technicians have got to get used to it.
‘So it is a challenge, but I launched Sky News way back in 1989 so we are used to it.
‘The one thing that has been great is the line-up of presenters. They are Britain, they are modern Britain.’
The GB News studios are located in Paddington, west London.
Andrew Neil will lead the evening line-up on GB News with a primetime news and interview programme.
The new network, of which the veteran political interviewer is also chairman, has made a number of high-profile signings including ex-BBC presenter Simon McCoy, former executive editor for The Sun Dan Wootton, and ex-Sky broadcaster Colin Brazier.
A morning show called The Great British Breakfast will feature a selection of hosts including former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher, Darren McCaffrey and Rosie Wright, who will all work across other programmes and stories.
The new British television news channel GB News will launch at 8pm on June 13 with a special programme called Welcome To GB News. Left: GB News presenter Andrew Neil. Right: Michelle Dewberry
Veteran political interviewer Andrew Neil will lead the evening line-up on GB News and is also chairman
Left: GB News presenter Kirsty Gallacher. Right: Gloria De Piero
Left: GB News presenter Dan Wootton. Right: Simon McCoy
Former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry will host Dewbs & Co every weeknight.
Wootton will present Tonight Live With Dan Wootton five nights a week, while broadcaster Nana Akua will host Tonight Live With Nana Akua.
Director of news and programming John McAndrew said: ‘We can sense a real hunger for something fresh and different in television news and debate.
‘It’s humbling because we are a small start-up with a fraction of the resources of others, but what we lack in size we make up for in passion and determination to provide a welcoming home for honest British news and debate.
‘All our presenters will have the freedom to say what they think, to have some fun and to be brave about covering the issues that really matter to the people of Britain.’
Broadcaster and author Neil Oliver, known for programmes including Coast and A History Of Ancient Britain, will host Neil Oliver Live, while Andrew Doyle will host Free Speech Nation, described by the channel as ‘a fearless filleting of the country’s thorniest debates’.
Dan Wooton (left) will present his own show five times a week while Simon McCoy will co-host an afternoon programme with Alex Phillips
Pictured: Alastair Stewart will also be joining the team of GB News presenters
Former ITV presenter Alastair Stewart will anchor Alastair Stewart And Friends, featuring conversation and analysis of current affairs.
Brazier and social commentator Mercy Muroki will host a joint show, as will former Labour MP Gloria De Piero and economist Liam Halligan.
McCoy and Alex Phillips will also co-host an afternoon programmeGB News has recruited a team of regional reports to help serve its mission of involving ‘non-metropolitan voices in the national conversation’.