Ros Atkins presents the latest edition of Outside Source before the BBC’s only news channel

Broadcaster Ros Atkins has said that it was a “privilege” to do Outside Source when he signed on to the BBC news program for the last time, as it came to an end after nine years.

The programme, which launched in 2014, was broadcast live from the BBC’s newsroom, gathering the latest information as it came in from news wires, video feeds and social media on the biggest stories of the day. .

The final edit of the show came as the station continues to make changes to its news production as it creates a single BBC news channel operation with two sources for UK and global audiences.

At the end of the final installment on Thursday night, Atkins said: “Just before we wrap up, I wanted to quickly mention that this is the last edition of Outside Source.

“We’re wrapping up after nine years on the air and if I think back to 2014, I guess from the beginning we were trying to find new ways to distill and explain the news and we’ve been trying ever since.

“I’ll let you judge how we’ve done it, but that was the goal anyway and it’s been a privilege to make the show for you.”

He added that the format of the show would not be completely lost as elements of it would be incorporated into the new single channel.

“I have to say that this work will definitely continue because while the show is on hold, starting next week there will be a new BBC news channel and myself and many of the OS team will be contributing,” Atkins said.

“We are going to make our explainers as well so as not to disappear, I promise.

“But for Outside Source, time is up and whether you’re in the UK or anywhere else in the world, from all of us, thank you so much for looking today and for looking over the years.”

Ahead of the latest issue, the newscaster tweeted: “A little over 9 years ago, we launched Outside Source. For better or worse, it was our effort to do TV news differently.

“As you can see, at first we were reporting on Ukraine and Russia, just like we do now. Well, today is our final edit.”

It comes on the same day that the corporation published its Annual Plan, in which it announced that its savings target was raised by 40% to £400m amid high inflation and a license fee freeze.

The broadcaster said it was responding by cutting 1,000 hours of content fees in its portfolio, among other measures.

The BBC previously projected that it needed to save £285m by 2027/28, the end of the current charter period.

It adds to a £300m reinvestment plan announced last May to “better position the BBC for an on-demand world”.

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