BBC News 24 is the BBC's 24-hour news television channel.
It first broadcast in November 1997 and at first only cable television subscribers could view it. In 1999, with the advent of digital television in the UK, satellite viewers were able to view the service.
The BBC were initially criticized for the cost of running BBC News 24 channel, with so few viewers. Their response was to promote the channel through their ordinary channels BBC1 and BBC2, using terrestrial signals, and this is seen by some as influential (to a certain limited extent) in promoting the take-up of digital television.
BBC News 24 broadcasts from the BBC News Centre in BBC Television Centre, West London.
See also: List of British television channels
