- Title: Bored by Brexit? British TV starts Brexit-free news channel
- Date: 16th October 2019
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 16, 2019) (REUTERS) PARLIAMENT / UNION JACK FLAGS FLYING PEOPLE WALKING PAST PARLIAMENT AND BANNER READING (English): 'BREXIT NOW' BANNER READING (English): 'BREXIT NOW' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING PAST POSTER IN STREET READING (English): 'THERE ARE FEWER THAN 20 DAYS TO GET READY FOR BREXIT' (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSER-BY, NAME NOT GIVEN, SAYING: "Ugh, god, Brexit the very word. I think everyone's had enough." REPORTER ASKING: "Would you give it a watch, do you think it's a good idea?" "Do I think it's a good idea? God knows, I've got no idea." (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSER-BY, MERIDY, FROM BRIGHTON, SAYING: "I think it's important to know what's going on, we can't just close our eyes to what's happening in Brexit." (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSER-BY, NAME NOT GIVEN, SAYING: "I think it'll be good yeah." REPORTER ASKING: "How saturated do you feel with Brexit?" "Very, it should have been over and done with two years ago at least. I just want it over and done with." (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSER-BY, NIGEL, SAYING: "I think Brexit has been a major distraction from the important issues affecting the UK and the wider global community, and it's about time that we kind of got on with it and just made the best of whatever decision has been made, in my opinion it was the wrong decision to leave the European Union but the decision was made, let's just do it and let's just kind of get on with it really." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET / SIGN READING (English): 'THERE ARE FEWER THAN 20 DAYS TO GET READY FOR BREXIT' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING PAST EUROPEAN UNION FLAG AND EURO SYMBOL ON BUREAU DE CHANGE
- Embargoed: 30th October 2019 16:20
- Keywords: Brexit free news Sky news channel Sky launches channel Brexit fatigue
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Television
- Reuters ID: LVA003B1CL6IV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: After three years of Brexit crisis, Sky News is betting that some viewers are so bored by the divorce drama that there is a market for a channel dedicated to news that has nothing to do with Britain's exit from the European Union.
Ever since the 2016 referendum, British politicians have been debating how, on what terms and whether the United Kingdom should leave though with just over two weeks to go until the latest Brexit deadline of Oct. 31 little is unclear.
A Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism report this year showed that more than a third of people surveyed avoided the news with a majority of those who do citing Brexit as the main reason.
"Sky News Brexit-Free" will cater to those who find the Brexit carousel less than scintillating, the head of Sky News, John Ryley, said.
"It's something we know our viewers will find valuable," Ryley said in a statement. "Brexit is an historic story that has a major impact and we will continue to give it comprehensive coverage."
"The new channel simply gives people the option to take a break from Brexit, apply a filter to their headlines and hear about issues away from Westminster and Brussels with a focus on hard-hitting, original journalism."
The channel will be on air from 1700 to 2200 on weekdays.
(Production: Ben Makori, Helena Williams, Parul Gupta) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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