“It is not a news channel, it is an opinion channel.” – Star Readers’ discuss the new British news channel, GB News.

The brand-new British news channel launched with a bold claim to reflect the news and views of the ‘real world’. But after being on air for just over a week, we asked our readers what they thought to the latest news outlet.
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Here are a selection of the comments and thoughts from The Star readers:

Adrian Finney said that, “It very much feels like amateur hour, ran on the cheap, by people who aren’t exactly sure what they’re doing. That being said it’s got a waiting audience and all channels have teething issues.”

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Some people seemed to like it, such as Malcolm Smith who responded by saying, “Content good, sound quality and lip sync crap. They need to get the technical issues sorted pronto.” Meanwhile, Les Royal commented that it was, “Fantastic watching a channel where interviews are conducted with respect and no personal agendas. Yes there were some teething problems but they are largely sorted now. Andrew Neil continues to show why he is the best interviewer in the country.” And, Claire Creaghan seems delighted, “for once it’s a channel that gives the news the whole of the news, for you to decide instead of it being sensor editing, on all topics, giving a very balance view, and am sure the teething issues will get sorted over time.” Karen Rogerson Adams says that, “It will only get batter and the content is great compered to other news shows...” Roderick Broomhead got straight to the point, saying “Great 100%” and Julie Mcalpine commented, “Brilliant, real news getting out there.”

Located within The Point at Paddington, north London, the new British television news channel GB News which is under construction. The channel will launch at 8pm on June 13 with a special programme called Welcome To GB News. Picture date: Tuesday June 8, 2021. PA Photo. Former Daily Politics presenter Andrew Neil will lead the channel's evening line-up with a prime-time news and interview programme. Other high-profile signings to the channel include ex-BBC presenter Simon McCoy, former executive editor for The Sun Dan Wootton, and ex-Sky broadcaster Colin Brazier. Photo credit should read: Kirsty O'Connor/PA WireLocated within The Point at Paddington, north London, the new British television news channel GB News which is under construction. The channel will launch at 8pm on June 13 with a special programme called Welcome To GB News. Picture date: Tuesday June 8, 2021. PA Photo. Former Daily Politics presenter Andrew Neil will lead the channel's evening line-up with a prime-time news and interview programme. Other high-profile signings to the channel include ex-BBC presenter Simon McCoy, former executive editor for The Sun Dan Wootton, and ex-Sky broadcaster Colin Brazier. Photo credit should read: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire
Located within The Point at Paddington, north London, the new British television news channel GB News which is under construction. The channel will launch at 8pm on June 13 with a special programme called Welcome To GB News. Picture date: Tuesday June 8, 2021. PA Photo. Former Daily Politics presenter Andrew Neil will lead the channel's evening line-up with a prime-time news and interview programme. Other high-profile signings to the channel include ex-BBC presenter Simon McCoy, former executive editor for The Sun Dan Wootton, and ex-Sky broadcaster Colin Brazier. Photo credit should read: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire

"I've watched it”, said Martin Hines, “surprised how unbiased it was, obviously a few teething problems but that's to be expected once they've been addressed it'll be a decent news channel.” The Silver Fox on Twitter noted that it seemed to have, “Excellent content. Not the neo Nazi propaganda some would have you believe, but actually quite balanced. One presenter just said he'd been accused of being Homophobic, but most of his boyfriends had been gay?! So, there's certainly some introspective humour too.”

A few people seem unsure so far, like Daniel Harrington, who responded that, “the whole channel is just a big joke they show adverts that are not authorized by the advertisers they seem to have many technical problems including sound problems.” While Suzanne Mitchell said that there were, “Lots of teething problems on the first night. May dip in now and again” and Jane Blackwell said that she, “Got bored within minutes I'm afraid but will keep trying.”

Not all are fans of the new channel though, like Simon Knowles, who said, “I'm sure the people it's aimed at absolutely love it. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.” And, Mike Burgess who replied saying, “Typical instance of right wing gobs****s thinking the only thing that counts are their odious opinions and forgetting that they aren't actually any good at being anything other than being gobs****s. It is like those awful small time local cable shows in America that get the p**s taken out of them all the time. It was amateurish in the extreme. It is not a news channel, it is an opinion channel.” Caz Hanson said that she, “Tried to watch, end up turning it off.”

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Dominic Skelton said that he’d, “Seen a few clips, and already familiar with several of the presenters [shudders at Dan Wootton] which is more than enough for me. I certainly won't be lapping up hour after hour of British Fox News...” and David Scothern doesn’t seem to be overly enamoured with it so far, saying that “It’s a complete dumpster fire. Hilarious viewing.” And finally Tom Stevens openly mused that, “From what I gather, it seems to be a platform to spread right wing perspectives on news, presented as “balanced”, so people with right wing views have something to agree with.”

So far it seems that the news channel has plenty of critics and a few fans, unfortunately we couldn’t include all of the comments but you can read people’s thoughts on Facebook and on Twitter also.

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