BBC Newsround Enters New Era with State-of-the-Art Studio at MediaCityUK

Historic Children’s News Programme Marks Fresh Chapter

On 17 March 2025, Newsround moved into their new permanent studio, with Jenny Lawrence being the first person to present from the new studio. This significant milestone represents the latest evolution for a BBC children’s news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972.

Why Newsround Matters to British Broadcasting

Originally John Craven’s Newsround, it was one of the world’s first television news magazines aimed specifically at children. The programme has played a crucial role in helping young people understand complex news events for over five decades. Broadcast on CBBC, the programme is aimed at 5 to 15-year-olds.

Newsround’s importance extends beyond entertainment—it has been instrumental in breaking major news stories to British audiences. Newsround was the first British television programme to break the news of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger on 28 January 1986.

Adapting to Modern Viewing Habits

The new studio comes after a period of transition for the programme. Newsround moved out of studio HQ5 for undisclosed reasons on 17 December 2023. All production from HQ5 had ceased by 22 December, and the studio had been emptied by 25 January. The programme has adapted to changing consumption patterns, with Newsround broadcast on CBBC once a day, with an eight-minute bulletin on weekdays and a six-minute bulletin on weekends at around 7:45am.

In July 2020, the 16:20 & 08:15 programmes were axed after being on air since 1972. BBC executives concluded that children no longer turn on traditional television channels when they return home from school, and that the focus would shift to Newsround’s morning edition often used by teachers in school classrooms, and to more investment in the programme’s website.

Looking Forward

The new permanent studio at MediaCityUK represents the BBC’s continued commitment to quality children’s journalism. As media consumption habits evolve, Newsround remains dedicated to providing trusted, age-appropriate news content that helps young viewers make sense of the world around them. For parents and educators, the programme continues to serve as an invaluable resource for introducing children to current affairs in an accessible, engaging format that has stood the test of time.