BBC America to Revamp News; Coupling/Jekyll Scribe Steven Moffat Slags NBC

Television Critics Association/Los Angeles.

Garth Ancier, the fresh prez of BBC America, announced yesterday that the BBCA 7p news feed of BBC World will soon be replaced by what he called a "special U.S-facing, hour-long newscast " provided by BCC World. Ancier noted that BBCnews.com and BBC.com are "together the 5th largest website source of news" in the U.S.

"It's kind of extraordinary when you realize it's based in London, " mused Ancier, "so looking at this from a news background standpoint, having come from CNN, I thought this was a huge asset." Ancier said he wanted to raise the profile of BBC news in the U.S. but provided no further details.

With the formal announcements out of the way, Ancier turned his attention to the panels which he anchored in a living room-like setting on stage. TCA panels can be stiff and overly rehearsed. Not so with the sometimes raucous BBCA sessions which showcased three, new upcoming series - Jekyll, a modern day Jekyll & Hyde story with an X-Files twist; Torchwood, the Dr. Who spin-off based on the popular Captain Jack character; and Hotel Babylon, a series set in an ultra-chic hotel.

The Brits proved to be far more willing than their publicist-leashed American counterparts to give straightforward answers and to engage in the occasional potty humor.

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