News Night 1980 – 1982

Newsnight finally started on 30th January 1980, after being postponed since the 28th January following further disputes with the unions. ABS “Association of Broadcasting and Allied Staff, informed it’s members to not work on the programme, after a member of staff refused to work on the programme and he was repudiated and sent home. On the Wednesday, an agreement was reached, in which a “Monitoring Arrangements” was set up to ensure a smooth working between both departments.

Newsnight was planned to have started on 24th September 1979, However the BBC abandoned the plans due to continuing Union Negotiations over the remit of the programme due to the involvement of both BBC news and BBC Current Affairs Department. The major sticking point surrounded the fact that it had different and separate working conditions. This was enforced further with a belief job losses would accrue if any integration were to happen.

Friday Editions, were only added in April 1980, due to the fact it Shared its studio with Muitl-Coloured Swap Shop.

In 1981 the titles were given a minor refresh while the green was dropped from the Newsnight name.