Midlands Today

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The BBC Midlands Today ident in use since September 2002

BBC Midlands Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for the West Midlands region, which comprises the West Midlands county, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. It began on 28 September 1964, from a studio on Broad Street, Birmingham. The TV signal comes from Sutton Coldfield or can be watched in any part of the UK (and Europe) on digital satellite channel 979 on the BBC UK regional TV on satellite service.

It is produced by BBC Birmingham and broadcasts on BBC One during the regional news opt-out from the main London network feed. It is made at the BBC studios in The Mailbox, which has been its home since 25th October 2004 and is also available on the Internet after the programme has been broadcast. It was first broadcast from the Pebble Mill studios in 1971, and had its last edition there on 22 October 2004.

Until 1991, Midlands Today covered the entire Midlands region - the East Midlands counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland are now covered by BBC East Midlands Today based in Nottingham. The new look format started, like other local BBC TV news, on 16 September 2002.

The main 6.30pm presenters are Nick Owen (better known as a former presenter of Good Morning with Anne and Nick) and Suzanne Virdee. Other presenters include Kay Alexander, Michael Collie, and Ashley Blake. Shefali Oza and Simon Keeling present weather and Ian Winter is the main sports presenter.

Former presenters have included Tom Coyne, Alan Towers (until July 1997), David Stevens, David Davies, Kathy Rochford (who transferred to the East Midlands), Sue Beardsmore, Matt Smith and Julian Worricker. When Alan Towers finally left in July 1997, he shared his indignant views ^[1] on the state of the BBC management with the Midlands live on-air, as his 'parting shot'.