BBC Nine O'Clock News

BBC Nine O'Clock News
Final title sequence, 1999-2000
Also known as	BBC News at Nine (1999-2000)
Created by	BBC News
Presented by	Robert Dougall (1970-1973) Richard Baker (1970-1982) Kenneth Kendall (1970-1981) Peter Woods (1979-1980) Richard Whitmore (1972-1981) Angela Rippon (1976-1981) John Humphrys (1981-1990) John Simpson (1981-1988) Sue Lawley (1981-1988) Julia Somerville (1985-1988) Moira Stuart (1981-1985) Nicholas Witchell (1981-1993) Martyn Lewis (1987-1999) Michael Buerk (1976-1987, 1988-2000) Peter Sissons (1993-2000) George Alagiah (1999-2000)
Theme music composer	David Lowe (10 May 1999 - 13 October 2000)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Release
Original network	BBC1
Picture format	480p (4:3 SDTV, from 14 September 1970 until 29 September 2000) 1080i (16:9 HDTV, from 2 October 2000 until 13 October 2000)
Original release	14 September 1970 – 13 October 2000
Chronology
Preceded by	The Main News
Followed by	BBC News at Ten

The BBC Nine O'Clock News was the flagship BBC News programme. It was launched on 14 September 1970 and ran until 13 October 2000, when it was controversially replaced by the BBC Ten O'Clock News.

The first week was presented by Robert Dougall, followed by Richard Baker and Kenneth Kendall, each presenting five consecutive nightly bulletins. The choice of these three was significant as it echoed the first BBC television bulletins of 1955, which they had also presented.

Other famous presenters have included John Edmunds, Peter Woods, Richard Whitmore, Angela Rippon, Jan Leeming, John Humphrys, John Simpson, Sue Lawley, Julia Somerville, Moira Stuart, Nicholas Witchell, Martyn Lewis, Michael Buerk, Peter Sissons and George Alagiah.

The Nine O'Clock News replaced The Main News at 8.45pm in a response to the launch by ITN of the News at Ten. It was the first bulletin to have a closing set of music (other bulletins would link to the weather at the end instead). The set used by the bulletin was designed to differentiate from the day's bulletins; an example of this was on 7 September 1981, where the Nine O'Clock bulletin had a wooden effect whereas other bulletins used a plain blue background instead.