The Secret Behind BBC Newsround's Nintendo Switch Controllers Revealed
For years, attentive viewers of BBC's flagship children's news programme Newsround have noticed a curious detail: presenters consistently hold Nintendo Switch controllers during broadcasts. This peculiar sight has sparked widespread speculation and questions from audiences young and old. Now, the mystery has been officially solved by one of the programme's own presenters.
More Than Just Gaming Accessories
Emma-Louise Amanshia, who joined the Newsround presenting team in 2024, recently took to social media to explain the controllers' unexpected purpose. In a detailed TikTok video, she revealed that the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons serve a crucial technical function rather than being mere props or gaming accessories.
The primary purpose of these controllers is to navigate the autocue script that presenters use to deliver news content to young viewers across the nation. Unlike traditional autocue systems that scroll at predetermined speeds, Newsround's setup allows presenters to control the pace themselves using the handheld devices.
How the Joy-Cons Function On Air
"Sometimes people ask why we hold a Nintendo Switch controller on Newsround, which is such a fair question because it is weird," Emma-Louise explained in her video. "Basically, we use this to control the words. I'll be sat here on the sofa and there's a script in front of me, and this is what I use to go up and down."
The presenter demonstrated how the buttons beneath the joystick enable additional functions, including returning to the beginning of the script. She praised the technical team's ingenuity in repurposing the gaming controllers, noting that "someone smart" had essentially transformed them into sophisticated remote controls for broadcast purposes.
Practical Advantages for Children's Television
When questioned about why Newsround specifically uses Nintendo Switch controllers rather than conventional remotes, viewers and commenters offered several compelling explanations. The consensus suggests multiple practical advantages that make them particularly suitable for the children's programme.
- Size and convenience: Joy-Cons are compact and ergonomic, making them easy to hold discreetly during broadcasts without distracting from the news content.
- Cost-effectiveness: They represent a more affordable alternative to specialized industrial equipment designed for professional broadcasting.
- Audience recognition: As a children's programme, using familiar gaming equipment creates an immediate connection with young viewers who recognize the controllers.
- Technical adaptability: Commenters noted that programming the controllers to interface with autocue software via Bluetooth is relatively straightforward, with various gaming controllers being adaptable for this purpose.
Newsround's Enduring Legacy
The revelation about the controllers prompted nostalgic reactions from former viewers who discovered through Emma-Louise's video that Newsround continues to broadcast after more than five decades. Many expressed surprise that the programme they watched as children in the early 2000s remains an active part of BBC programming.
Newsround maintains its position as a pioneering children's news programme, having launched in 1972 as John Craven's Newsround. It was the first television news programme specifically designed for audiences aged five to fifteen, and it continues to adapt its format to engage young viewers with current affairs.
Current Broadcasting Details
The programme airs daily on CBBC at approximately 7:45 AM, featuring eight-minute weekday bulletins and six-minute weekend editions. Saturday mornings also see broadcasts on BBC Two, with all content available for twenty-four hours on BBC iPlayer and the CBBC website's Newsround section.
Seven presenters currently comprise the Newsround team: Ricky Boleto, Jenny Lawrence, De'Graft Mensah, Shanequa Paris, Nina Blissett, Otis Holmes, and Emma-Louise Amanshia. The programme has historically served as a launching pad for broadcasting careers, with notable alumni including Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Jake Humphrey, and Helen Skelton transitioning to mainstream news and presenting roles.
The innovative use of Nintendo Switch controllers exemplifies Newsround's commitment to adapting technology to create accessible, engaging news content for younger audiences while maintaining the programme's educational mission that has defined it for generations.
