The BBC has launched Tech Now, a new weekly technology programme replacing its long-running show Click. The new show promises a more global, reporter-led approach — with stories spanning artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, climate, health, gaming, and more — and is already spotlighting Africa from episode one.

Access and Representation: What African Audiences Need to Know

For African viewers wondering how to watch Tech Now and whether local tech stories will be covered, Techish reached out to the BBC for clarification.

Will Africans Be Able to Watch Tech Now Easily?

“There will not be on-demand access in Africa for the full 23-minute weekly episodes. However, many of the reports will be available in full on BBC.com and on the BBC News YouTube account within a dedicated technology playlist. The full episodes will also be repeated across the weekend on the BBC News channel,” the BBC confirmed.

This means while the full episodes won’t be streamable in Africa, many of the reports — not just shortened clips — will be accessible in full online, making it easier for African audiences to engage with the content.

Will Africa’s Tech Ecosystem Be Represented?

Africa’s innovation scene is rapidly expanding — from fintech to energy tech — and BBC says Tech Now is keeping that in focus.

“Tech Now is building collaborations with reporters around the world. Its predecessor, Click, has featured several reports from Kenya, and Tech Now is developing a new working relationship with a BBC reporter in Nigeria,” the BBC told us. “The first episode also features a report on bitcoin mining in Zambia. Additionally, our sister programme Tech Life — which broadcasts on World Service Radio and is available globally as a podcast — regularly features stories from Africa as well.”

What Is Tech Now?

Tech Now is the BBC’s new flagship technology programme airing on the BBC News Channel and BBC.com. It aims to give viewers an inside look at how innovation is shaping our lives — globally and locally.

In the debut episode, stories featured include:

The future of decarbonised air travel with Adrienne Murray
Bitcoin-powered energy in rural Zambia
Emerging innovations from the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas
A look inside Europe’s largest wildlife endocrinology lab at Chester Zoo

Future episodes will explore stories from the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Microsoft HQ in Washington, the Rubin Observatory in Chile, and green steel initiatives in Sweden — suggesting a strong commitment to global, on-the-ground reporting.

What’s New: From Click to Tech Now

While Click had a loyal fan base for years, Tech Now represents more than a name change — it’s a format shift designed for today’s hybrid audience across TV and digital platforms.

“The programme has evolved from its traditional TV format to one where the films work well for both digital and TV audiences as standalone reports,” the BBC explained. “Tech Now will be a reporter-led format — and won’t have on-camera presenter links to introduce each film.”

This shift allows more flexible storytelling, ideal for audiences who prefer consuming tech news via shorter, self-contained video reports.

A Global Tech Show With African Potential

BBC says it wants Tech Now to bring a truly international perspective to technology — not just covering Silicon Valley headlines, but also reporting on impactful innovation in underserved regions. The Zambia story in the first episode, and upcoming contributions from Nigeria-based journalists, signal a willingness to tell those underreported stories.

Tech Now also complements the BBC’s Tech Life radio show and podcast, which continues to highlight African stories and is accessible globally.

For Africa’s vibrant and growing tech community — from developers and founders to policy leaders and curious consumers — Tech Now could become a valuable source of insight and visibility.