Since the October 1999 relaunch an important element of News 24 presentation has been the countdown to the top of every hour. The countdown is to show viewers the pace of the channel. The full version was 90 seconds, though approximately 30 seconds were normally shown. The original countdown featured ivory numbers and globe against a deep red background, reflecting the wider rebranding of the channel. The music was composed by David Lowe, responsible for the network news music.

In January 2003 this countdown was revised to show life around the UK; stockbrokers, playgrounds, commuters, hospitals and school lessons were all shown. With the December 2003 relaunch of the channel the music of the countdown was adapted for the first time and the footage was revised to include markets, fairgrounds and the newsroom and news centre at Television Centre.

On March 28, 2005 the countdown was radically altered. The full version is 60 seconds long, but they still normally show about 30 seconds on air. The music was again revised but the biggest change came in the footage used — it now reflects the methods and nature of newsgathering and strong emphasis is placed on the BBC logo itself. Satellites are shown transmitting and receiving a red "data stream". Footage shows reporters and cameramen operating in the United Kingdom, United States, China, Africa, Iraq and the areas affected by the Asian Tsunami. Some people have also noted that the red "data streams" represented on the BBC News 24 countdown appear to defy the laws of physics.

As of 5 September 2005, an almost identical countdown replaced the 'ribbon-around-the-world' countdown BBC World had thus far offered its viewers, with slight changes in music and footage. On May 16, 2006 the music that accompanies the countdown was changed to a more mellow remixed version created by the original composer David Lowe, this version was later posted in full on the BBC website. This was followed by a competition to produce a remix of the theme, several of which are now available on the site and some of which will be used to introduce the Six O'clock news bulletin on BBC News 24 every Friday - a more "dance" oriented version was played on May 26, 2006.

On June 5, 2006 pictures taken by various BBC regions of houses and fans getting wrapped in the build up to the World Cup were added.

In May 2006 Guy Goma, who was visiting the BBC for a job interview, was mistaken for Guy Kewney, editor of Newswireless.net and interviewed live on air.