What’s that on the telly?

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ANGLOPHILE -- though it probably helps -- to welcome the debut on American television screens of an hourlong morning newscast produced by the British Broadcasting Corp. “World News Today,” which will be aired live on BBC America and other cable channels starting next month,

certainly will cheer Brit wannabes who nosh on crumpets rather than bagels, serve themselves high tea and refer to their cellphones as “mobiles.”

But, according to the Financial Times, the target audience for the new program (or is that programme?) consists of all-American news junkies who might not know their Earl Grey from their Lord Nelson. These serious news consumers are sick of listening to morning bulletins about Hollywood Babylon and would rather know more about the original Babylon in Iraq.

“The Beeb” -- unlike Americans, the British have given a nickname to their publicly funded broadcasting service -- already caters to that demographic with an evening news program carried by some PBS stations. Now Americans will be able to listen to hard news in the morning, even if it’s delivered with a stiff upper lip.

That lip will belong to BBC “presenter” George Alagiah, the host of the BBC’s “Six O’Clock News.” Alagiah isn’t shy about dissing his American counterparts. “There has been a drift toward opinion in American journalism,” he told the British Press Assn. “And there’s also been a withdrawal from serious international coverage on a sustained basis.”

On the other hand, according to the Financial Times -- which has been widely available in America for some time now -- “the timing and pace of the show will be specifically designed with Americans in mind.” (Uh-oh. Maybe it ought to be called BBC-ADD.)

Whatever its pace, “World News Today” sounds like an admirable antidote for both the dumbed-down network morning news shows and the (Air)Headline News served up by giggling cable anchors. Offered more of Baghdad and less of Brangelina, American viewers might even be willing to put up with footage of Charles and Camilla and the occasional soccer score.

But no cricket, please. We’re American.