BBC World News achieves major distribution milestone

Reaches more than 330m households worldwide, an increase of more than 40million over the past year

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | May 17, 2012

New figures show that BBC World News has burst through the 300million distribution mark– increasing the number of households it broadcasts in by more than 40 million over the past year.

Total distribution of the BBC's international news channel now stands at more than 330 million households following recent deals with Comcast in the US, TV4 in Sweden, ERT S.A. in Greece and D life, a major distribution deal with Disney in Japan.

BBC World News is expected to receive a further boost when it moves into state-of-the-art new broadcasting studios in London later this year, improving the look and feel of its international news output for audiences.

BBC World News Commercial Director Colin Lawrence called it evidence of both 'a breakthrough year' for the channel and 'our audiences increasing hunger for global news they can trust in very turbulent times'.

Full-time 24/7 distribution of the channel has also risen from 179 million to more than 200 million households, making it one of the biggest international news channels in the world.

Amongst the biggest increases in distribution included:

• The US, where distribution rose by over 100%, largely as a result of a new deal with US cable provider Comcast, who are distributing the channel in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, Northern California, Michigan and elsewhere
• 15% increase in Europe including France, where distribution rose by 119% and Greece where distribution rose by 549%
• Former Eastern Bloc countries Georgia (101%), Russia (+19%), Kazakhstan (+43%), and Estonia (+85%)
• Rises in Latin America including Panama (+45%), Ecuador (+25%), Paraguay (+40%), Argentina (+7%) and Chile (+16%)
• Increases in Asia including Indonesia (+35%)

Colin Lawrence said, “It has been a breakthrough year for the BBC's international channel and we are determined to build on it. We have focused on building deeper and stronger relationships with MSOs, as well as creating new partnerships which may build the BBC World News brand footprint in strategic markets.

“It's no coincidence we've made this progress in what has been a year of huge international news and events. In turbulent times, international audiences increasingly turn to the BBC and want news that they can trust. It reflects growing evidence that audiences may be growing tired of more slanted broadcast news and value our intelligent and un-spun global perspective.”

“In another defining year for news - including major elections in the US, China, Russia, France and elsewhere - we expect the hunger for fair and accurate international news to grow. Alongside our move to state-of-the-art new studios in London, this should provide another lift in our performance.”

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com