BBC World
Categories: 24-hour television news channels | International BBC television channels
BBC World is the British Broadcasting Corporation's 24-hour international current affairs TV channel with BBC News, documentaries, lifestyle programmes and interviews, and was launched in January 1995. Its main competitor is the many variants of CNN. Other competitiors include News Corporation's Sky News, Fox News and Star News.
It was formerly known as BBC World Service Television, although unlike BBC World Service radio it was (and is) commercially funded, as the British government refused to extend the Foreign Office grant-in-aid.
BBC World is based in the BBC's new Broadcast Centre and takes News feeds from BBC Television Centre both of which are in west London.
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Distribution
BBC World is most commonly watched as a subscription channel. In most of the world, it is carried on nearly all satellite and cable platforms, except in the United States where it is less common. It is also available globally online through the Dong-a Ilbo, Korean newspaper website and RealPlayer Plus. In Bahrain it is additionally available as a subscription mobile phone service.
The channel is also available free-to-air in Berlin via digital terrestrial television, and in many parts of the world via satellite. A daily version of its news bulletins are also rebroadcast on many FTA terrestrial channels, especially in the United States.
It was originally carried on Star TV, the pan-Asian satellite television service based in Hong Kong, which was later acquired by Rupert Murdoch. Owing to the Chinese government's dislike of the BBC's news coverage, Star TV dropped its carriage of the channel in the region, although the Corporation later found another satellite.
It is not officially available in the United Kingdom, on the grounds that it carries advertising, although it can be received via satellite. However, between 0100 and 0500 UTC each day, its news bulletins and programmes are simulcast on BBC News 24 as well as BBC One; these are simply identified as "BBC News" with no reference to any channel. On weekdays BBC World also produces a 30 minute analytical news programme called The World which can be seen in the UK on BBC Four, and an edition of BBC World News is shown every morning at 9.30 on BBC News 24 in the UK with a more international news agenda.
Programming
BBC World produces much of its own programming. This includes programs such as HARDtalk, which features interviews with famous people, World Business Report, Asia Today, Click Online (technology), Fast Track (travel), and Talking Movies. In addition, a special half hour version of the popular BBC Two program Top Gear airs on weekends, and other BBC documentaries such as Holidays in the Danger Zone air from time to time.
In India, it shows many programmes tailor-made for a local audience, including Question Time India quiz show University Challenge India, India Business Report, IT: India Tomorrow, Face to Face and motor show Wheels.
Newsworthiness, bias and propaganda
The BBC has an reputation amongst many for independant and accurate reporting of news and current affairs. BBC World is however the BBC's young child and in contrast to its domestic tv and radio services, is funded by commercial sponsors thus raising questions about the ability of BBC World to report impartially in the face of commercial pressures.
In December 2004 however, BBC World's reputation suffered a blow when it was reported that BBC World had broadcast an interview with a hoaxer who claimed to offer a $12bn settlement to the 120,000 surviving victims of the Bhopal disaster.
To what degree bias or inaccuracy, if any, exists in any BBC World or other satellite tv broadcast is a matter for the viewer to decide by careful comparison with other news sources. Nonetheless, BBC World provides a further and different voice to the satellite media world and another point of reference in a diverse media market.
Variation
"BBC World" is for the most part, the same channel all over the world — except for the commercials. However, there are some regional programming variations. For example, a number of programmes are made exclusively for the Indian feed. In addition, the Asia Business Report from Singapore is only aired in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. The rest of the world sees the World Business Report.
On most feeds of BBC World, commercials are inserted by the cable or satellite provider similar to other channels. When a cable or satellite provider does not insert commercials, the "Breakfiller" (see right) shows promotions for upcoming programmes on the channel. During BBC News, a news story that has not been promoted airs during what would be the commercial break. This is the case on the broadband versions of BBC World, and on versions of BBC World aired on American public television. However, there are some global commercials and sponsorships which air throughout the network.
The Hourly Countdown
Since its inception, and more so since its extensive association with BBC News 24, the countdown to the hourly news bulletin has been an attractive feature of the channel. With music composed by David Lowe, it has changed several times over the decade. Many agree that the versions used between the years 1999 and 2003 were the best, which was replaced by a 'ribbon-around-the-world' countdown since February 2004, when a large scale rebranding was brought out on both BBC World and BBC News 24. However, the countdowns in the latter featured some stunning visuals of the world and the UK in the background as the countdown proceeded, while the former merely had the usual 'world-spinning' image.
As of September 5, 2005, the BBC World Countdown was also altered, modelling on BBC News 24, with slight modifications in music and footage, the latter including extensive number of images from SE Asia, especially India. A week earlier, the channel's well established break-filler also switched to a new music, without a change in its visuals.
BBC World News
Half-hour BBC World News bulletins are made available to PBS stations in the United States through WLIW in New York. 80 to 90% of Americans are able to receive them, though broadcast times vary between different localities, with it airing on several PBS stations in markets such as New York City and Washington, DC.
On PBS, BBC World News does not appear with commercials (the breaks are replaced with news stories) but omits the Met Office international weather forecast at the end, replacing it with underwriting announcements. The PBS airings are tape-delayed on some stations.
BBC World News bulletins are also available on BBC America in the U.S. The network airs three bulletins on weekday mornings (as part of a 3-hour block of BBC World coverage), plus one in the evening. One bulletin airs daily on the weekends (in the morning).
The bulletins also appear on CBC Newsworld in Canada. Travellers can watch the bulletins on Channel 1 shortly after take-off on British Airways flights from the United Kingdom.
PBS stations in the United States that air BBC World News
- KBTC — Tacoma, Washington
- KCET — Los Angeles, California
- KCTS — Seattle, Washington
- KLCS — Los Angeles, California
- KOCE — Orange County, California
- KAET — Phoenix, Arizona
- KTCI — Saint Paul, Minnesota
- KVCR — San Bernardino, California
- KQED — San Francisco, California
- WPBA — Atlanta, Georgia
- KCPT — Kansas City, Missouri
- MPT — Maryland
- NJN — New Jersey
- UNC-TV — North Carolina
- VPT — Vermont
- WCFE — Plattsburgh, New York
- WETA — Washington, D.C.
- WGBH — Boston, Massachusetts
- WHUT — Washington, D.C.
- WLIW — Garden City, New York/New York, New York
- WLVT — Allentown, Pennsylvania/Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- WNET — Newark, New Jersey/New York, New York
- WNVC — Fairfax, Virginia
- WPT — Wisconsin
- WYCC — Chicago, Illinois
- WCNY — Syracuse, New York
- KERA — Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
- WSIU — Carbondale, Illinois
- WUSI — Olney, Illinois