BBC World
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BBC World is the British Broadcasting Corporation's 24-hour international,news and information TV channel,launched on January 1995.Its broadcasting lineup includes BBC News, documentaries, lifestyle programmes and interviews. It's main global competitor is CNN International, though it also competes with other major news broadcasting companies. The channel is transmitted by Red Bee Media from their network centre in White City, west London.All News output originates from studios in the nearby BBC Television Centre.
Although the BBC World News studio produces output in [[16:9]] EDTV in line with the rest of BBC News, the channel is transmitted in [[4:3]]. The News output is converted into a [[14:9]] frame for both digital and analogue broadcasting, resulting in black bands at the top and bottom of the screen.
History
BBC World 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.The station was established in 1995 when BBC World Service Television was split up into two stations BBC Prime (encrypted and requiring subscription) and BBC World (free to air).
The service has gone through several branding changes. Over the years from 1995-1999 it featured various fictional flags. (CGI in 1995-1997, and real flag, which BBC News 24 used, in 1997-1999)
Then from 1999-2003 came branding that made extensive use of the colours red and cream and featured music composed by David Lowe.
In 2004 another makeover took place, although this one was on a much smaller scale to that made in 1999. The music was changed slightly and the red and cream colour scheme changed to red and black. Later on in 2004 the channels slogan changed from Demand a Broader View to Putting News First.
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.
It is also available globally online through the website of Dong-a Ilbo, a Korean newspaper[link] and RealPlayer Plus. In Bahrain it is additionally available as a subscription mobile phone service, having also been available as a terrestrial channel.
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 where bulletins are broadcast on PBS affiliates and BBC America, in New Zealand, where it is carried overnight on TV One, and in Trinidad and Tobago where it is carried overnight on TV6
In Europe, analogue satellite broadcasting via Hot Bird 6 ceased on 18th April 2006 at midday, although its digital free-to-air signal is replicated on Hot Bird 6, as well as on Hot Bird 3 and Hot Bird 7A (notably, these satellites are all operational from the same position) and on Astra 1KR.
It is also available 24/7 in Australia on Foxtel, Austar and Optus TV. In New Zealand, it is also broadcast via satellite on SKY Network Television and via cable on TelstraClear.
In Asia, it was originally carried on Star TV, the pan-Asian satellite television service based in Hong Kong, which was later acquired by Rupert Murdoch, but switched to Panamsat in 1996. It is also available on Astro in Malaysia.
BBC World has been available in Africa on DStv since late 1995, and its bulletins have also been rebroadcast on SABC's terrestrial channels in South Africa. In 1996, it became available in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In Canada, the channel is available on Bell ExpressVu and StarChoice satellite services. Most of the US can receive both signals. The Bell ExpressVu signal can be received on grey market Free-To-Air (FTA) satellite receivers with the proper firmware installed. Nimiq 1, one of Bell ExpressVu's satellites, is located at 91 West longitude and can be received with at least an 18" (46cm) dish throughout much of the US. On Nimiq 1, BBC World can be found at frequency 12516Mhz, right-hand circular polarization, SR 20000, FEC 5/6, video PID 6690, audio PID 6691. Anik F1R carries BBC World for StarChoice, and is located at 107.3 West. Reception in all but marginal areas can be obtained with an 18 inch dish with StarChoice Digicipher II receiving equipment. BBC World can be found at frequency 11898Mhz, vertical polarization, SR 19510, FEC 3/4 {audio pid and video pid presently uknown).
Since its inception in 1995, the BBC sought carriage for the channel on US cable and satellite systems. Due to Americans' perceived lack of interest in international news, it took 11 years for a US distribution deal to be signed, a deal with Discovery Communications that was announced on 25 January 2006. As of May 2006, only Cablevision in the New York City metropolitan area has agreed to retransmit the channel, and is broadcasted on channel 104 for digital subscribers.
It is not officially available in the United Kingdom, on the grounds that it carries advertising, although it can be easily received due to its free-to-air status on many European satellites. However, between 0100 and 0500 UTC each day, twenty-five minute news bulletins from the top of each hour on the channel are simulcast on BBC News 24; when they are simply identified as "BBC News" with no reference to any channel (during this time, the bulletins are produced by BBC News 24, and presented from their studio, with a static BBC World logo overlaid over the News 24 identity). This simulcast continues with a full hour-long simulcast branded as "The World Today from BBC News", which carries a further twenty-five minute news bulletin, followed by an edition of World Business Report (which includes a UK business insert when international viewers break away for a short commercial break half way through). 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. A special unique edition of BBC World News used to be shown six times a week at 0930 on BBC News 24 in the UK with a more international news agenda, but this has been discontinued as part of other changes to the channel's schedule.
Programming
BBC World produces much of its own programming.Programmes included:
- HARDtalk - face-to-face interviews
- World Business Report - business news
- Asia Today - Asia-specific news
- Click - technology
- Fast Track - travel
- Talking Movies - films (mainly from Hollywood)
In India, many programmes tailor-made for a local audience are shown , including Question Time India, quiz show University Challenge India, India Business Report, IT India Tomorrow, Face to Face and motor show Wheels.
Reputation and Criticisms
The BBC has a [reputation] amongst many for independent and accurate reporting of news and current affairs. However, being one of the newest of the BBC's media entities, BBC World is funded by commercial sponsors which has raised questions about its ability to report impartially.
Though generally considered quite accurate, BBC World has occasionally made mistakes, as in the incident where on the twentieth anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, the 3rd of December 2004, BBC World was duped into broadcasting an interview with a hoaxer (later revealed to have been Andy Bichlbaum, a member of The Yes Men) claiming to be a representative of Dow Chemical offering a US$12bn settlement to the 120,000 surviving victims of the Bhopal disaster. Upon discovery of the hoax, the BBC's Press Office immediately put out a statement regarding what had happened and the story was dropped from subsequent BBC World News bulletins and those on the 24 hour UK news channel BBC News 24.
Nonetheless, BBC World provides a further and different voice to the world and another point of reference in a diverse media market.
Censorships
BBC News has been banned in several countries primarily for unbiased reporting which has been unfavourable to the ruling government. Most notable examples have been in Uzbekistan [link], China [link] [link], Sri Lanka [link], Zimbabwe [link] and Pakistan in 2005 [link].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 regional viewings, such as Indian feeds, and The Record Europe, which can only be viewed in Europe. 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 in the United States. 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.
A 'ribbon-around-the-world' countdown was used 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 (and using many clips that feature in the News 24 countdown). The countdown features reporters in the field, 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 stations, 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). As with the PBS bulletins, the Met Office forecasts are removed, but commercials are included.
The bulletins also appear on CBC Newsworld in Canada, and Access 31 in Perth, Australia. Travellers can watch the bulletins on Channel 1 shortly after take-off on British Airways flights from the United Kingdom.
There used to be a half hour summary of the BBC World News on BBC News 24 every weekday and Sunday morning at 0930GMT/BST, but with improvements to BBC News 24 in the UK, this has since been discontinued, but is still available on Sundays. British viewers can still get a flavour of BBC World, however, as the two channels simulcast the first twenty-five minutes of each hour between 0100GMT/BST and 0500GMT/BST every day. A further full hour of programming from 0500GMT/BST - branded as "The World Today from BBC News" is also simulcast until the two channels part company at 0600GMT/BST.
Travellers on the Heathrow Express rail service from London Paddington to London Heathrow Airport are also treated to a specially-recorded BBC World bulletin - introduced with a namecheck of "Welcome to BBC World News onboard the Heathrow Express" - during the fifteen minute journey. This short bulletin is updated twice a day, and is shown in both classes on LCD televisions throughout the train.
BBC World Presenter Schedules (Weekdays):
0500-0800GMT: Lucy Hockings
0800-1200GMT: Martine Dennis
1200-1300GMT: George Alagiah. World News Today: launched on the 3rd of July to appeal to the Breakfast audience in America. It goes out at 7am ET in the US. The programme was originally titled NewsHour in earlier publicity.
1300-1600GMT: David Eades
1600-2000GMT: Nik Gowing
2000-2100GMT: The World with Zeinab Badawi
2100-0100GMT: Mike Embley. Katty Kay joins Mike during the 2300 programme from Washington, as this bulletin is also shown on BBC America.
0100-0500GMT: Overnight Service from BBC News 24. Presenters include Alastair Yates, Martine Croxall, Deborah Mackenzie and Jake Lynch.
Some other presenters on the channel: Peter Dobbie, David Jessel, Nisha Pillai, Kirsty Lang, Jonathan Charles, Geeta Guru-Murthy and many more.
References
Bhopal HoaxExternal links
| BBC Television |
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UK analogue and digital channels BBC One | BBC Two BBC Two variants: BBC Two Northern Ireland |
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UK digital-only channels General Entertainment: BBC Three | BBC Four News and current affairs: BBC News 24 | BBC Parliament Children's television: CBBC Channel | CBeebies BBC Two Nations: BBC 2W | BBC Two NI Interactive Television: BBCi High Definition: BBC HD |
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International television BBC World | BBC America | BBC Prime BBC Kids | BBC Food | BBC Canada |
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Joint Ventures Animal Planet | People+Arts | UKTV (UK and Ireland) | UK.TV (Australia and New Zealand) |
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Defunct channels BBC Knowledge | BBC Choice | BBC World Service Television | BBC TV Europe | BBC Japan |
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