BBC World News

From Saturday 14 February BBC World News is launching The Bottom Line, a business programme from BBC World Service radio, to its global TV audience.

The Bottom Line, currently airing on BBC Radio 4 in the UK and also in a reversioned international form on BBC World Service, opens its doors to television cameras for the first time and is available across radio, television and as a podcast online. This new multi-media initiative means that The Bottom Line will reach a wider audience at a time when the business world is under the global spotlight.

The Bottom Line cuts through statistics and spin to give listeners and viewers a clearer view of the business world. Each week, presenter Evan Davis is joined by a panel of guests who run leading and emerging companies to share their insight into the world of business. The radio programme is produced in association with the Open University.

The Bottom Line airs on BBC World Service radio across the world at 19.06 GMT each Saturday. BBC World News will televise the show for a six week run from Saturday 14 February at 19.30 GMT.

Upcoming discussion topics on The Bottom Line include decision making in an economic downturn and the ongoing difficulties of trying to achieve a healthy balance between a personal life, a family life and a career.

Expert panellists currently lined-up to appear on the show are Martin Sorrell, WPP; Richard Brown CEO Eurostar; Olaf Swantee, CEO Orange Telecom; Tom Purves; Rolls Royce Motor Cars and Charlotte Hogg, MD Experian.

Paul Gibbs, Head of Programming, BBC World News, says: “Delivering a radio show to a TV and online audience is an exciting venture. The Bottom Line has a great format and high-profile guest list which we envisage will be of real interest to our international audiences.”

The Bottom Line began broadcasting in the UK on BBC Radio 4 in 2006. In addition to airing on BBC World News for the first time, the programme will air on BBC News in the UK for the same six week period.