BBC Worldwide Press Releases

BBC World, the BBC's 24-hour international news and information channel, today announced that following a number of recent distribution agreements the channel is now available in over 200 million homes worldwide - a substantial increase in its global reach. The figure represents a 16% growth in distribution for the channel year on year for total households.

"This time last year we were in 173 million households worldwide and now we can boast over 200 million, 90 million of which receive the channel 24 hours a day," explained Jeff Hazell, Director of Sales & Distribution, BBC World. "This is a reflection of the ever increasing global demand for BBC World, particularly in the US in recent months."

This impressive growth is in part attributable to BBC World's existing arrangement in the US with public television provider, WLIW. In January BBC World announced that as a result of new agreements with PBS networks across the country, the channel is now available in 80% of US television households. This, combined with a number of agreements in other countries in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, has resulted in BBC World now being available to its biggest audience ever.

"Distribution successes like this are the backbone of the channel's development making BBC World an even more attractive proposition for advertisers to reach global audiences. Since 1995 we have experienced considerable growth and hitting the 200 million homes mark so early in 2002 is fantastic illustrating the increasing demand for accurate, in-depth and relevant international news."added Patrick Cross, Managing Director, BBC World.

Notes to editors
BBC World is the BBC's 24-hour, English language, international news and information channel, reaching 200 million homes in 200 countries and territories worldwide (90 million 24-hour homes). Launched in its present form in 1995, BBC World is a commercial service, run by BBC Worldwide and funded by advertising and subscription. All details on the website http://www.bbcworld.com

BBC World is available in 80% (80 million) of US public service television households - approximately 200 channels across the US now carry BBC World news bulletins.

In the US WLIW New York is the fourth most watched public television station in the US reaching a weekly cumulative audience of nearly two million households in New York metropolitan area. The station is also a producer and distributor of programmes for the National Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). For further information visit WLIW online at www.wliw.org.

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