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BBC's global audience rises to 239 million BBC's global audience rises to 239m
(about 1 hour later)
The BBC has said its global weekly TV, radio and online audience rose by 6% – to 239 million – in the past 12 months on the back of the Arab spring uprising. The BBC has said its global weekly TV, radio and online audience rose 6% – to 239 million – in the past 12 months on the back of the Arab spring uprising.
Peter Horrocks, the director of BBC global news, said in a blogpost on Wednesday that viewers had flocked to its Arabic and Persian services for coverage of widespread unrest in the region. Peter Horrocks, the director of BBC global news, said in a blogpost on Wednesday that viewers flocked to its Arabic and Persian services for coverage of widespread unrest in the region.
The BBC World Service saw its global audience rise 8% – to 180 million – in 2011 despite severe budget cuts and a withdrawal from some countries in eastern Europe.The BBC World Service saw its global audience rise 8% – to 180 million – in 2011 despite severe budget cuts and a withdrawal from some countries in eastern Europe.
When the cuts were announced in early 2011, the World Service had warned that the changes – which saw five foreign-language services closing and a reduction in short-wave broadcasts, with about 650 job losses – would cost it 30 million listeners.When the cuts were announced in early 2011, the World Service had warned that the changes – which saw five foreign-language services closing and a reduction in short-wave broadcasts, with about 650 job losses – would cost it 30 million listeners.
Horrocks said the corporation's global audience would have been higher if the 16% cut in its budget imposed by the government in 2011 had not "lessened the BBC's ability to take our journalism into some countries".Horrocks said the corporation's global audience would have been higher if the 16% cut in its budget imposed by the government in 2011 had not "lessened the BBC's ability to take our journalism into some countries".
The BBC said its Arabic service saw a record rise in audiences, with 25 million adults tuning in a week. Horrocks said the corporation's Persian TV service had doubled its reach in Iran, to 6 million people, "despite facing a campaign of censorship and intimidation by the Iranian authorities".The BBC said its Arabic service saw a record rise in audiences, with 25 million adults tuning in a week. Horrocks said the corporation's Persian TV service had doubled its reach in Iran, to 6 million people, "despite facing a campaign of censorship and intimidation by the Iranian authorities".
He added: "None of this is cause for us to rest on our laurels. But these figures are a step in the right direction as they underline the international desire for the sort of independent journalism that the BBC provides. Globally, there remains a dire need for journalism that isn't slanted towards any one country, political or commercial viewpoint."He added: "None of this is cause for us to rest on our laurels. But these figures are a step in the right direction as they underline the international desire for the sort of independent journalism that the BBC provides. Globally, there remains a dire need for journalism that isn't slanted towards any one country, political or commercial viewpoint."
Horrocks also warned that investment in news media by the governments of Russia, China and Iran "designed to give their own perspective on the world" meant there was a "dire need" for the BBC's independent-branded coverage overseas.Horrocks also warned that investment in news media by the governments of Russia, China and Iran "designed to give their own perspective on the world" meant there was a "dire need" for the BBC's independent-branded coverage overseas.
"Recent times have not been the easiest for the BBC's international news services. The challenges our journalists face have never been so severe or varied," he said."Recent times have not been the easiest for the BBC's international news services. The challenges our journalists face have never been so severe or varied," he said.
"From increased harassment and intimidation to persistent efforts to censor the BBC's news. With global competition only intensifying, the BBC World Service has also had to face significant cuts to its funding, undergoing disrupting and painful change.""From increased harassment and intimidation to persistent efforts to censor the BBC's news. With global competition only intensifying, the BBC World Service has also had to face significant cuts to its funding, undergoing disrupting and painful change."
Horrocks said the increase in global audience were cause for "cautious confidence" but not complacency.Horrocks said the increase in global audience were cause for "cautious confidence" but not complacency.
The BBC news executive came under fire earlier this week after it emerged that he has asked global news staff to suggest money-making ideas for the corporation at their next appraisals.The BBC news executive came under fire earlier this week after it emerged that he has asked global news staff to suggest money-making ideas for the corporation at their next appraisals.
Critics, including John Tusa, the head of the World Service, said this move threatened the editorial independence of the BBC. Critics, including Sir John Tusa, the head of the World Service, said this move threatened the editorial independence of the BBC.
A BBC World Service spokesman said journalists had not been ordered to come up with money-making schemes. He said no one had been given financial targets and editorial independence would not be compromised.A BBC World Service spokesman said journalists had not been ordered to come up with money-making schemes. He said no one had been given financial targets and editorial independence would not be compromised.
He added that the BBC's public service mission to provide impartial and independent news would always takes precedence over wider commercial goals, adding that nothing in the email suggested anything different. He added that the BBC's public service mission to provide impartial and independent news would always take precedence over wider commercial goals, adding that nothing in the email suggested anything different.
Last year the BBC World Service closed five language services – Albanian, Macedonian, Portuguese for Africa, Serbian, and the English for the Caribbean regional service – in response to cuts to its grant-in-aid funding from the Foreign Office.Last year the BBC World Service closed five language services – Albanian, Macedonian, Portuguese for Africa, Serbian, and the English for the Caribbean regional service – in response to cuts to its grant-in-aid funding from the Foreign Office.
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