BBC World Service is planning to expand shortwave and medium service
to the North Korea, but who in the DPRK has a radio receiver capable
of receiving those frequencies? I really miss hearing the Beeb's
North American Service on shortwave.
-Ed Cummings
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37990220
BBC World Service announces biggest expansion 'since the 1940s'
The BBC World Service will launch 11 new language services as part of
its biggest expansion "since the 1940s", the corporation has announced.
The expansion is a result of the funding boost
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34902244>announced by
the UK government last year.
The new languages will be Afaan Oromo, Amharic, Gujarati, Igbo,
Korean, Marathi, Pidgin, Punjabi, Telugu, Tigrinya, and Yoruba.
The first new services are expected to launch in 2017.
"This is a historic day for the BBC, as we announce the biggest
expansion of the World Service since the 1940s," said BBC director
general Tony Hall.
"The BBC World Service is a jewel in the crown - for the BBC and for Britain.
"As we move towards our centenary, my vision is of a confident,
outward-looking BBC which brings the best of our independent,
impartial journalism and world-class entertainment to half a billion
people around the world.
"Today is a key step towards that aim."
'Relevant as ever'
The plans include the expansion of digital services to offer more
mobile and video content and a greater social media presence.
On Wednesday the BBC launches a full digital service in Thai,
following the success of a Facebook-only "pop-up" service launched in 2014.
Other expansion plans include:
* extended news bulletins in Russian, with regionalised versions
for surrounding countries
* enhanced television services across Africa, including more then
30 new TV programmes for partner broadcasters across sub-Saharan Africa
* new regional programming from BBC Arabic
* short-wave and medium-wave radio programmes aimed at audiences
in the Korean peninsula, plus online and social media content
* investment in World Service English, with new programmes, more
original journalism, and a broader agenda
Fran Unsworth, the BBC's World Service director, said: "Through war,
revolution and global change, people around the world have relied on
the World Service for independent, trusted, impartial news.
"As an independent broadcaster, we remain as relevant as ever in the
21st Century, when in many places there is not more free expression, but less.
"Today's announcement is about transforming the World Service by
investing for the future.
Image copyright PA Image caption BBC director general Tony Hall wants
the BBC to reach 500 million people worldwide by its centenary, in 2022
"We must follow our audience, who consume the news in changing ways;
an increasing number of people are watching the World Service on TV,
and many services are now digital-only.
"We will be able to speed up our digital transformation, especially
for younger audiences, and we will continue to invest in video news bulletins.
"What will not change is our commitment to independent, impartial journalism."
The new language services mean the BBC World Service will be
available in 40 languages, including English.
Lord Hall has set a target for the BBC to reach 500 million people
worldwide by its centenary in 2022.
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