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Press Releases
"A defining year for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service", says 2007/08 Annual Review
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The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Annual Review for 2007/08, published today, provides information about its performance during a year of major news events..
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In his foreword, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Director Nigel Chapman said: "It was a broadcasting year that saw the launch of the first ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ television news channel for a decade, improvements to our future media services, and the retention of our global radio listenership after the large increase of the previous 12 months.
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"In these ways, 2007/08 can be seen as a defining year; we demonstrated our ability to innovate while retaining the affection of audiences, who have been loyal to us for a large part of our history."
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The review highlights:
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service's further developing its multimedia strategy, including the launch of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic television.
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Independent research which indicates that ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service's reputation for providing unbiased and objective news and information is stronger than that of any other international radio competitor in virtually all markets surveyed.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service's weekly radio audience estimate is 182Ìýmillion listeners a week across its 33 language services – down one million on last year's record 183 million total.
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Its English language service attracted 40 million weekly listeners – up two million on last year.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service weekly audiences in Indian and Nigerian radio markets each grew by around a million or more during the year.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service is now available on FM in 154 capital cities, up from 152 last year.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service's online sites attracted a record 259.6 million page impressions in March 2008, compared to 189.8 million in March 2007 Ìý an increase of 37 per cent.
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The quality of its output being recognised with a record nine awards in the 2008 Sony Radio Academy Awards and the top award in the radio category of the Webbys Ìý the Oscars of the internet.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Global News services – which include ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News television and bbc.com/news (the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s international-facing online news site)– maintaining its record global weekly audience of over 233 million during 2007/08.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service's Grant-in-aid funding for 2007/08 was £255 million.
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The Annual Review can be accessed at www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/annual_review/2007/.
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Notes to Editors
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service is an international multimedia broadcaster delivering programmes and services in 33 languages.
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It uses multiple platforms to reach 182 million listeners globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels.
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It has around 2,000 partner radio stations which take ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices.
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Its news sites include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate.
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For more information, visit bbcworldservice.com.
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To find out more about the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s English language offer and subscribe to a free e-newsletter, visit bbcworldservice.com/schedules.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Press Office
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