BBC Studios expands reach of BBC Player in Poland

1 September 2024

BBC Studios expands reach of BBC Player in Poland

BBC Studios and CDA partner to launch BBC Studios’ multi-genre VOD service, BBC Player, on CDA Premium from 1 September 2024

BBC Studios and CDA announced that BBC Studios’ multi-genre VOD service will launch on CDA Premium from 1 September 2024. BBC Player will be available to the entire CDA Premium subscriber base, providing them with a wide range of award-winning BBC programming.

BBC Player is the local on-demand destination for BBC content in Poland. CDA Premium subscribers will be able to stream curated content selected solely for the platform, as well as award-winning and critically acclaimed shows from BBC Studios’ linear channel portfolio – BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, BBC First and CBeebies. This follows the successful launch of BBC Player on CANAL+ in June 2022 and online streaming service PLAY NOW and PLAY NOW TV.

CDA Premium subscribers will have access to a range of BBC drama and factual entertainment, as well as world-renowned natural history productions and even children’s programming. In September and October, audiences can look forward to a variety of programmes, including, but not limited to:

Absolutely Fabulous (season 3 and 4): Multi-award-winning British television sitcom created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, starring Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha.

David Beckham: For the Love of the Game: One of the most iconic players of his generation, David Beckham returns to the screens for a unique journey as he plays seven games in each of the seven continents around the world.

The Diplomat: Gripping crime series that shines a light on the secretive world of diplomacy. From the producers of Bodyguard and Line of Duty.

Inside No. 9 (season 1): Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s critically acclaimed and BAFTA Award-winning anthology of tales of the genuinely unexpected.

Mountains: Life Above the Clouds: A landmark 3-part series from the BBC Natural History Unit revealing the extraordinary animals and remarkable people who make a home in the iconic mountain ranges of the world, from the Himalaya, Rockies to the Andes.

Super Surgeons (season 2): A powerful documentary following a team of pioneering surgeons and their patients at one of the world’s leading cancer hospitals – The Royal Marsden.

Wonders of the Sun with Dara Ó Briain: The comedian’s latest documentary, in which he embarks on another journey of discovery, this time exploring our relationship with the Sun.

Bartosz Witak, General Manager for CEE at BBC Studios, says: ‘This deal marks the expansion of our on-demand platform in Poland, allowing even more people to stream BBC Studios’ award-winning content. Complementing our existing suite of linear BBC channels on CDA, I am proud to be providing CDA Premium subscribers access to a selection of dramas and factual shows on the go’.

[Source: BBC press release]

BBC relaunches global apps

21 March 2024

BBC relaunches global apps

Redesigned website and app offer a new contemporary look and more BBC content for digital audiences outside of the UK, alongside enhanced advertising capabilities.

BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, and BBC News has announced the global launch of the all-new BBC.com and BBC app, transforming the way digital audiences read, watch, and find the BBC’s renowned journalism and storytelling outside of the UK. Available to users worldwide, the new website and app boast an updated design and navigation along with more of the trusted, impartial journalism that consumers rely on the BBC for across the world. The new BBC.com and BBC app also allow for a more premium and sustainable commercial offering with ad tech enhancements that unlock new opportunities for advertisers.

The BBC app, which replaces the International BBC News app, brings together content from across the BBC, for the first time ever. The app mirrors the refreshed BBC.com experience, offering stories and videos across Business, Innovation, Culture, Travel, Earth and more, alongside News, Sport, and live coverage. The BBC app is available for download today in the App Store for Apple users and for Android devices via Google Play.

Tara Maitra, Chief Commercial Officer, BBC Global Media & Streaming, BBC Studios, said: “We are excited to bring the new website and brand-new BBC app to audiences and partners around the globe, following a successful first introduction to consumers in North America,” said “These new digital products deliver an experience as premium as our news and storytelling and offers us the opportunity for future growth as we remain focused on finding new and innovative ways to make BBC content more easily accessible across the globe.”

Naja Nielsen, Digital Director for BBC News, said: “We know there is huge appetite for impartial BBC News journalism as we report – without an agenda – on the burning issues of our time. Thanks to our independent journalism, the BBC is the world’s most trusted international news media organisation, reaching more than 400 million people each week. As we expand and develop our global digital newsroom, I am thrilled our new global app and website will provide an excellent experience and much better showcase our world-beating journalism”.

BBC.com, which re-launched in North America last December, and the BBC app allow users to engage with the BBC’s content in a more cohesive experience. Some of the changes to the website and app include:

New Homepage: The new BBC.com homepage and home screen now include a mix of the biggest global news stories of the moment plus a selection of timely and relevant features, curated by BBC editors.
New Look, Same Trusted News: Visitors looking to dig deeper into what’s happening around the globe can navigate to News to find articles, videos, and live coverage. Those looking for news from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East can find it in the World section under News.
New Sections: BBC’s arts and entertainment coverage in Culture, technology, health and science in Innovation, and sustainability and environment in Earth. Sport, Business and Travel continue to offer agenda-setting stories from around the world, as well as the thought-provoking features readers have come to love from the BBC.
More BBC Videos: New Video section offers an extensive library of BBC videos and multimedia storytelling featuring content ranging from news and sport updates to captivating stories on climate, sustainability, science, health, entertainment, and history.
More Live Coverage: New Live section makes it easier to find live news updates and live global sport coverage as they unfold.
Up-to-the-Minute Breaking News Alerts: Audiences can sign up to receive the same breaking news notifications they always have.
The BBC Direct to your Inbox: Discover our newsletters, including The News Briefing, US Election Unspun, Tech Decoded, Future Earth, The Essential List and the brand-new In History

The new website and app, together, create a streamlined digital ecosystem that makes it easier than ever for audiences worldwide to discover a wider array of BBC content. The consistent, unified layout across web and app results not only in an improved user experience, but the unified, single product suite also allows for more opportunities and flexibility for advertising and sponsorship across both web and app.

Advertising partners can now take advantage of more premium high impact ad units that live seamlessly alongside the BBC’s content, making for a more effective consumer journey. Marketers will also benefit from advanced targeting capabilities featuring more sophisticated audience intelligence, segmentation, and attribution that connects campaigns across web and app products, delivering enhanced measurable results for partners.

These new digital platforms and features, coupled with research that shows advertising within news can drive business results, together bolster the opportunity for marketers to reach the coveted BBC.com audience of engaged and informed news consumers. In fact, according to the IAB1, advertising in news creates a halo effect, with consumers more likely to consider making a purchase after being exposed to a brand’s advertisement within their preferred news sources. Findings show that 90% of consumers have either a positive or neutral response to brands that advertise within news, while nearly half of consumers find brands that advertise in the news to be more customer-focused and engaging, more innovative, and relevant to them. The study from the IAB reinforces internal findings into the aggregated performance of advertising on BBC.com, which show an 80%+ average lift in likelihood to recommend and consideration across key categories.2

BBC.com and the BBC app are the latest step in the company’s ongoing digital transformation, and is supported by its investment in North America, which includes an expanded newsroom that facilitates deeper analysis and local expertise of the regional stories affecting the world. Recently, the company also launched the BBC News FAST channel in the U.S. across leading services, more than doubling the channel’s reach in the region. Ranked as the most trusted news broadcaster in the world, the BBC is driven by its public service mission and editorial guidelines and standards for which the organization is known.

The development and operation of BBC.com and the BBC app is driven by BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming division, which leverages the power of the BBC to reach and engage audiences worldwide. GM&S is responsible for the distribution and advertising of BBC News globally outside of the U.K. GM&S is a division of BBC Studios, the BBC Group’s commercial arm that helps to fund innovation, internationally recognized programming, and the organization’s public service mission.

UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran reports on the threats faced by BBC News Persian journalists and their family members

8 March 2024

UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran reports on the threats faced by BBC News Persian journalists and their family members

The report published today by the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran raises concern that the Iranian authorities “harassed, threatened and intimidated journalists and other media employees working outside the country”, including those working at BBC News Persian, and for including BBC News Persian on a list of sanctioned organisations.

The Fact-Finding Mission was set up by the UN Human Rights Council on 24 November 2022, to investigate “the deteriorating situation of human rights in Iran, especially with respect to women and children” and human-rights violations in Iran related to the protests that began on 16 September 2022. The BBC World Service filed a submission highlighting Iran’s harassment of BBC News Persian journalists and their families in Iran and has been engaging with the UN Fact-Finding Mission in relation to its mandate.

Focusing on Iran’s treatment of journalists working for Persian-language media outside Iran, the report says:

“The mission has further established that the State authorities harassed, threatened and intimidated journalists and other media employees working outside the country, including those working at the BBC Persian service, Iran International television, Voice of America, IranWire and Deutsche Welle. The Iranian authorities summoned, threatened and in some cases arrested, detained and charged the family members of those journalists and media workers in an apparent effort to exert pressure on them and prevent them from reporting on the country. On 19 October 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sanctioned the BBC Persian service and Iran International television, and imposed asset freezes on their staff. Journalists also received serious threats, including to their lives and personal safety, leading to the involvement of the police in some countries. Journalists, in particular women journalists, faced heightened online vilification, harassment and attacks.”

Recently the BBC became aware, through the publication of leaked documents, that a number of current and former BBC News Persian journalists have reportedly been secretly convicted in absentia in Iran of the crime of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”.

This has obvious, significant implications for these individuals, and earlier today, BBC Director-General, Tim Davie, said:

“These developments add a new, even more sinister dimension to the threats and harassment our BBC Persian journalists have been exposed to for decades as punishment for doing their job. Instead of taking heed of the repeated calls from the UN and other international organisations to stop the horrendous multi-faceted harassment of Persian-language journalists, the Iranian authorities have been devising even more means of persecution using the Iranian judiciary. The Iranian authorities must stop harassing our journalists and their families.”

Since 2017, the BBC World Service has filed a number of UN complaints over the treatment of BBC News Persian staff and their families, represented by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC and Jennifer Robinson at Doughty Street Chambers, and supported by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ General Secretary, said:

“Iran’s all-out war on Iranian journalists abroad is a cowardly attempt to hide the truth by silencing its conveyors. For more than a decade, NUJ members and their families have been subjected to increasingly more harassment and threats, be it by Iranian authorities abusing legal system of the country or even by hiring criminals to directly target journalists on UK soil. This must be stopped now. Every country and international organisation that believes in democracy or the rule of law needs to call Iran out. Failure to confront the Islamic Republic of Iran would be a green light to other authoritarian regimes to follow suit.”

Counsel for the BBC News Persian service, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC and Jennifer Robinson, said:

“Iran has long attempted to silence journalists within its borders, but as the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran makes clear, Iran is now resorting to ever more extreme measures to try to silence journalists reporting on Iran, wherever in the world they may be. These drastic and dangerous tactics come at a time when independent reporting about Iran is needed more than ever – and particularly after the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. The UN Fact-Finding Mission has today acknowledged and highlighted the harassment that BBC News Persian journalists face simply for doing their jobs. Journalism is not a crime, and Iran must be held to account for treating it as one.”

In a recent survey conducted internally among the BBC News Persian staff, half of the respondents said they had received online threats or been harassed online for working for the BBC. The work of the BBC journalists continues to cause harassment of their families or friends, with over 60% of the respondents having been harassed, threatened or questioned in Iran. Nearly 70% said that they hadn’t been able to say goodbye to one or both their parents before they passed away in Iran.

BBC staff launch new company to serve audiences with BBC Indian language services

13 December 2023

BBC staff launch new company to serve audiences with BBC Indian language services

Four BBC staff members have announced plans to leave the organisation and form a new entity in India which will provide audiences with a breadth of services across India, as commissioned by the BBC.

The establishment of Collective Newsroom Private Limited ensures the BBC and Collective Newsroom can meet their shared commitment to Indian audiences and cover stories on India that matter to global audiences. It is in compliance with the Indian Foreign Direct Investment law.

Collective Newsroom has been established as an Indian company, wholly owned by Indian citizens, with four existing staff members leaving the BBC to lead Collective Newsroom. These senior leaders have a wealth of editorial and programme-making experience. The BBC will commission Collective Newsroom to produce its six Indian language services as well as Indian digital output and Indian YouTube channel in English for audiences globally.

The BBC has a long-held and deep-rooted place in India’s media landscape, having first launched the Hindi language service in 1940. Since then it has developed a range of BBC output, expanding the number of Indian language services and growing audience figures from decade-to-decade with its agenda-setting and high impact journalism.

Rupa Jha, Senior News Editor, BBC India, and founding shareholder of Collective Newsroom, says: “Audiences in India can be assured that the BBC’s Indian language services and unique range of quality output will inform, educate and entertain audiences across our diverse and highly engaged country under the agreement between the BBC and Collective Newsroom. We launch Collective Newsroom with big ambitions for audiences in India and beyond.”

Jonathan Munro, Deputy CEO, BBC News says: “The BBC’s presence in India is steeped in a rich history that has always put audiences first, so we warmly welcome the formation of Collective Newsroom which continues that progression. The BBC will get first class content from Collective Newsroom that will be rooted in India and in line with the editorial standards audiences expect from the BBC. We look forward to working with them.”

Liliane Landor, Senior Controller, BBC News International Services, says: “Two of the BBC’s critical strengths are its truly global output for audiences and our reputation as a trusted source of news. We are deeply committed to excellence in journalism for and from India, and this agreement ensures the continued production of independent, international and impartial journalism that the BBC News brand is renowned for in India and around the world.”

Activity for BBC Monitoring and the BBC’s English language newsgathering operation for global output will remain with the BBC.

The four staff members leaving the BBC to lead Collective Newsroom are; Rupa Jha, Mukesh Sharma, Sanjoy Majumder and Sara Hassan
The BBC provides content in six Indian languages (BBC News Hindi, BBC News Marathi, BBC News Gujarati, BBC News Punjabi, BBC News Tamil, BBC News Telugu) as well as in English, to 82 million people around the country on average each week
BBC News Hindi is the BBC’s language service with the largest audience and in 2023, across all platforms, its weekly reach figure grew 27% year-on-year
The BBC World Service reaches 318 million people on average every week globally and operates 42 different language services

Earlier in 2023 it looked as if a number of international TV news channels broadcast in India would have to close after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced a significant increase in the “net worth” of Indian companies holding downlink licences on behalf of global channels. After lobbying, this move was rescinded allowing the small-scale local licence holders to continue operating on behalf of international channels.

Winners of the AIBs 2023 revealed

12 November 2023

Winners of the AIBs 2023 revealed

Clive Myrie and Nicky Woolf acclaimed presenters of the year

20 winners of 19th annual international AIBs celebrating journalism and factual productions revealed in London

The winners of the 19^th annual AIBs have been revealed at a glittering awards dinner in London. The AIBs reward the best international journalism and factual productions across TV, radio, and digital platforms. Over 400 hours of content were submitted to the 2023 competition and 50 judges around the world evaluated the shortlist.

Guests from countries as diverse as South Korea, Norway, Canada, Germany, South Africa, the UAE, Taiwan, France, and the UK joined the celebration at Church House Westminster, right alongside Westminster Abbey. The evening’s host was veteran journalist and news anchor Simon McCoy.

Opening the evening, AIB chief executive Simon Spanswick said: “this competition is needed more than ever, as we face a world in increasing chaos and danger. In many areas, that chaos and danger threaten media freedom and the ability of journalists to hold power to account.

“That’s why journalists and producers need to shout about their work and remind everyone about the importance of journalism and the need to bring stories to global audiences.”

Guests at the awards night saw and heard clips from all the shortlisted entries. Many said that the range of journalism was so wide and absorbing that they want to watch and listen to all the programmes in full.

Collecting the award for the Specialist Factual TV/Video category was Sir Michael Palin, who was rewarded for his programme Michael Palin: Into Iraq.

Commenting on the AIBs awards night, Sir Michael said: “I’m interested in news, and I’m interested in how people report on different places. What struck me tonight is the very difficult areas which these people have gone into, to reveal what’s really going on.”

Across the 20 categories there were commendations from the judges, and an overall winner.

See the Winners’ and Finalist Book here.

NEWS COVERAGE

TV/VIDEO

Winner – The War in Ukraine – BBC News

Highly commended – Afghanistan after the Taliban – BBC News

NEWS COVERAGE

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST

Winner – Partygate: The Inside Story – ITV News

Highly commended – The Death and Funeral of HM The Queen – BBC News Content for BBC News

SHORT FEATURE

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Hell on Earth: Darién Gap – The Deadly Migrant Route – ITN Productions for Channel 4 (Channel 4 News)

Highly commended – We CRASHED a BMW S1000 RR Superbike while filming with LEGEND Troy Corser – Deutsche Welle – DW

Highly commended – Eco-Warriors of Africa – VOA

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Eternal Spring (長春) – Lofty Sky Entertainment

Highly commended – Murder in the Pacific – An Oxford Scientific Films production for BBC

SPORTS JOURNALISM

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Fault Lines: Blood Sport – Al Jazeera English

SPECIALIST FACTUAL

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Michael Palin: Into Iraq – ITN Productions for Channel 5

Highly commended – The East End Through Time with Jay Blades – Hungry Jay Media for Channel 5

Highly commended – Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive – Yeti Television

SPECIALIST FACTUAL

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST

Winner – Shock and War: Iraq 20 Years On – BBC Long Form Audio

Highly commended – Finding Samantha – RTÉ

Highly commended – First Eat with Nakkiah Lui – Pipi Films for Audible Australia

INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY

TV/VIDEO

Winner – The Monkey Haters – BBC Eye / BBC World Service

Highly commended – Wayne Couzens: Killer in Plain Sight – Flicker Productions for Channel 5

INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST

Winner – The Shamima Begum Story – BBC News Long Form Audio

Highly commended – The Sound: Mystery of Havana Syndrome – Project Brazen / Goat Rodeo

HUMAN INTEREST

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST

Winner – Love, Janessa – BBC World Service and CBC Podcasts by Antica Productions and Telltale Industries

Highly Commended – This Coal Life – Radio Workshop NPC

HUMAN INTEREST

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Lyra – Erica Starling Productions for Channel 4

Highly Commended – Murder in Mayfair – BBC Arabic, BBC Current Affairs

Highly Commended – Nazanin – 649 Media for Channel 4

SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Under Poisoned Skies – BBC News Arabic

Highly Commended – TechXplore Japan – Electric Eel Studios for BBC World Service

Highly commended – We Can Do Hard Things – Very! for CNA, Mediacorp Pte Ltd

NATURAL HISTORY

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Ningaloo Nyinggulu – Artemis Media in Association with Matter of Factual for ABC and Love Nature

Highly Commended – 101 East: Mining the Pacific – Al Jazeera English

Highly Commended – Australia’s Wild Odyssey – Wild Pacific Media for Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Arte France

POLITICS and BUSINESS

TV/VIDEO

Winner – India: The Modi Question – BBC Current Affairs

Highly commended – The Labour Files – Al Jazeera I-Unit

Highly commended – Sudan and the Long reach of Russia’s Ukraine War – CNN Worldwide

DOCUDRAMA

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST

Winner – Before-After: Anna Lindh 2003 – Swedish Radio Drama

DOCUDRAMA

TV/VIDEO

Winner – The Confession – ITN Productions for Amazon Prime Video

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

DOCUMENTARY

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Panorama: Mariupol – The People’s Story – Top Hat Productions/Hayloft Productions

Highly Commended – Our World – I Call Him by His Name – International Current Affairs, BBC

Highly Commended – The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper – The Trek: A Migrant Trail to America – CNN Worldwide

DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
DOCUMENTARY

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Saudi Arabia Wields Cinema as a Tool of Soft Power – France 24 and Nicolas Bertrand

Highly Commended – Kenya – Fighting for Water | Off The Grid – TRT WORLD

PRESENTER of the YEAR

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST

Winner – Nicky Wool

PRESENTER of the YEAR

TV/VIDEO

Winner – Clive Myrie

The 2024 AIBs – the 20^th that the Association for International Broadcasting will stage – are set to open for entry in April, with the awards event in London, shortly after the US Presidential Elections.

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