News
11 March 1991
BBC World Service Television News began at 7pm GMT on 11 March 1991. It was launched to complement World Service radio, at a time when demand for impartial 24 hour global news television was growing. It started in Europe but by the end of the year had expanded into Asia and the Middle East. BBC Chairman Marmaduke Hussey introduced the service; "The BBC brand is a world leader. The more widely it is known, the more credit it brings to our country."
The service was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of the BBC, funded by subscriptions and advertising. It proved its value in times of conflict, such as the Kosovo crisis of 1999, when viewers and contributors - including US government officials and the Albanian Prime Minister - praised its coverage. World Service Television News changed its name as its reputation grew, first to BBC World and then - in 1998 - to BBC World News.
Today BBC World News is available around the clock in over 200 countries with an estimated weekly audience of 76 million. It is available in homes and can be seen in three million hotel rooms, on cruise ships, airliners and mobile phones.
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