BBC World Service launches
19 December 1932
BBC Empire Service: The first 15 minutes
The BBC Empire Service went on air to 5 world time zones on its first day. The first ever zone to receive the BBC Empire Service was the 'Australasian Zone'. This is the first 15 minutes of the transmission as listeners would have heard it in 1932.
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The Royal launch
On Christmas Day 1932, King George V was the first member of the Royal Family to broadcast a Christmas Message. It was used as the official launch of the BBC Empire Service.
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BBC World Service in the 1960s
Footage is taken from the documentary film ‘This is the BBC’, which went behind the scenes of the Corporation in 1959. Broadcast in 1960.
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