Date : 23.07.08
Printable version

BBC World News is being watched by a record number of viewers across Western Europe according to the latest results to be published by Synovate’s European Media and Marketing Survey (EMS 2008) this Wednesday, 23 July. The survey of affluent adults shows BBC World News to be the only major international news channel* to have grown year-on-year in the three main viewing measures - daily, weekly and monthly reach.

Overall figures show BBC World News is viewed by 11.7 million per month (25.5%), 5.6 million per week (12.2%), and 1.3 million each day (2.8%), with Russia now added to the wider study across Western and Central Europe.

EMS Select, the related survey of business-people, also to be released this Wednesday, shows BBC World News’ monthly audience among the top 3% income bracket of those surveyed, to be 3.5 million. This ranks the channel second of all news channels, and has reduced the gap with first place by more than a quarter. 37.5% of this group, covering Europe’s business elite, now tune in to BBC World News each month.

In Russia (Moscow and St Petersburg), which this year was surveyed for the first time, BBC World News is the most popular English language news channel. 17.5% tune in each month, helping the channel retain its leadership position across the four Central European markets (28.9%).

The monthly reach for bbc.com now surpasses all print and broadcast website competitors in continental Europe (excluding UK users’ data) with its monthly reach now standing at 3.3m users.

Jeremy Nye, Head of Audience Insight, BBC Global News, says, “BBC World News welcomes the EMS 2008 findings, with key successes including our highest ever viewing figures in Europe and recognition we are the most popular English language news channel in Russia. While other news channels have barely moved since the 1990s, BBC World News has doubled its viewership, and as audiences migrate between the TV channel and the website, we expect to deepen our relationship with them further still”.

Notes to Editors:

* International news channels - BBC World News, CNN, Euronews, CNBC, Bloomberg

Full survey results can be accessed at www.bbcchannelpartners.com

For more details contact bbcworldpressoffice@bbc.co.uk