Press Release

Mobile phone users across Pakistan can now listen to Cricket World Cup bulletins on BBC Urdu by dialling the short-code, 447474. Throughout the tournament, cricket fans in Pakistan can hear five daily audio bulletins bringing them up to date with the latest developments at the contest.

The five two-minute bulletins include the latest Cricket World Cup-related news and gossip, special reports on all Cricket World Cup matches and venues plus interesting facts and stats such as the highest scorer, fastest scorer, highest wicket taker, best fielder and new tournament records.

Ahead of the matches involving the Pakistan team, special editions of the audio bulletins will bring pre-match assessments from the team management as well as some of the players.

Head of BBC Urdu Aamer Ahmed Khan comments: "BBC Urdu audio bulletins on mobile phones have been enjoying a high demand among mobile phone users across Pakistan since we launched this service last November.

"We hope that cricket fans will now welcome this special content we'll be producing for them every day of the tournament, bringing them the updates, whenever they want them and regardless of the network they are using."

BBC Urdu will issue five Cricket World Cup audio bulletins for mobile phones every two hours from 1200 PST every day until Saturday 2 April. Calls cost 3 Rupees per minute.

The Cricket World Cup bulletins are an addition to the BBC Urdu existing mobile phone offer in Pakistan, whereby mobile-phone users can listen to news and sports bulletins from BBC Urdu on their phones via the dedicated short-code, 447474. By calling the number, subscribers to any mobile phone network in Pakistan can choose between the BBC's news or sports bulletins on demand.

Notes to Editors

BBC Urdu broadcasts two times a day, for an hour and a half. Its flagship programme Sairbeen (20.00 Pakistan time) provides 60 minutes of news and current affairs.

BBC Urdu audio news and sports bulletins are also available to mobile phone users across Pakistan. BBC Urdu news bulletins specially tailored for Pakistan's FM market are currently rebroadcast by almost 40 partner radio stations across Pakistan.

bbcurdu.com is the largest Urdu-language news website in the world, attracting around 300,000 unique users in the average week. Its thriving interactive offer includes major debates, forums, blogs, votes etc.

The site's mobile version, bbcurdu.com/mobile, gives audiences the opportunity to access BBC Urdu online content, in text and audio, from their mobile phones.

The website receives up to 1.5 million requests in the average week for its video content.

BBC Urdu's official channel on YouTube www.youtube.com/bbcurdu offers video news and features from the BBC's unparalleled global network of correspondents, including from BBC Urdu reporters covering events and issues of special interest to regional and diaspora audiences. BBC Urdu connects with Urdu-speaking online communities via online social-networking sites, www.facebook.com/bbcurdu and www.twitter.com/bbcurduservice.

BBC Urdu is part of BBC World Service. The BBC attracts a global audience of 241 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service and the BBC World News television channel.

BBC World Service Publicity