BBC World Service's role as the world's most trusted and
reliable provider of news and information is more important
than ever in today's uncertain world. But competition for
audiences is continuing to grow strongly from satellite
television, international and national radio and the internet.
Significant investment in programme making, FM audibility
and new media will be needed over the next three-year
funding period, 2005–2008, to maintain audiences at their
existing levels and realise the full potential of the opportunity
for debate and dialogue, which lies at the heart of
interactive technology.
It has been estimated that audiences for the World Service
could decline by up to a third by 2008 as listeners abandon
short wave for other media sources. Television will continue
to capture increasing audiences in many parts of the world.
Satellite TV news channels are changing expectations, with
more people wanting to watch live events as they unfold.
In Arab countries, for example, there are more television
viewers overall now than radio listeners.
International competitors are making extensive investments
in new services. The United States has launched a 24-hour
news-led Arabic TV channel and France is planning a channel
with significant Arabic content in 2005.
Despite this growth of rival media, radio will continue to be a
major source of news and information thanks to its flexibility,
mobility and low cost. Moreover, the growth in use of the
internet will open up new opportunities for the BBC World
Service. The number of global connections is predicted to
double to 1.5 billion in the next five years.
For younger people and opinion formers, the internet is
already a primary source of information. The use of mobile
phones and handheld devices to access news will increase
rapidly, not just in the media-rich world but also in developing
countries where the conventional telephone infrastructure
is poor.
Boosting its impact across the Islamic world, especially in
the Middle East, is a key part of the World Service's strategy.
Local production and distribution will be strengthened to
make radio and online services more relevant. The BBC
is exceptionally well placed to promote dialogue between
the Islamic world and the West, and within Muslim countries
themselves about political and social reform.
Other priorities include improving our services in Africa,
China, India and Russia. Moving closer to audiences all
over the world will encourage more people to take part
and connect with BBC services. Partnerships with local
broadcasters in priority areas will make more programmes
available on FM and strengthen relationships with audiences.
Many international users of the BBC's online sites are already
contributing directly to programmes by sending emails, texts
and pictures. The goal now is to promote a full-scale "global
conversation", moderating content contributed by users by
applying the World Service's core values of accuracy, trust,
reliability and impartiality.
New discussion programmes will be launched in major
languages and new technology will increase interactivity
and accessibility on a range of platforms. Significant
investment will be needed to handle the growing volume
of communications in different languages.
Experience with the internet already shows that new
technology is no guarantee of a better-informed world.
False information can swiftly take hold and spread like
wildfire. The BBC World Service will be a vital
counterweight to rumour and speculation in the new
media age, whilst being enthusiastic about using the
considerable value of technology to forge a closer
relationship with audiences worldwide.
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Looking forward |
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