BBC News has launched a major expansion of its India operations, with news services now available in Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and Telugu and a new nightly TV news bulletin in Hindi, BBC Duniya, to be broadcast on India News.
The new services are available online and on social media, with a Telugu TV bulletin, BBC Prapancham, also starting tonight. This will be broadcast on Eenadu TV Andhra Pradesh and Eenadu TV Telangana.
The BBC’s increased investment in India has transformed its news bureau into the largest outside the UK, complete with 2 new TV studios and 150 new journalistic staff, and it will serve as the corporation’s video, TV and digital content production hub for the whole of South Asia.
BBC Director-General Tony Hall, who is in Delhi to launch of the services, said: “I’m delighted to be in India to mark such a significant milestone for the BBC.
“For decades, audiences in India have trusted the BBC to bring them impartial, independent news, and today millions more have the chance to access the BBC in their own languages.
“We know the BBC is already held in great regard and affection across India, and we want to bring BBC News to new audiences, particularly the next generation of news consumers.
K.Bapineedu, CEO of Eenadu TV Network, says: “The BBC has established its brand name as a credible news channel across the globe.
“The initiative from the BBC, to produce international stories with a global perspective in the Telugu language and to be broadcast on the ETV Network, will add value to our existing endeavour of reaching the Telugu audience with the highest reach and authenticity.”
Kartikeya Sharma, Founder and Promoter of iTV Network, the owner and operator of India News, says: “The BBC is known for its well-researched and unbiased content, which will now reach our viewers in a language and format they can easily comprehend.
“India News is acknowledged as a channel that captures the pulse of the nation and promotes a brand of direct and responsible news coverage.
“With the coming together of the two, our viewers can look forward to getting a global perspective on stories of international significance from networks they can trust.”
