Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Press Releases

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's 24-hour international news and information channel, launches Africa Direct this Wednesday, January 30th. Presented on location by Rageh Omaar, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Africa correspondent, this half-hour programme aims to provide an insight into and analysis of the social, political and economic issues affecting the African continent.

Described by Rageh Omaar as 'a colourful bouquet of stories and interviews that reflect the diversity of the African continent', the new programme marks a growth in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World programmes dedicated to different parts of the world (Europe Direct, Australia Direct, Asia Direct and USA Direct already exist). It also builds on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World's already extensive news coverage of Africa where four permanent bureaux make it the biggest foreign television broadcaster in Africa.

The first programme features several reports from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ correspondents based permanently in Africa including:

• Mark Doyle's profile of Nigeria's official capital, Abuja.
• Andrew Harding's look at African cuisine featuring the renowned Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi.
• The growing popularity of African contemporary music through the eyes and mouths of South African group, Bongo Maffin is the subject of Barnaby Phillips' report. He talks to band members about their international rise to fame, their African tour and about how they now want to play their part in redressing the way their country has been isolated from the rest of the continent through apartheid.
• Rageh Omaar presents his own reports from Cape Town on the growth of the wine- making industry amongst the black population.

"I am so pleased that, for the first time, we have a programme on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ television which is specifically dedicated to Africa - a small triumph," said Milton Nkosi, programme producer and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Africa Bureaux Editor. "Through Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World we can reach audiences all over the globe with stories about another side of Africa from that which is habitually seen in news reports about natural and political disasters. We want to introduce viewers to ordinary people telling stories of what Africa is doing for itself," he added.

Notes to editors:
Africa Direct - transmission times
Wednesday January 30th @ 2230 GMT
Thursday January 31st Jan @ 0930, 1430 GMT
Friday February 1st @ 0230 GMT
The second programme is scheduled for March, times to follow.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World is the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's 24-hour, English language, international news and information channel, reaching 192 million homes in 200 countries and territories worldwide (90 million 24-hour homes. Also offered in over 800,000 hotel rooms worldwide and on almost 20 leading airlines and cruise liners it was launched in its present form in 1995 and is a commercial service, run by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide and funded by advertising and subscription. All details on the website http://www.bbcworld.com

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World is widely available in Africa on cable and satellite. Please contact your local cable operator or the distributor MultiChoice Tel: +27 11 289 2222 for more information.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World draws on the resources of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News which has the world's largest newsgathering operation, comprising 2,000 journalists, 58 news bureaux and 250 correspondents worldwide supported by the world's first fully-digitalised 24 hour news room which is in London.

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