21.03.03
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
World provides continuous coverage of Iraq crisis to the world
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
World, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's 24-hour international news and information television
channel, has provided continuous coverage of unfolding events in
Iraq since the crisis first broke this morning. The channel has
abandoned its regular programming schedule and is providing extensive
rolling news coverage of the situation in Iraq for its audiences
around the globe.
Terrestrial
broadcasters from around the world are simultaneously broadcasting
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World's breaking news as it happens - extending the channel's
reach even further. A potential of 68 million free-to-air terrestrial
households now have access to the channel's additional continuous
news output, on top of the channel's ordinary distribution of 254
million households globally.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
World is being co-presented live from around the world by:
- Nik
Gowing in Doha, Qatar
- Lyse
Doucet in Amman, Jordan
- Jon
Sopel in Kuwait
- Annita
McVeigh and Mishal Husain in Washington
- The
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World team in London
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
World's round the clock coverage includes live reports from the
channel's network of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News correspondents, studio interviews
with key international commentators and politicians as well as special
in-depth documentary programmes detailing the history and context
of the conflict.
In
addition, drawing on its unrivalled news strength, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News has
put extra teams of reporters and crews in more than 30 key locations.
Among those deployed with the British and US military and at key
sites in the region are:
- John
Simpson in Northern Iraq
- Rageh
Omaar and Paul Wood (Baghdad)
- Caroline
Wyatt and Hilary Andersson (with the British military in Kuwait)
- Gavin
Hewitt (with the US military in Kuwait)
- Nicholas
Witchell and Paul Adams (Qatar)
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
personnel are also based in Iran, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain and Turkey,
with a journalistic presence on carriers such as Ark Royal. Overall
the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is mounting one of the most ambitious broadcasting operations
in its history to cover the crisis in Iraq, providing viewers with
a truly global perspective of the crisis as it unfolds. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
News deployment to the region is in excess of 200 staff, including
producers and camera people. All staff have attended a week-long
hostile environment course and correspondents are carrying personal
body armour and CBR (chemical, biological and radiation) suits in
their kit bags.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
World is making use of the full range of modern broadcasting technology
from mobile satellite dishes to videophones to digital transmission
systems. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News has seven satellite dishes in the region, including
Baghdad, and teams will also be using portable systems including
"store and forward" (shot on a DV Cam, saved on disc,
edited on a laptop, compressed and re-sent back to the newscentre).
Notes
to Editors:
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's commercially funded international 24-hour news
and information channel, is owned and operated by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Ltd,
a member of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's commercial group of companies. Reaching 254
million homes and 850,000 hotel rooms in over 200 countries and
territories worldwide (100 million 24-hour homes), Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World launched
in its present format in 1995 and is funded by advertising and subscription.
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