Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has added its Russian-language radio channel to Nokia's Internet Radio application on mobile devices, in the latest series of agreements between Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service and Nokia.

The Russian channel will be added to three audio channels currently available – Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service in English, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service's 24-hour rolling news in English, and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Arabic.

The newly extended Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ content will be available on selected Nokia device models through the company's Internet Radio application.

All four channels will be available for live streaming, offering high-quality, impartial and editorially-independent news and information.

The new Russian channel will offer eight hours of live radio every weekday from 14 April 2009. Transmissions will run from 0100 to 0130 GMT; 0230 to 0600 GMT; and 1300 to 1900 GMT. In addition, weekend programming will run from 1600 to 1730 GMT on Saturdays and Sundays.

Ruxandra Obreja, Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Business Development, says: "We're delighted to continue strengthening the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's agreement with Nokia, launching a new language stream and giving listeners a richer, broader offering while they are on the move. It's another way of connecting with our audiences and is particularly significant in Russia, which is at the forefront of the mobile market."

Karl Kathuria, Head of Digital Delivery, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service, adds: "We've taken steps recently to improve the delivery of our audio and video content, including increased bitrates and AAC+ streaming to support recent site redesigns. With this deal in place, we now have four stations available on Nokia's Internet Radio platform, in mp3 format. This shows our commitment to offering our content to multiple platforms in a variety of ways."

Nokia's Head of Radio Business, Teemu Tarnanen, adds: "The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ channels are consistently in the top 10 most popular channels in Nokia Internet Radio, and we're thrilled to have more Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ content available to millions of mobile listeners through the service."

The Nokia Internet Radio application can be downloaded to various Nokia device models for free from nokia.com/internetradio and is also pre-loaded in selected Nokia S60 3rd edition devices.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service has around 2,000 partner radio stations that take Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices.

Notes to Editors

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Russian is a multimedia broadcaster offering radio and online content to Russian-speaking audiences, with up-to-the-minute news, features and analysis.

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Russian radio programmes are streamed online via bbcrussian.com and are broadcast on shortwave; on medium wave in Moscow (1260 MW), St Petersburg (1260 MW) and Yekaterinburg (666 MW); and are available direct to home through Hotbird 2 satellite.

The 24/7 website bbcrussian.com offers news and information in text, audio and video.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Publicity