The data being reported is based on the Global Audience Measure metric (GAM), which shows how many people the BBC reached weekly with its news and entertainment content during the 2016-2017 season.
Global News Ltd, which includes BBC World News TV and BBC.com, has been a significant driver of that increase. This division now boasts an average weekly audience of 121 million, +12 percent year-over-year, with weekly BBC World News TV viewers rising to 99 million around the world.
The company also reported the top ten markets for the BBC’s international news services are Nigeria (36 million), USA (34 million), India (28 million), Bangladesh (16 million), Egypt (15 million), Pakistan (13 million), Iran (13 million), Tanzania (10 million), Indonesia (7.6 million), and Canada (7.5 million), where the BBC significantly boosted its general presence last year.
Francesca Unsworth, BBC World Service Group director, is pleased with the growth of BBC News amid what has become a rough news media landscape.
“In a turbulent year for international news, with mounting concern about fake news and social media filter bubbles, more people than ever before are turning to the BBC for reliable, impartial information they can trust.
“We will shortly launch the first new language services in the biggest expansion of the World Service since the 1940s. Today’s audience figures show the need for the BBC is greater than ever.”
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Tim Davie, Director of Global and CEO of BBC Worldwide, says: “It is encouraging to see that BBC branded services continue to be the trusted go-to platforms for audiences across the globe.”