BBC Strengthens Global Reach As Trusted News Source During Political Unrest And Conflict

Audiences came to BBC News for the latest news and developments as elections, global conflicts and political unrest dominated the past year. The majority of the BBC's international audience came to the BBC World Service (World Service English, World Service Languages) with content reaching 313-million people on average every week, says the BBC.

In the Middle East, BBC News Arabic grew its weekly audience reach to 39.5-million — up nearly 13% — with growth across Arabic TV and digital programming as well as 1.2-million listeners tuning into the Gaza and Syrian lifeline radio services. The fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Israel-Gaza conflict both contributed to significant boosts in audiences seeking trusted news and information, adds the BBC.

BBC News Persian saw audiences rise a staggering 38% to 24-million as Persian-speakers in Iran and around the world sought out the latest news amid unrest in the region. Despite the challenges of reaching audiences across Iran, the service's TV channel — the largest international news channel in Iran — is viewed by a record audience of 14-million. The BBC now reaches one in four people in Iran every week, says the BBC.

In the United States, the November election and subsequent news around President Trump saw spikes in the number of people coming to BBC News. Audiences increased on digital platforms with the country accounting for 55% of growth on BBC.com, says the broadcaster.

With BBC World Service language services BBC News Brasil and BBC News Mundo also both experiencing audience boosts, the BBC now reaches 83-million people across the Americas every week. Other services which saw a spike in audiences include BBC News Bangla following the protests and unrest in Bangladesh, and BBC News Korean as the service reported on political upheaval in the country, adds the BBC.

Jonathan Munro, Global Director and Deputy CEO at BBC News, says, "In the past year, the heightened global news agenda has seen audiences come to the BBC for news they can trust in times of instability and insecurity. Despite the decrease in press freedom and increased competition, the BBC has stepped up when audiences need our services the most — from elections and conflict, to the upheaval in Syria and unrest in Bangladesh."

"Alongside this, record numbers are coming to BBC News Persian despite the service being banned in Iran, and BBC News Arabic has once again demonstrated the importance of having an accurate and impartial news service in the region," adds Munro.

The BBC's news in English across World Service English, BBC.com and the BBC News channel grew its audience to 198-million  people weekly, an increase of 7-million year-on-year. The BBC News channel builds on its success last year to grow its audience in the UK and around the world to 102-million, says the BBC.

Press freedom continues on a downward trend globally, with 112 countries reporting a decline in press freedom in 2024. 74% of the BBC World Service audience is now in countries with the lowest press freedom (up 1% on last year), adds the BBC.

The BBC's biggest international market is India, followed by the United States, Nigeria, Iran and Tanzania, concludes the BBC.

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