Broadcasting major BBC World Service today announced the launch of news services in four more Indian languages , a move that would make Delhi the largest bureau outside the UK.
BBC World offers four more Indian languages Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and Telugu .
The news services are available online and on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, the broadcaster said, adding that TV news bulletins in Marathi will be broadcast later this year, with Gujarati lined up next year.
The development follows the company’s investment in India after a funding of 291 million pounds by the UK government till 2020 for the global expansion.
“Indian market is very important for us as it has the most lively and social audience and this will be our biggest operation after the UK,” BBC World Service Director Francesca Unsworth told reporters .
The broadcaster also announced the relaunch of the nightly TV news bulletin in Hindi, BBC Duniya, to be broadcast on India news.
With the expansion, BBC World Service has created 150 new jobs from across the country.
Asked about the reach the broadcaster is aiming at, Unsworth said: “Our target is to reach half a billion audience by 2020 and India is part of that ambition.” BBC News broadcasts to 28 million people in English, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil and Urdu.
Overall, it attracts a weekly global audience of 378 million people for its international news services, including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.
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