BBC World Service and American Public Media announce extension of BBC distribution partnership in the U.S.

Media contact: Angie Andresen651-290-1373BBC World Service and American Public Media (APM) have announced the extension of their agreement for the distribution of BBC World Service English radio programming to U.S. public radio. The partnership is renewed until mid 2022.American Public Media began distributing BBC World Service in 2012. The partnership will continue to focus on delivering the BBC’s award winning global journalism, breaking news and programming to public radio stations across the U.S.“APM is proud to be a partner to BBC World Service in ensuring Americans have the highest quality international news,” said Jon McTaggart, CEO American Public Media Group. “We’re energized by the increased support for BBC World Service programming from stations and their audiences, and we’re excited to continue our work to grow BBC’s reach and impact in the U.S. across platforms.”“We know from our audience feedback in the U.S. that listeners feel an increased need for global news, and value the BBC’s international perspective on events both within and outside America,” said Mary Hockaday, Controller of BBC World Service English.  “I’m delighted that we are continuing our successful partnership with APM to serve public radio stations in the U.S. with news and programming that offers a trusted and distinctive complement to the local and national news landscape.”In the U.S., nearly 600 local public radio stations broadcast BBC content - mainly news and current affairs programming, including its daily flagship global program Newshour. The public radio audience for BBC World Service English broadcasts via APM in the U.S. has seen significant growth of 70 percent during the past 4 years (Spring 2012 to Spring 2016*).BBC and APM also introduced BBC Topline in 2014, the daily 90-second audio snapshot of the world’s most important unfolding stories, curated for U.S. audiences and made to complement public radio stations’ morning drive clock. BBC Topline currently broadcasts on more than 100 stations in the U.S.

• Source: Nielsen