For the first time, BBC World News peaktime audience has overtaken CNN’s across Europe, in both morning and evening slots.

The recent EMS survey, which monitors the media habits and attitudes of Europe's top earners and decision makers viewing BBC, shows that, in the morning slot from 6.00 am to 9.00 am, the average audience in that daypart viewing World News across Europe has risen by 24% year on year, from 51,000 to 63,000. CNN’s audience correspondingly has fallen year on year from 64,000 to 60,000.

In the evening slot, from 1900 hrs to 2200 hrs, BBC World News also overtook CNN’s average audience for that daypart.  BBC World New’s audience rose by 47% year on year from 119,000 to 175,000, while CNN’s rose from 158,000 to 165,000.

Sian Kevill, Director, BBC World News, said, “This is a hugely significant gain for BBC World News and a terrific milestone in our relatively short life as a global news channel.  We’ve shown solid growth since our launch, and more recently with the re-brand and continued refinement of our output.  This proves that European audiences are now actively seeking our content at the most competitive time of day”

Source BBC Press Office.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworld/worldstories/pressreleases/2009/11_nov...