B.B.C. TV service?

Press, 7 December 1985, Page 16

B.B.C. TV service?

NZPA-Reuter London The British Broadcasting Corporation is considering setting up a world television service along the lines of its overseas radio service. A 8.8. C. spokesman says a five-man working party has been set up to examine the feasibility of starting a news and current affairs service to be called External Broadcasting and Vision. The 8.8. C. is likely to ask the British Goverment to fund the project, he says. The Government now provides an annual grant for

overseas services of about £9O million (?NZ234.9 million). The spokesman says British Members of Parliament and foreign diplomats have expressed great interest in the idea since it was first mooted by the former 8.8. C. external services managing director, Douglas Muggeridge, in 1984. The 8.8. C. overseas radio service has about 120 million regular listeners and is broadcast to 150 countries in 37 languages. The working party’s report is expected in January 1986.