Conclusions and recommendations
Performance in 2008–09
1. We conclude that the strong performance of the BBC World Service across all media
in 2008–09 is to be welcomed. We particularly welcome the unprecedented growth
in online audiences, which exceeded all targets. (Paragraph 16)
BBC Arabic television
2. We conclude that the early indications are that the BBC Arabic television service,
now broadcasting 24 hours a day, has established itself as a trusted and valuable
provider of news and discussion across the Middle East, and that it proved its worth
during the recent Gaza conflict. We recommend that the World Service should
supply us with the results of its latest survey of BBC Arabic television audience
figures, broken down by country as soon as they are available. We further
recommend that the BBC provide updated ratings for trust and impartiality, and
comparable data for the BBC’s main competitors, including Al Jazeera. (Paragraph
22)
BBC Persian television
3. We conclude that the new BBC Persian television service provides an invaluable
service to the people of Iran and to other Farsi speakers in the region by supplying an
objective news service at this period of great tension. We further conclude that
congratulations are due to all the BBC World Service staff involved in launching and
delivering this service, despite difficult circumstances and active opposition.
(Paragraph 34)
4. We welcome the temporary extension of the service to 24 hours of broadcasting, and
regret that this was not able to continue due to financial restraints. We recommend
that the provision of a 24-hour BBC Persian service should be a top priority for the
World Service in 2009–10. We further recommend that all possible technical
expedients should be used to ensure that the Iranian Government’s attempts to block
their citizens’ access to objective news from the BBC does not succeed. (Paragraph
35)
Other language services
5. We conclude that the changes to the BBC Turkish and BBC Afrique Service are in
line with the strategic themes and priorities outlined by the BBC World Service. We
recommend that the BBC World Service closely monitor the impact of these changes
on audience levels and customer satisfaction, with a view to evaluating the impact of
its strategic priorities. (Paragraph 41)