WNA moves to PBS

By Rome Hartman
Editor, World News America

Rome also helps to co-ordinate the BBC's online news strategy stateside

Our nightly news program, BBC World News America, is now airing on public television stations across the country.

The air time of the new 30-minute program will vary from city to city because these stations determine their own program schedules; viewers should check their local listings or website of their public (PBS) station. BBC World News America will no longer appear on the BBC America channel, but WILL continue on the BBC World News channel.

This shift is happening for several reasons. First, the BBC is making an effort to establish two strong and distinct channels in the US market. BBC America will have more of an entertainment focus going forward, while BBC World News is a global 24-hour news channel.

At the moment, BBC World News is not as widely available as BBC America, and we hope that viewers who value our smart and impartial international coverage will contact their cable or satellite provider to ask that BBC World News be added to their channel lineup.

At the same time, we have a valuable, long-standing relationship with public television in America, and we want to make our very best work available to the maximum number of American viewers via that path as well.

Our approach to the news will not change; we will still try every day to bring viewers the best of BBC journalism from all around the world, and to "connect the dots" from America to the wider world.

Whether it's the global economy, the ongoing turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East, Japan's earthquake crisis, the environment, or the arts, what happens "out there" matters more and more here in America, and we'll be there to cover it.

Matt Frei and Katty Kay will continue to anchor the program from Washington, and our crack production team will continue to open a window to the world each and every weekday.

We hope you'll make the effort to continue watching BBC World News America, either on your local public television station or on BBC World News.