The number of people accessing BBC services around the world has reached 489 million adults each week, more than doubling over the past decade.
The Global Audience Measure (GAM) records the total weekly number of adults accessing the BBC around the world. This includes both news and non-news services.
Overall, BBC audiences increased by over 20 million year-on-year. As a result, BBC audiences are set to exceed the broadcaster’s internal target of 500 million users by its centenary next year.
The BBC World Service, which includes language services and World Service English, has continued to grow. It still accounts for the largest share of BBC’s global reach. Weekly audience reach for the World Service now stands at 364 million, and is up 13 million from 2019/20.
Global television audiences increase
BBC World News TV and bbc.com reach 139 million users, up 2 million year-on-year. Other BBC international channels, operated by BBC Studios, reached 65 million adults, an increase of 16 million.
The GAM figures undergo “de-duplication”. This ensures that an adult who consumes multiple BBC services or platforms is not counted again in the top-level totals. As a result, total figures are often not the sums of their constituent parts.
Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, commented:
“I am delighted that the BBC now informs, educates and entertains more people around the world than ever before. Our global reach continues to grow and we are well on target to hit half a billion people by our centenary next year. The fact that our audience has more than doubled in the last decade shows how trusted and increasingly valued BBC services are right around the world. It also highlights the important role we play for Britain on the global stage in carrying the UK’s voice, democratic values and influence.”
BBC World News and BBC World Service frequencies…