| Genre: | News program |
| Creator: | Garth Ancier |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Executive Producer: | Sarah Robbins |
| Camera: | Multiple |
| Runtime: | 30–60 minutes |
| Company: | BBC News |
| Network: | BBC News (international feed) |
| Last Aired: | present |
BBC World News America is a British/American current affairs news program created by Garth Ancier and produced by BBC News, which premiered on October 1, 2007.[1] Produced out of the BBC's Washington, D.C. bureau, Caitríona Perry and Sumi Somaskanda are the main presenters. Katty Kay – who originally appeared on the program through her role as a Washington-based correspondent for BBC News – served as the main presenter from 2011 to 2021, replacing original co-anchor Matt Frei.[2] [3]
The program is broadcast worldwide on International feed of BBC News channel and, through an agreement with Washington's PBS member station, WETA-TV,[4] [5] is syndicated to PBS member stations and select non-commercial educational independent stations throughout the United States. Until June 2019, Los Angeles–based NCE station KCET handled this distribution.
From its debut until March 25, 2011, the program was one-hour long, airing as a simulcast on BBC America in the United States and BBC News internationally, with the first half-hour (on tape delay) being shown overnights on the BBC News in the United Kingdom. The program was reduced to a half-hour broadcast on March 28, 2011, and was removed from BBC America.[6] On October 31, 2016, the program returned to the BBC News Channel after a five-year absence, and currently airs on the channel at 21:30 GMT for one week in November and one or two weeks in March between when the clocks change in the UK and the US.[7]
From June 11[8] to July 26, 2018,[9] Monday to Thursday, when BST was in effect, the first half-hour edition was temporarily broadcast for viewers around the world except in North and South America. Then from August 2018, the usual full-hour edition resumed global distribution.[10]
After the domestic BBC News channel and BBC World News merged on 3 April 2023, BBC World News America continues to be broadcast at 22:00 UK time only on the international feed,[11] while the domestic UK feed simulcasts the BBC News at Ten on BBC One.
In some instances, the program had been cut off on its hour broadcast to a few snippets for breaking news events (e.g.: 2007 Karachi bombing). In the case of the 2008 US Election primaries and caucus, the program was extended to three hours (e.g.: 2008 Iowa Caucus) and even up to six hours (e.g.: 2008 Super Tuesday) and was only presented by one host. BBC World News America also covered the three presidential and the only vice-presidential debates.
| Years | Presenter | Current Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | Caitriona Perry | Main Presenters | |
| 2023–present | Sumi Somaskanda | ||
| 2018–present | Nada Tawfik | Relief Presenter | |
| 2019–present | Michelle Fleury | ||
| 2023–present | Azadeh Moshiri | ||
| Carl Nasman | |||
| Helena Humphrey | |||
| 2011–present | Katty Kay | Special editions & US Elections |
BBC World News America has won several Peabody Awards. It won one in 2007 for White Horse Village.[12] In 2010, BBC World News America was a recipient of two 69th Annual Peabody Awards. One award was given to the program, calling it a "Unique Broadcast, Unique Perspective", which was described as "A nightly newscast like none the United States has ever had, it places our actions and concerns in a global context."[13] [14] The second award was for the report Where Giving Life is a Death Sentence.[14] [15] The program won another Peabody Award in 2014 "for dedicating the necessary resources and risking their lives to give the world an up-close look at the horrors of the Syrian conflict" in Inside Syria's War.[16]