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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in Afghanistan and the wider region

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has been broadcasting a dedicated schedule of programming for Afghanistan, featuring all the key languages of the country, since 2003.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service broadcasts 24 hours a day in Afghanistan. The dedicated schedule features two-hour blocks of programming in the key languages of Afghanistan (Dari, Pashto and Uzbek), plus some English, at breakfast and in the evening every day.

The backbone of the schedule is domestic and international news with a strong emphasis on discussion and interactive debate on civil society and democratic politics. During the programme cycle, the blocks are repeated and supplemented by local and international music programming.

The schedule also includes education, arts and science programmes, the popular drama serial New ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ New Life as well as special programmes for women and children.

Recent audience research estimates ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Persian's audience in Afghanistan at seven million, with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's combined (all languages) audience in Afghanistan at 9.8 million – which means the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ reaches over 40% of the country’s adult population.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ also has tailored programming for Persian and Pashto-speakers in Tajikistan and Pakistan.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ English-language services in Iran

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service broadcasts to Iran in English on shortwave and medium wave. English programming can be heard 24 hours a day on the Middle East/CIS schedule. Around 220,000 Iranians listen to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service English-language output every week.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World News, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's commercially funded international English-language news and information TV channel, broadcasts 24 hours a day. It provides global audiences with a diverse mix of international news and current affairs, business, sport, weather and documentary programming. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World News is available in Iran via satellite.

Funding ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Persian TV

Proposals for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Persian TV were drawn up by senior ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ management. These were approved by the then ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Governors – since replaced by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trust – the body that oversees the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and ensures its independence from the UK Government. They were then submitted to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) for their consent, as the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is obliged to do under its agreement with the FCO.

The operating cost of £15 million a year will be funded by the UK Government. Funding for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Persian TV was announced by then UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, in a speech in October 2006. The funding was confirmed by the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, in October 2007.

Like the rest of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, it is accountable to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trust, which acts as trustees for the public interest and oversees all ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ activities.