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大象传媒 World News is launching six news programmes tailored to regional audiences, alongside a new weekend programme line-up, as part of a new look and schedule for the channel, set to air from 1 February.

The programmes are part of a suite of changes to both weekday and weekend schedules, anchored around the introduction of six news broadcasts timed and tailored to suit regional audiences around the world:

GMT with George Alagiah (Monday to Friday 12.00-13.00 GMT) utilises George鈥檚 experience as one of the 大象传媒鈥檚 most successful foreign correspondents to communicate why the top stories matter to Asia Pacific viewers. George has the contacts to spot the next-to-happen global events, and will deliver an analysis of the implications these events will have for the wider world. News is at the heart of GMT, and while it鈥檚 evening in Asia Pacific, it鈥檚 breakfast time in the east coast of the US. For viewers across the US and the Asia Pacific regions, GMT will preview the exclusive reports, correspondent feature films and interviews planned on 大象传媒 World News鈥� World News America at 00.00 GMT later that day.

Impact Asia with Mishal Husain (Monday to Thursday 13.00-14.30 GMT) brings audiences a mixture of breaking news, debate and analysis using the 大象传媒鈥檚 unmatched range of correspondents based in Asia Pacific regions and across the world. Broadcasting political, diplomatic, business, sports and breaking news stories directly affecting Asia Pacific, the programme will also analyse stories from a global perspective. Impact Asia鈥檚 unique strength is Mishal Husain 鈥� she brings a calm, considered and relentless approach to the show and explains the news in a highly engaging and clear manner.

The Hub with Nik Gowing (Monday to Friday 16.00-17.30 GMT) serves as a news 鈥榥erve centre鈥� for South Asia, providing both the headlines, and detailed analysis of the global news agenda. Nik鈥檚 experience as the longest serving presenter on 大象传媒 World News, his trademark rigorous interview technique, and his unrivalled political and diplomatic contacts, will give local viewers a unique insight into the top stories of the day. The Hub will take audiences live to the scene of breaking news for the latest developments, and every edition will offer a summary of the key world stories for viewers in South Asia, and the Middle East.

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World News Today with Zeinab Badawi (Monday to Friday 19.00-20.30 GMT) is designed to cater for European evening viewers looking for greater depth to their daily coverage. Focusing on news in Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa, Zeinab will provide a context and understanding to the day鈥檚 events. With a global agenda, the show features an international news summary, but also provides analysis on the key developments of the week, all tailored to its regional audiences. In addition to news, Zeinab will cover arts and culture, giving a preview into the best galleries and exhibitions, using her contacts to gain interviews with globally recognised authors, playwrights and artists.

Business Edition with Tanya Beckett (Monday to Friday 22.00-22.45 GMT) examines the inner workings of business, translating complex financial stories to give viewers a clearer understanding of the rapidly changing global economy, and how it will impact on their lives. Tanya is among the 大象传媒鈥檚 most respected business journalists, and has also worked in the financial industry.听 This experience enables her to bring a distinctive, no-nonsense, hands-on approach to the show. Business Edition will take viewers everywhere from the boardrooms of the world鈥檚 biggest companies to stalls of roadside market traders, providing a complete overview of how business is being challenged on a global scale. Top news stories are also covered to give a comprehensive picture of the day鈥檚 events to evening viewers in Europe, and viewers in Middle East and Africa.

The programmes will be supported by new on-air graphic packages and will broadcast from 大象传媒 World News鈥� redesigned studio based in London. And in addition to the news programmes airing on TV, viewers can interact with the presenters via a dedicated , programme pages on , on Twitter, via the 大象传媒鈥檚 Global Minds community, and other social media platforms.

As part of the refresh, Asia Today (Monday to Friday 23.45 GMT from 8 February), will broadcast from the Singapore news studio. Presented by Rico Hizon and Sharanjit Leyl, Asia Today will focus on the stories behind the headlines and demonstrates 大象传媒 World News鈥� commitment to covering the region in all its depth and variety.

A new programme aimed at a global audience, to be fronted by Lyse Doucet, is also in development and will join the line-up in February. 听The aim of this programme will be to provide a weekly forum for untold stories.听 These could be the neglected, forgotten, human stories illustrating the issues behind the conflicts that other networks cannot cover; or it could be social, political and cultural changes from around the world. In addition, all the top news stories of the day will be summarised.

Changes to the weekend line-up

大象传媒 World News鈥� new weekend schedule begins on Friday evenings (Asia evening peak) with a refreshed mixture of topical documentary, current affairs, lifestyle and travel programmes. Introducing the weekend line up from 5 February is Weekend World, a new weekly interactive show, presented by Paddy O鈥機onnell, reviewing the exciting range of weekend programmes ahead.

Highlights airing in the February weekend schedule include; This World: Gypsy Child Thieves (two part weekly series from 20 February), Alvin鈥檚 Guide to Good Business (eight part weekly series from 13 February), Saudi Goes to Market (two part weekly series from 6 February) plus episodes of premier discussion forums The World Debate and Doha Debate. Flagship travel programme fast:track, technology show Click, and Talking Movies will also broadcast during the weekend.

For the first time, bite-size four minute editions of these flagship programmes will air during the week to keep viewers regularly entertained and updated on their favourite subjects. Over both the week and weekend schedule, the channel will also ensure the prevalence of news by broadcasting bulletins at the top of each hour.

Says Richard Porter, 大象传媒 World News Editorial Director: 鈥淭he channel changes represent the next stage of our editorial development at 大象传媒 World News. We鈥檙e reacting to what our audiences have requested from us 鈥� a real desire for news programmes relevant to their region which bring the strengths of the presenter to the fore. We also understand that by realigning news for weekdays and topical programmes at the weekends, we can provide viewers with accessible and wide-ranging content.鈥�

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Notes to Editors:

Full 大象传媒 World News schedules are available on:

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GMT with George Alagiah, Impact Asia with Mishal Husain, The Hub with Nik Gowing, World News Today with Zeinab Badawi and Business Edition with Tanya Beckett replace the channel鈥檚 World News Today programmes.

All the programmes can be watched by 大象传媒 World News鈥� worldwide network of 74m weekly viewers.