BBC News ranks one of the most objective and credible U.S. news sources in an Erdos & Morgan survey* of American opinion leaders.

 

In the survey of 49 programs, which includes all flagship broadcast and cable news programs, BBC News ranks 2 in the number of people rating the programs for objectivity – ahead of NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press and ABC World News Tonight.

 

In addition, BBC News ranks 3 for credibility (ahead of Meet the Press, ABC World News, NOVA and CBS Evening News) and 6 in overall viewership – ahead of ALL cable programs including Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360 and The O'Reilly Factor. Among this highly influential group of people, the BBC also ranks 6 for being influential, and 6 for keeps me current.

 

Jeremy Nye, Head of Audience Insight, BBC Global News Division, comments: "Americans are scrutinizing their news media more than ever and levels of trust are declining, which makes the BBC's performance on this survey particularly striking.

 

"With interest in economic news at historical levels, and the issues so complex and global in scope, these opinion leaders are selecting their news provider carefully.

 

"Among Americans with a professional role in steering the country through economic difficulties, the BBC has overtaken all cable and most broadcast news programs for core news values of objectivity and credibility."

 

The survey covers 'people of note' across the U.S. in both public and private sectors. It combines the audience for BBC News programming on both BBC AMERICA, which airs nightly newscast BBC World News America, and on PBS which airs BBC World News programs in major markets throughout the country.

 

Launched in October 2007 and anchored by Matt Frei from the BBC's Washington DC bureau, the Peabody award-winning BBC World News America is the BBC's first U.S. facing nightly newscast.

 

A new-look BBC Word News program recently launched in partnership with flagship west coast PBS distributor, KCET.

 

The BBC's Mike Embley anchors the newscast from London, with Philippa Thomas contributing daily news from the BBC’s Washington DC bureau.

 

 

Notes to Editors:

*The Erdos & Morgan Opinion Leaders 2008-9 survey was conducted between May and June 2008 among 1,486 respondents, representing a universe of 538,408 opinion leaders. These prominent Americans are selected based on their professional and personal influence on policy and opinions or their professional and personal accomplishments.   For more information on methodology, please contact Erdos & Morgan at www.erdosmorgan.com.

 

BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies and life-changing makeovers. 

 

BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. 

 

BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks.  It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 63 million homes.

 

BBC World News, the BBC's commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by BBC World News Ltd, a member of the BBC’s commercial group of companies. 

 

BBC World News attracts 78 million viewers a week, is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and reaches 284 million households and more than 1.6 million hotel rooms.  

 

The channel's content is also available on 64 cruise ships, 42 airlines, 36 mobile phone networks and a number of major online platforms including bbc.com/news. 

 

For further information on how to receive BBC World News, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit bbcworldnews.com.