The BBC World Service will launch 11 new language services as part of its biggest expansion "since the 1940s", the corporation has announced.

The expansion is a result of the funding boost announced by the UK government last year.

The new languages will be Afaan Oromo, Amharic, Gujarati, Igbo, Korean, Marathi, Pidgin, Punjabi, Telugu, Tigrinya, and Yoruba.

The first new services are expected to launch in 2017.

"This is a historic day for the BBC, as we announce the biggest expansion of the World Service since the 1940s," said BBC director general Tony Hall.

"The BBC World Service is a jewel in the crown - for the BBC and for Britain.

"As we move towards our centenary, my vision is of a confident, outward-looking BBC which brings the best of our independent, impartial journalism and world-class entertainment to half a billion people around the world.

"Today is a key step towards that aim." The plans include the expansion of digital services to offer more mobile and video content and a greater social media presence.

On Wednesday the BBC launches a full digital service in Thai, following the success of a Facebook-only "pop-up" service launched in 2014.

Other expansion plans include: extended news bulletins in Russian, with regionalised versions for surrounding countries enhanced television services across Africa, including more then 30 new TV programmes for partner broadcasters across sub-Saharan Africa new regional programming from BBC Arabic short-wave and medium-wave radio programmes aimed at audiences in the Korean peninsula, plus online and social media content investment in World Service English, with new programmes, more original journalism, and a broader agenda

Fran Unsworth, the BBC's World Service director, said: "Through war, revolution and global change, people around the world have relied on the World Service for independent, trusted, impartial news.

"As an independent broadcaster, we remain as relevant as ever in the 21st Century, when in many places there is not more free expression, but less.

"Today's announcement is about transforming the World Service by investing for the future.

"We must follow our audience, who consume the news in changing ways; an increasing number of people are watching the World Service on TV, and many services are now digital-only.

"We will be able to speed up our digital transformation, especially for younger audiences, and we will continue to invest in video news bulletins.

"What will not change is our commitment to independent, impartial journalism."

The new language services mean the BBC World Service will be available in 40 languages, including English.

Lord Hall has set a target for the BBC to reach 500 million people worldwide by its centenary in 2022.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37990220

I don't know why I feel this is rather late,after all they have always known there are 3 major languages in Nigeria yet they chose to broadcast in only one for decades.....
Better late than never though.

We don't need their services, they broadcast more lies and propagandas than Lagos' medium/broadcasters

Ok.
Expansion is a good thing.

BBC the only reason AM radios sell out in Northern Nigeria.

I grew up listening to BBC in Hausa and any other language will make it weird. Really weird...(in a whisper)

E no dey b4? BBC wey be like Hausa channel for my ear

It feels really good to come from a majority tribe. Yes, coming from a populous tribe means you are most likely going to see someone who can speak your language anywhere in the world (yes, you read that right!) and more opportunities will be created for people who speak the language, voting advantage, amongst other benefits.

All I see here is more jobs for Igbo and Yoruba speakers in Nigeria and beyond.

Well done, BBC...I can never like any other international radio station like the BBC World Service!

Keep enlightening, educating, informing and most importantly, creating jobs for our people.

Nice...

vc

Too late, we are not interested. Please keep to your usual HAUSA BBC.

biafra dreams coming closer to reality with this,nice move though.

Quite fair of BBC even though is somehow late.

This is lovely

Nice move.

Meanwhile, listening to Don williams "Senorita"
Oh God, this man is too good.
I can't just have enough of this guys music.
Please can someone help me with a good site to download all his tracks.

I have downloaded about 300 tracks already,, but there are still some tracks I love but yet can't find where to download.

Afongas will be like; so BBC want to recognise IPOB

Who still listen to news these days?

Nice. How can they broadcast in hausa and fulfude and leave out igbo and yoruba

But why, how many biafrans can speak and understand igbo?

Ok

Good to hear this!

otr1:
Who still listen to news these days?

we do

Indeed Nigeria don break, now I believe.

no need... we already know where your allegience lies

Nice one.

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GodIsFoolish:
We don't need their services, they broadcast more lies and propagandas than Lagos' medium/broadcasters

Hey?
What kinda moniker and siggy is yours?!
You need help.

A welcomed development

Hmmm BBC belongs to "Arewaristan"
BBC Hausa remain their main focus
Adding Yoruba, Igbo and so on means nothing.

For Igbos mind.
We don't need it again. We can do without them..
For Yoruba brodas ..always well deserved .

I dey vex joor after how many years of just segregations