Indian stories to take centre stage with new BBC Tv and online season

BBC World News and BBC.com have announced a new season of programmes focusing on India to air in March (2017).

Content which puts all aspects of the world’s largest democracy under the spotlight will be available to audiences around the world on the international news operation’s award winning platforms. Called India Direct the season will delve behind the headlines to bring people a different perspective on this extraordinary and fast-growing country at a fascinating time in its history - 2017 is 70 years on from the partition and the foundation of modern India.

Through programmes like Click, The Travel Show, Working Lives, and Witness, Country Direct seasons see the BBC's unrivalled network of journalists explore the issues faced by a country and its people – from the economic opportunities and challenges to living life at every level of society; from its traditions and history to future plans and innovations. 

Recent seasons have focused on Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Panama, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Africa, Ecuador and Vietnam among others.

Launching the season, Mary Wilkinson, Head of Commissioning for BBC World News said: “India is a key market for us and as one of the world’s fastest growing economies offers a wealth of opportunity. Country Direct seasons enable us to put extra resource into a country to bring its stories to our global audience while also drawing on the knowledge and journalistic expertise of our local teams.”

The India Direct season will be primarily broadcast across two weekends March 18^th-19^th and 25^th 26^th will include:

The Travel Show (two episodes)

Rajan Datar explores the ‘hidden’ India for two special episodes of The Travel Show. Rajan leaves behind the big cities and major tourist attractions to embark on a unique journey across the heart of the country – which few tourists are lucky enough to explore.  The team track the changing face of India against a backdrop of unchanging natural wonders and cross the entire sub-continent - from Gujarat in the west to Assam in the east - along one of the longest railway lines in the country. Rajan examines the historical sites, natural wonders and hidden gems along the way.

Click (two episodes)

India is home to one of the world’s fastest growing economies, yet much of its population still has no access to the internet. For this India Direct two-part special, the Click team travel across the country to discover the technology that is powering India’s rise, but also ask how technology can help solve some of India’s biggest challenges.

Working Lives: Mumbai

BBC Business reporter Yogita Limaye explores the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India for this special edition of Working Lives. Mumbai resident, Yogita, follows five people working in different sectors, from film to high finance to street selling, who all earn their living in this vibrant metropolis.

Witness

In this special edition of Witness, Yogita Limaye examines five extraordinary moments in Indian history. Yogita meets the first Indian man to win a gold medal at a major athletics championship and the woman who brought the first ever sexual harassment case to court in the country’s history. The team also explore the building of a brand new capital of the Punjab in the wake of partition.

There is also additional content in the run up to the season. The channel is broadcasting Rick Stein’s India – a 12 part series which sees Chef Rick Stein embark on a culinary journey through the Indian sub-continent to discover dishes, ingredients and spices celebrated the world over.  BBC’s South Asia Correspondent Justin Rowlatt will be presenting a special edition of the World News documentary programme Our World to be broadcast in mid-February. Plus throughout the season join Global with Matthew Amroliwala – the weekday daily news and current affairs show –for additional stories and content from the region.

India Direct on BBC.com

There will be a dedicated index for India Direct on BBC.com which will include a raft of original content as well as highlights from across the season. This includes a new digital series, India’s Firsts which examines the key pioneers in modern India who have helped to transform the country and In Pictures - the best images submitted by viewers.

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

Notes to Editors:

Transmission Times (all in GMT):

Click

Episode One

Sat 18^th March                   06:30, 19:30

Sun 19^th March                  03:30, 13:30

Thu 23^rd March                  09:00

Episode Two

Sat 25^th March                   06:30, 19:30

Sun 26^th March                  03:30, 13:30

Thu 30^th March                  09:00

The Travel Show (two episodes)

Episode One

Sat 18^th March                   03:30, 13:30, 18:30

Sun 19^th March                  06:30

Wed 22^nd March               09:00

Thu 23^rd March                  03:30

Tue 28^th March                  03:30

Episode Two

Sat 25^th March                   03:30, 13:30, 18:30

Sun 26^th March                  06:30

Wed 29^th March                09:00

Thu 30^th March                  03:30

Working Lives: Mumbai

Fri 17th March                   15:30

Sat 18th March                  00:30

Sun 19th March                05:30, 12:30, 18:30, (23:30 North America and Latin America only)

Mon 20th March              (01:30 North America and Latin America only), 09:00

Witness

Sat 18^th March                   17:30, 23:30

Sun 19^th March                  04:30, 10:30

Thu 23^rd March                  10:30

Rick Stein’s India

12 episodes broadcast every Saturday (at 02:30, 08:30), then repeated on Sundays (14:30, 21:30) and Tuesdays (10:30) until April.