New York - March 20, 2009 - BBC World News marks its return to New York City this week on NYCTV, with an exclusive one-on-one interview with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, airing on Friday, March 20, conducted by Washington-based special correspondent Philippa Thomas.

BBC World News  - with its new format, set and team of anchors and reporters - delivers the legendary newsgathering talents of the BBC to New York public television audiences with the newscast's return to Manhattan and the four surrounding boroughs on NYCTV.

"The diversity in our streets and businesses is one of our City's greatest strengths," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Bringing BBC World News back to New York City exemplifies that diversity and will give NYCTV's viewers in the world's most international city a greater number of options." 

During the one-on-one with Thomas, Mayor Bloomberg discussed the impact of the economic downturn, issues of global importance and news of the day. Excerpts will be broadcast to a worldwide audience of 78 million, with an in-depth version airing on public television stations across the country as part of the BBC World News bulletin.  The newscast airs weekdays at 6:00 p.m. on NYCTV Channel 25. Please check local listings for broadcasts across the country. (The interview will air during the newscasts that feed to public television stations on Friday, March 20 at 4:00 p.m. ET and 6:00 p.m. ET. Please check local listings).

"BBC World News is delighted to resume broadcast of its newscast in the heart of New York City, one of the world's truly great cities," said Richard Porter, BBC World News. "NYCTV serves an important audience for BBC World News , and we are very pleased to offer the newscast locally on the City's own broadcast television channel."

"NYCTV is proud to bring BBC World News back to New York City," said Arick Wierson, President of NYC Media Group and General Manager of NYCTV.  "This is a hugely important media market, and we believe that the international perspective of BBC World News will resonate with the 20 million globally minded residents of the New York Tri-state area."

BBC World News is the most-watched international news program on public television. It covers the latest developments in the global financial crisis from locations across the world; the frontline in conflicts around the world; the global perspective on news from the U.S.; and the stories behind breaking news events. The BBC's Mike Embley anchors the newscast from London, with Special Correspondent Philippa Thomas, an experienced BBC foreign journalist, contributing daily news from the BBC's Washington Headquarters. Embley has many years of experience reporting news for the BBC and is known as one of the organization's most determined, informed and unflappable anchors. 

About BBC World News on public television 
BBC World News is presented nationally on public television by KCET Los Angeles and produced out of the BBC's London studio.  The newscast draws from the BBC's unrivalled global newsgathering resource of 2,000 journalists and 70 international bureaus, providing news coverage with a truly global perspective; insight into world events impacting on America and major US stories impacting on the world.  BBC World News presented by KCET maintains a U.S. household coverage of 93%; is carried in 182 markets nationwide, including clearances in all top 30 markets, 47 of the top 50 and 91 of the top 100. The newscast is carried on the primary PBS station in 170 of the 182 markets. For more about BBC World News , please visit www.bbcworldnews.com

About NYCTV
NYCTV is the Emmy® Award-winning broadcast channel that features an energetic mix of lifestyle and entertainment programming about New York City. From food to fashion, music to movies, NYCTV is the station that is 'Everything New York.' Launched in 2003, NYCTV is the flagship media asset of NYC Media Group-the largest local media group in the New York City market, including one broadcast television channel, five cable television channels and three DTV channels known collectively as NYCTV. The network also includes one broadcast radio station, Radio New York 91.5 FM, as well as production and syndication arms that produce and distribute content about New York City all over the world across multiple platforms.