MUMBAI: People across the Middle East have increasingly turned to the BBC during the ‘Arab Uprising‘ with a record rise in audiences, according to independent research published recently.

Overall audiences to the BBC‘s Arabic services have risen by more than 50 per cent to a record high of 33.4 million adults weekly - up from 21.6 million before the ‘Arab Spring‘.

BBC Arabic TV‘s audience has risen to 24.4 million from 13.5 million - up by more than 80 per cent. Weekly reach across Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabic, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco has nearly doubled to a weekly reach of 18.4 per cent from 9.8 per cent.

The weekly audience estimates are based on an independent study that was carried out by the Broadcasting Board of Governors‘ International Audience Research Program (IARP). Surveys were conducted in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabic, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco.

Biggest increases were seen in Egypt, where the BBC Arabic TV audience quadrupled to a weekly reach of 16.2 per cent, reaching 9.3 million people.

BBC Global News controller, languages Liliane Landor said, "In turbulent times, the BBC‘s aim to provide trusted news and impartial information is more valued than ever across the Middle East and North Africa. These impressive figures show that international audiences are increasingly turning to the BBC for independent news that they can trust.

In an increasingly competitive TV market, it demonstrates there will always be space for high-quality journalism that seeks to inform all, even-handedly.