![[image] logo](/common/graphics/common/spacer.gif){kind=small}
Press Office
The publicity site of Sky News
for journalists and PRs
![[text] RSS](/common/graphics/common/rss_orange.gif){kind=small}
Lukwesa Burak appointed to anchor expanded Sky World News programme
Issued: March 12, 2010
Sky News has today announced an extension of its World News with presenter Lukwesa Burak chosen to anchor the new, longer, three hour programme from Monday, 15 March 2010.
The appointment comes as the channel expands its World News output from two to three hours, to provide more focus on the Gulf and the Middle East. Sky World News will be broadcast live from the Sky News Centre between 0300 – 0600 (GMT) every week day.
Sky’s World News anchor Lukwesa will be presenting regional coverage in the first hour of the programme focussing on the Gulf and Middle East, as well as important international news from around the globe. Sky’s foreign correspondents, Dominic Waghorn in Jerusalem and Ashish Joshi in Dubai, will provide viewers with regional news stories, whilst the Sky News weather team will present the regional weather forecasts. The new schedule will also include a Middle East paper review, a regular business report and market information from the region. Later hours of the programme will focus on southern Africa.
Assistant Editor Peter Lowe said: “There’s a big appetite internationally for Sky News as a high quality, award-winning 24 hour breaking news channel. We think we can appeal even more to audiences in the increasingly important Gulf and Middle East areas, by providing more regional focus at these times of day.”
Sky News Presenter Lukwesa Burak was born in Zambia and was named after her royal tribal family. Since joining Sky News, Lukwesa has broken several key international news stories including the execution of Saddam Hussein, North Korea’s first nuclear test, the Indian train bomb attacks and the 2006 Indonesian earthquake.
She said: ”I‘m delighted that the World News programme has been extended to focus on news for viewers in the Gulf and Middle East region, as well as bringing key international news into the homes of UK viewers. The extension shows Sky’s commitment to bold and distinctive international news coverage.”
From 0400 (GMT) the World News programme will be geared towards audiences waking up in Europe and Africa, as well continuing its coverage from the Middle East. CBS News will run ahead of World News from 0230 – 0300 (GMT).
-Ends-
For further information please contact:
Francoise Frost
Assistant Publicist, Sky News
Mob: 07824 834825
Francoise.frost@bskyb.com
Notes to editors:
Since its launch in 1989, Sky News has established itself as a formidable and innovative force in the world of news broadcasting. It now provides news to around 145 million people in 36 countries in Europe alone, with distribution across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Valued for fairness, balance and journalistic objectivity by both viewers and regulators, the award-winning channel has also earned a reputation for the speed of its 24-hour coverage and flexibility in reporting live news – first.
In addition to its status as one of Europe's leading 24 hour news channels, skynews.com is one of the fastest growing websites on the continent. It is also available on mobile phones, on desktops, on UK rail platforms and Virgin Atlantic flights.
In March 2009 Sky News Radio became the sole provider of national and international news to all commercial stations in the UK – reaching around 31 million listeners in total – when it took over the contract to supply IRN stations, in addition to its existing clients.
Sky News won a Golden Nypmh at the 2009 Monte Carlo Television Festival for Best 24 Hour News Programme for its coverage of the Mumbai terror attacks. Sky News was also named Best News Service at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2009 and Skynews.com won the Association of Online Publishers award for website of the year, 2008.
Copyright ©2010 BSkyB