Ted Koppel To Join BBC World News America as Contributing Analyst

LOS ANGELES, July 8 -- Ted Koppel, one of the most respected and highly honored journalists in the U.S., will join the nightly newscast which airs on BBC AMERICA and BBC World News in an ongoing role as a contributing analyst.

The veteran newsman will offer his expertise on major international and national news stories, including the 2008 presidential election race. It is expected that he will be part of the BBC World News America team broadcasting live from the party conventions in Denver and Minneapolis.

Executive Producer Rome Hartman comments: "Ted Koppel is the quintessential American journalist with a global perspective. His smart, sophisticated view of the world, and America's place in it, makes him a perfect fit for BBC World News America. His knowledge and insight on everything, from China's economic development to the battle for the White House, is second to none and his analysis of stories and issues is razor-sharp."

Koppel explains that his decision to contribute to BBC World News America has two dimensions. First, "the BBC has worldwide capabilities that I can't think any American network matches. To the degree that our future in this country is dependent to any extent on what's happening in the rest of the world -- which you won't hear about a great deal on the American networks -- then the BBC can be very, very helpful."

In addition, Koppel reveals a little-known fact about his background: he spent the first twelve years of his life in the U.K. "As someone who was born in England and grew up riveted to Dick Barton, Special Agent as a child (well, all right, I still love the old tapes), it's a particular pleasure for me now, as a U.S. citizen and long-time American journalist, to have been asked to join BBC AMERICA as a contributor. That's my whole life in one phrase -- BBC AMERICA."

Koppel's contributions will be in the form of conversations with BBC World News America anchor Matt Frei and "illustrated essays" featuring news footage that will complement his commentary. The timing of his appearances on the program will be subject to breaking news and events in the presidential election calendar.

Ted Koppel is Discovery Channel's managing editor.

About BBC World News America:

BBC World News America airs weeknights at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT on BBC AMERICA and the 24-hour global BBC World News channel.

Anchored by Matt Frei from the BBC's Washington DC bureau, each evening BBC World News America delivers in-depth reports on the major international and U.S. news of the day. Special packages from the BBC's expert correspondents go beyond the headlines to provide context and analysis on the national and international events that shape our increasingly complex world. And from the DC studio, Matt interviews newsmakers of the day and leads roundtable discussions featuring expert opinion from commentators and major players.

BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies and life-changing makeovers. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 60 million homes.

BBC World News, the BBC's commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by BBC World Ltd, a member of the BBC's commercial group of companies. BBC World News attracts 78 million viewers a week, is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and reaches 283 million households and more than 1.5 million hotel rooms. The channel's content is also available on 57 cruise ships, 42 airlines, 35 mobile phone networks and a number of major online platforms including bbc.com/news. For further information on how to receive BBC World News, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit bbcworldnews.com.