MUMBAI: BBC World News, with BBC.com, today announces a renewal of its successful advertising partnership with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, with the commissioning of a third series of the popular travel programme The Real.

The ad-funded, weekly, five-part series begins on Saturday 19 September on BBC World News. The series will encompass five new episodes of programme, visiting the exciting cities of Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Beirut, Rome and Washington DC. With the help of knowledgeable, well known local personalities, the series reveals to viewers the key spots to visit, often missed in guidebooks. In addition, it is the first time that the programmes will be distributed on BBC America.

The programmes will also be supported with dedicated pages on BBC.com, the BBC's international website, that feature video clips and information on each of the cities from the new and previous series. The Real… branded widget will feature on the BBC.com homepage, for the duration of the show's transmission, taking audiences directly to the online content.

Alan Fagan, Regional Sales Director, Europe for BBC Advertising Sales, says: "We are thrilled that InterContinental Hotels & Resorts have chosen to continue the partnership with us, following the success of the previous two series of the The Real. Ad funded programming across BBC World News and BBC.com offers our clients a customised brand solution across multiple platforms, reaching millions of international viewers in more than 200 countries and territories across the world."

Vanessa Healey, Vice President, Global Marketing for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, says, "We are extremely pleased with our continuing partnership with BBC World News and BBC.com, and the launch of the third season of The Real. As InterContinental continues to grow our presence around the world, this partnership raises global awareness and consideration for the brand. InterContinental has always been about opening doors and creating authentic and enriching experiences. The series' rich programming content brings to life InterContinental's �in the know' positioning."

The new series of The Real will be available to 74 million weekly BBC World News viewers around the globe, as well as online users at BBC.com.

Programme times:

Saturdays from 19 September at 1500 IST

Repeated: Saturdays at 2300 Sundays at 0130 and 2000 IST