MUMBAI: The BBC Arabic network has reinforced its look and content across platforms – on TV, radio and online – with clean, crisp, dynamic visual and audio branding, stronger interactivity and dynamic news presentation. Its re-designed news studios and new graphics underpin its pan-BBC identity while also keeping a very distinct Arab flavour.

The emphasis of the redesign is on clean and clear on-screen graphics. The BBC Arabic television news and current-affairs programmes now have a new look and colour scheme - white, red and gold. The globe features strongly in the design, representing the truly international scope of the BBC's newsgathering operation 

On TV and radio, BBC Arabic has introduced the theme music used by the rest of BBC television (composer - David Lowe), thus emphasizing the channel's BBC identity. The revamped graphics of the TV news updates, with light, white title sequences, makes them easier to read.

Creative Director, BBC Global News, Neil Caldicott, comments: This is a fantastic opportunity to bring BBC Arabic right up to date in terms of look and sound  The clean, simple and crisp approach to our graphics aims to bring to the fore the work of our teams to fully reflect the excellence, the dynamics and the modernity."

While the redesign brings the television channel's brand into line with its online offer on bbcarabic.com, the BBC Arabic network has also introduced major changes to its programme content, enriching the news bulletins with daily press reviews from Arab and international media and more in-depth analysis 

The daily news programme, Hasad Al Youm Al Ikhbari, has been enhanced with a stronger interactive element, encouraging viewers to contribute with their questions and opinions on topical issues. The BBC Arabic news bulletins are now jointly delivered by newsreaders and broadcast journalists who present the news summaries from a pod in the newsroom before the cameras switch back to the news reader for the rest of the programme 

Head of BBC World Service Middle East Region, Liliane Landor, says: BBC Arabic teams love the new look and sound of our multimedia offer. Sharing a common visual and aural brand with BBC television news can only build upon the excellent work all our teams are doing in bringing high quality international news to as many people as possible, on as many platforms as possible. The BBC Journalism brand distinguishes the BBC Arabic network from any other in the Arab world  We will continue to broaden our journalism and address issues no one else can, and we will continue to bring to our audiences the most distinctive and independent journalism, modern in style and incisive in content. This work is ongoing for all of us in BBC Arabic....