The chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors says U.S. international broadcasting reaches 175 million people weekly, up from 155 million last year. He said that’s a 75 percent increase since 2001.
He made the estimate in a speech this month at the Heritage Foundation. Audience gains in Indonesia, Nigeria and Syria helped drive the increase.
James Glassman noted recent events in Burma and Tibet, saying VOA and RFA warned Burmese people of the danger from cyclone Nargis days before official media and provided breaking news coverage of pro-democracy protests in Tibet and the Chinese crackdown.
BBG broadcasters include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Martí).
