DStv viewers are familiar with the BBC World, the channel that presents international news, quality documentaries and cosmopolitan lifestyle programmes. More travellers than ever will be able to stay in touch with international news and current affairs while away from home, as BBC World has just signed its millionth hotel room worldwide, with the Shangri-la in Dubai.

On releasing the new figure, Bill Mould, head of travel distribution, BBC World, says: "Demand for BBC World has increased dramatically across the board in the past year, and distributing in more than one million hotel rooms is a huge endorsement of the quality of the channel in a very competitive media environment. The global perspective and integrity of BBC World's output in a fast-changing world, coupled with the experience of our foreign correspondents, continues to attract ever more viewers to the channel."

In addition to one million hotel rooms, BBC World can now be viewed on 23 airlines and 25 cruise liners, and received in 253 million households around the globe. Of these, 113 million homes can access the channel on a 24-hour basis.