BBC World has been presented with a special Award for Excellence in News at the HOT BIRD™ TV Awards, the only pan-European ceremony to recognise the best in satellite broadcasting. The annual event is organised by the satellite operator Eutelsat, with all winners selected by an independent judging panel comprising journalists from newspapers and magazines around Europe.

It is the fourth time in eight years that the BBC’s international news and information channel has received a trophy at the ceremony. BBC World was named Best News Channel in Europe in 1998, 2002 and 2004, and these three wins meant that it was not eligible to enter the category again in 2005. The Award for Excellence in News was presented in recognition of the high quality of BBC World’s programming.

“It's been an extraordinarily challenging year in terms of international news, with the tsunami, the London bombings, the US hurricanes and the Pakistani earthquake, in addition to the ongoing situation in Iraq,” says Sian Kevill, editorial director at BBC World. “BBC World's output has been exemplary in terms of breaking and explaining these stories to a global audience, and this award recognises the outstanding journalism synonymous with the channel in 2005.”

BBC World can be seen on DStv.