BBC World News, the BBC's commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by BBC World Ltd, a member of the BBC's commercial group of companies. BBC World is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and reaches 282 million households (147 million 24-hour homes) and more than 1.3 million hotel rooms. It is also available on 48 cruise ships, 36 airlines and 31 mobile phone platforms. The channel commenced transmission in 1991 as BBC World Service Television and in 1995 was re-branded BBC World, a 24-hour news and information channel broadcasting across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Japan. For further information on how to receive BBC World, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit www.bbcworld.com