BBC.com unveils India edition

Apart from India, the news website has launched Asia, Australia and New Zealand editions, which will be tailored to provide more in-depth analysis, breaking news and business bulletins for each of the markets, as well as a host of specially-commissioned features and reports.

BBC.com, the international news website, has announced the launch of an India edition. It has also unveiled Asia, Australia and New Zealand editions. Each of the editions intends to provide detailed and localised news coverage, with emphasis on audiences' needs and interests.

In a press statement, Chris Davies, acting managing director, BBC.com, says, "BBC.com is currently one of the leading international news websites in the Asia-Pacific, with 11.1 million unique users per month. These editions are a response to audiences' feedback and will ensure greater engagement from new, as well as existing users."

All three sites will be tailored to provide more in-depth analysis, breaking news and business bulletins for each of the markets, as well as a host of specially-commissioned features and reports. The readers will be able to glance through a host of other sections such as News, Sports and Travel, with localised weather updates, increased features from local correspondents and video content.

To support the increased localisation, BBC.com has recently built a new team in the Asia-Pacific to focus on providing more locally-curated content.

BBC.com's investment in Asia is mirrored in the TV space, with BBC World News giving continued editorial focus on the region. In 2011, it has launched a new weekday programme, Newsday, and a season of programming entitled The Power of Asia, which examines the economic growth of Asia.

The news websites will also feature five specially-commissioned reports created from a mix of video, text and pictures. The commissioned reports will come under categories such as 'Start-up Stories' on China, 'China's Global Reach', 'Generation Asia', 'The New Middle Class' and 'India Direct'.

"The reports will go beyond the headlines to ensure more in-depth analysis on topics that matter to local communities, for both users in Asia and across the globe," says Davies.

Starting November 4 on both BBC.com and BBC World News, Start-up Stories - China, will be an eight-part weekly series investigating how entrepreneurs in China are transforming the country and the world. Generation Asia will also be an eight-part series starting on November 4, exploring the huge changes happening in the continent and the related impact on the new generation of Asians.

The 'India Direct' series of reports will be telecast in tandem with the India Direct season of programming on BBC World News. Another section, China's Global Reach, will be in line with the G20 Summit, where eight reports will complement the global economy section of the news website, focussing on China's key role in the global economy. Lastly, 'The New Middle Class' will have additional reports from the BBC series looking at financial decisions facing a new generation of middle class Asians, focussing largely on India. These reports will be telecast from November 21 onwards.