MUMBAI: BBC World News has launched The Hub with Nik Gowing, a news programme aimed primarily at audiences in South Asia as part of a new look and schedule that that the channel kicked off on 1 February 2010.

The programme is part of a suite of changes to both weekday and weekend schedules, with the introduction of six tailored news broadcasts.

The half-hour show airs from Monday to Friday at 9.30 pm and serves as a news ‘nerve centre’ for South Asia, providing both the headlines, and detailed analysis of the global news agenda. Gowing's experience as the longest serving presenter on BBC World News, his trademark rigorous interview technique, and his unrivalled political and diplomatic contacts, will give local viewers a unique insight into the top stories of the day. The Hub will take audiences live to the scene of breaking news for the latest developments, and every edition will offer a summary of the key world stories for viewers in South Asia, and the Middle East.

World News Today with Zeinab Badawi, Business Edition with Tanya Beckett, Impact Asia with Mishal Husain and GMT with George Alagiah have all kicked off as part of the refreshed channel output.

The programmes will be supported by new on-air graphic packages and will broadcast from BBC World News’ redesigned studio based in London. And in addition to the news programmes airing on TV, viewers can interact with the presenters via a dedicated facebook page, programme pages on bbc.com/news, on Twitter, via the BBC’s Global Minds community, and other social media platforms.

A new programme aimed at a global audience, to be fronted by Lyse Doucet, is also in development and will join the line-up in February.

Changes to the weekend line-up : BBC World News’ new weekend schedule begins on Friday evenings (Asia evening peak) with a refreshed mixture of topical documentary, current affairs, lifestyle and travel programmes. Introducing the weekend line up from 5 February is Weekend World, a new weekly interactive show, presented by Paddy O’Connell.

Highlights airing in the February weekend schedule include:This World: Gypsy Child Thieves (four part weekly series from 20 February), Alvin Hall’s Guide to Good Business (eight part weekly series from 6 February), Saudi Goes to Market (two part weekly series from 6 February) plus episodes of premier discussion forums The World Debate and Doha Debate. Flagship travel programme fast:track, technology show Click and Talking Movies will also air during the weekend.

For the first time, bite-size four minute editions of these flagship programmes will air during the week to keep viewers regularly entertained and updated on their favourite subjects. Over both the week and weekend schedule, the channel will also ensure the prevalence of news by broadcasting bulletins at the top of each hour.

BBC World News editorial director Richard Porter says, “The channel changes represent the next stage of our editorial development at BBC World News. We’re reacting to our audiences’ have requested from us – they’ve expressed a real desire for news programmes relevant to their regions, bringing the strengths of our presenters to the fore. By realigning our weekday and weekend schedules, we can provide viewers with accessible and wide-ranging content that suits the way they want to watch us."