NEW DELHI: After charges last year that its television signals had been blocked, the British Broadcasting Corporation has now said that radio broadcasts of BBC World Service in English are being jammed in China.

"The BBC has received reports that World Service English shortwave frequencies are being jammed in China," the public service broadcaster said, adding that it ?strongly condemns this action which is designed to disrupt audiences? free access to news and information."

"Though it is not possible at this stage to attribute the source of the jamming definitively, the extensive and coordinated efforts are indicative of a well-resourced country such as China," a statement issued in London said.

The BBC said it had experienced jamming of satellite broadcasts over the past two years, and that while shortwave jamming was generally less frequent, it did also affect Persian-language transmissions in Iran.

"The jamming of shortwave transmissions is being timed to cause maximum disruption to BBC World Service English broadcasts in China," said BBC Global News Director Peter Horrocks.

"The deliberate and coordinated efforts by authorities in countries such as China and Iran illustrate the significance and importance of the role the BBC undertakes to provide impartial and accurate information to audiences around the world."

China, which enforces strict restrictions on its domestic media, has been accused by several prominent foreign media of seeking to stop their news reports reaching Chinese audiences.

It is not the first time the BBC had complained of disruption to its services in China, where its website has been consistently blocked. It accused the Chinese authorities of jamming its BBC World News TV channel last year when it broadcast stories regarded as sensitive, such as reports on dissident Chen Guangcheng, who escaped from house arrest and sought refuge in the U.S. embassy.

Other foreign broadcasters including U.S. state-funded radio stations Voice of America and Radio Free Asia have also complained of Beijing blocking access to their programs.

The New York Times reported on 30 January that Chinese hackers had been attacking its computer systems while it was working on an investigative report in October last year on the fortune accumulated by relatives of outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao.

China is listed at number 173 out of 179 countries on the World Press Freedom Index compiled by campaign group Reporters Without Border.

MUMBAI: CCTV America, the US production arm of China?s CCTV News, has expanded its programming with the launch of a new two hour edition of Biz Asia America, 7 pm to 9 pm eastern standard time beginning 4 February.

CCTV America was launched on February 6, 2012 to provide both North American and global viewers, additional perspectives on China, world and U-S developments. The move was part of the effort by CCTV News to increase the quality, breadth, and reach of the its global news channel founded in April 2010.

The program combines business news with in depth global news reports from an increasing line-up of Correspondents across Asia, South America, Africa, and Europe. The increase in broadcast hours allows CCTV America to explore comprehensively global issues which other news channels treat in a repetitive, headline format.

The new programming team is anchored by Phillip Yin, Mike Walter, and Elaine Reyes in Washington and Michelle Makori in New York. Joining the CCTV America team, the newest addition is Anand Naidoo, former anchor at CNN International and Al Jazeera English.

Special segments of the new program will highlight developments in new technology with regular reports from Silicon Valley. The two hour program also increases CCTV News? commitment to coverage of Central and South America.

CCTV has also assembled a new team assembled in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to explore the growth of Brazil. An expanded operation in Mexico City will complement a continuing presence in Havana, Buenos Aires, Bogota, and Lima to provide more extensive coverage of this region than any other English language news broadcaster.

MUMBAI: CNN is launching a new primetime evening news show titled ?CNN NewsCenter?, further expanding its live programming from Asia.

Anchored out of Hong Kong by CNN anchor Monita Rajpal, the show will air everyday at 5 pm, starting 21 January.

The show is the latest addition to CNN?s Hong Kong programming expansion, following the recent debut of ?CNN Newsroom, Live from Hong Kong?, a two hour morning news show anchored by Andrew Stevens and Patricia Wu, as well as the launch of ?On China?, a monthly show hosted by Kristie Lu Stout.

?CNN NewsCenter? airs at the crossroads of the international day: morning in North and South America, lunchtime in Europe, afternoon in the Middle East and Africa, and evening in the Asia Pacific region.

Providing viewers around the world with a 30 minute briefing on the biggest global headlines, the primetime news program airs between CNN?s two shows ?Amanpour? and ?Piers Morgan Tonight?.

Mumbai: AXN is all set to launch the 21st season of its popular reality show ?The Amazing Race?.

It is premiering on AXN on 7 January at 8 pm.

The series features eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world.

The season spans a little over 40,000 kilometers of travel to three continents and nine countries which include China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Netherlands.

The new season comes with a twist with a ?Double Your Money? prize for the team which comes first in the first leg, making them eligible to win a total of $2 million dollars if they also win the season.

MUMBAI: Following the successful staging of two WTA $125 tournaments in Taipei (China) and Pune (India) recently, The Women?s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced the expansion of the WTA $125 series into South America next year with the addition of Cali, Colombia, to the 2013 calendar.

The clay court event, known as the Bionaire Cup, will be staged in the week of 11 February 2013, leading into the WTA?s international level tournament in Bogot?, Colombia. The WTA $125 event will offer a total prize money purse of $125,000, spread across a 32-player singles main draw, 16-player qualifying draw, and 16-team doubles draw, with the singles champion receiving 160 ranking points.

WTA MD Peter Johnston said, "We are thrilled with the development of ourWTA $125 series and excited for Cali, Colombia, to join the WTA family. With three new events in South America scheduled for 2013, the growth of the sport in the continent continues to be a priority for the WTA."

Jarden Consumer Solutions VP, GM Andean Region Felipe Gomez said, "Our company, Oster de Colombia, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, celebrates this opportunity to present to the tennis community the Bionaire Cup, under the auspices of the WTA and with a prize money level of $125,000. We are proud to have this event opening the WTA clay tennis season in Latin America. The Bionaire Cup will motivate the development of upcoming talent in the region, as well as welcome players from around the world in a festive atmosphere.We look forward to working closely with the WTA and Iflex Sports Marketing Co., aswe collectively focus our efforts to secure the event?s success."

The WTA plans to further grow this series in 2013, providing a additional playing opportunities for its athletes and showcasing women?s tennis in emerging markets.