BBC World News is the BBC's international news and current affairs television channel. It has the largest audience of any BBC channel and any news channel in the world. Launched on 11 March 1991 as the BBC World Service Television outside of Europe (the name was changed to BBC World in 1995 and to BBC World News in 2008), it broadcasts for 24 hours with programming including BBC News bulletins, documentaries, lifestyle programmes and interviews. Its main global competitor is CNN International, though it also competes with other major news broadcasting companies. It employs more correspondents, reporters, and international bureaus than any other news channel.

Unlike the BBC's domestic channels, BBC World News is not funded by a license fee. Instead, it is funded commercially by advertising.

On 21 April 2008, the channel changed its name from BBC World to BBC World News as part of a £550,000 rebranding of the BBC's news output, including a new visual identity. The channel later moved into the renovated former studio of the BBC News channel.