Editing BBC World Service (section)

===Early years===
The BBC World Service began on 19 December 1932 as the '''BBC Empire Service''', broadcasting on [[Shortwave listening|shortwave]]<ref name="WS closures 2005 analysis">{{cite news|last= Repa|first= Jan|title= Analysis: BBC's voice in Europe|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4375652.stm|access-date= 16 July 2012|work= BBC News|date= 25 October 2005|archive-date= 27 July 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080727002945/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4375652.stm|url-status= live}}</ref> and aimed principally at [[English language|English speakers]] across the [[British Empire]]. In his first [[Royal Christmas Message#George V|Christmas Message]] (1932), [[King George V]] characterised the service as intended for "men and women, so cut off by the snow, the desert, or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them".<ref name="Historic moments 30s">{{cite web|title= Historic moments from the 1930s|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1122_75_years/page2.shtml|publisher= BBC World Service|access-date= 16 July 2012|archive-date= 2 May 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130502144345/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1122_75_years/page2.shtml|url-status= live}}</ref> First hopes for the Empire Service were low. The [[Director-General of the BBC|Director-General]], [[John Reith, 1st Baron Reith|Sir John Reith]], said in the opening programme:

<blockquote>Don't expect too much in the early days; for some time we shall transmit comparatively simple programmes, to give the best chance of intelligible reception and provide evidence as to the type of material most suitable for the service in each zone. The programmes will neither be very interesting nor very good.<ref name="Historic moments 30s"/><ref>Transcribed from recording on World Service 75th Anniversary DVD; full extract transmitted as part of opening program – the Reith Global Debate – of the 'Free to Speak' 75th anniversary season</ref></blockquote>

This address was read out five times as the BBC broadcast it live to different parts of the world.