BBC World Service Online is unique in offering a multilingual hub for global online news, information and interaction in 43 languages

BBC World Service

BBC World Service head of new media Chris Westcott said it was an "outstanding achievement" to have been recognised in an age of such competition.

The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Webbies, has 350 members and includes names such as Francis Ford Coppola, Bjork and The Simpsons' creator, Matt Groening.

Awards are presented in 27 categories on the basis of content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity and overall experience.

A delighted Mr Westcott said after collecting the award that it "reinforces our aim to be the best known and most respected voice in international broadcasting".

He observed the organisers' five-word allowance for acceptance speeches by saying "thank you" in each of the languages where BBC World Service Online has full round-the-clock news sites - Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and English.

'Record'

The BBC's online news and information is delivered by the world's biggest broadcast newsgathering operation.

A global network of 250 correspondents and 50 foreign bureaux report in over 40 languages.

A record 153 million people around the world listen to BBC World Service every week.

Usage of www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice has doubled in the last year, hitting a record of nearly 40 million monthly page views, an increase well above comparable internet growth rates.

The site provides illustrated text and live and on-demand audio streaming, as well as a gateway to a variety of other BBC language sites.

BBC News Online's news.bbc.co.uk has been nominated for a Webby in the news category. A result is to be announced on Wednesday.