Launch of the Latin American Service

The BBC launched the Latin American Service on 14 March 1938. It was the second foreign language radio service, following the Arabic Service launched in January. Both were initiated in the tense pre-war period, to counter propaganda, coming from other countries, that was seen to be damaging Britain's interests in the regions. The Latin American Service was broadcast in Spanish and Portuguese, reaching a potential audience of 70 million people in Central and South America, and a further 40 million in Brazil.

Director-General Lord Reith introduced the first programme on the BBC Latin American Service. The English announcement is followed by a direct translation in Spanish.

The Latin American Service set out to provide straightforward news and information, starting with 15 minute news bulletins broadcast in Spanish and Portuguese in succession. Letters from the region thanked the BBC for providing impartial news. The foreign language services proved their effectiveness during the Second World War, and by 1945 the BBC was broadcasting in 45 separate languages.

The Latin American Service was renamed BBC Mundo in 2005 to include Spanish speakers in the US. At the same time BBC Brazil was created for Portuguese speakers. BBC Mundo ended radio transmissions in 2011, but today maintains a strong presence online.