Editing BBC World Service (section)

==Availability==

===Americas===
BBC World Service is available by subscription to [[Sirius XM Holdings|Sirius XM's]] [[satellite radio]] service in the United States.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=[[XM Satellite Radio]] |date=26 July 1999 |url=http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1104 |title=BBC World Service and XM announce programming alliance |access-date=17 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111180733/http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1104 |archive-date=11 November 2006 }}</ref> Its Canadian affiliate, [[Sirius XM Canada]], does the same in Canada. More than 300 [[Public broadcasting|public radio]] stations across the US carry World Service news broadcasts—mostly during the overnight and early-morning hours—over [[AM broadcasting|AM]] and [[FM broadcasting#See also|FM]] radio, distributed by [[American Public Media]] (APM).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/press/archive/pr_071212.html |title=BBC World Service Appoints American Public Media as New Distributor in the United States |publisher=APM |date=12 July 2012 |access-date=2 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126101159/http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/press/archive/pr_071212.html |archive-date=26 January 2013 }}</ref> Some public radio stations also carry the World Service in its entirety via [[HD Radio]]. The BBC and [[Public Radio International]] (PRI) co-produce the programme ''[[The World (radio program)|The World]]'' with [[WGBH (FM)|WGBH]] Radio [[Boston]], and the BBC was previously involved with ''[[The Takeaway]]'' morning news programme based at [[WNYC]] in [[New York City]]. BBC World Service programming also airs as part of [[CBC Radio One]]'s ''[[CBC Radio Overnight]]'' schedule in Canada.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

BBC shortwave broadcasts to this region were traditionally enhanced by the Atlantic Relay Station and the Caribbean Relay Company, a station in [[Antigua]] run jointly with [[Deutsche Welle]]. In addition, an exchange agreement with [[Radio Canada International]] gave access to their station in [[New Brunswick]]. However, "changing listening habits" led the World Service to end shortwave radio transmission directed to North America and [[Australasia]] on 1 July 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/docs/annual_reports_and_reviews/annual_report_and_accounts/BBC_Annual_Reports_and_Accounts.htm#page54|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202090014/http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/docs/annual_reports_and_reviews/annual_report_and_accounts/BBC_Annual_Reports_and_Accounts.htm#page54|url-status=dead|title=Pages 1–136 from BBC AR Cover 03|archive-date=2 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/faq/news/story/2005/08/050810_nzandswpacific.shtml |title=BBC World Service &#124; FAQ |publisher=BBC |date=10 August 2005 |access-date=16 February 2011 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110052617/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/faq/news/story/2005/08/050810_nzandswpacific.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> A [[shortwave listening|shortwave listener]] coalition formed to oppose the change.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.savebbc.org/press/6_june_2001.html |title=Save the BBC World Service in North America and the Pacific! – BBC to Cut Off 1.2 Million Listeners on July&nbsp;1 |website=Savebbc.org |date=6 June 2001 |access-date=16 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130004805/http://savebbc.org/press/6_june_2001.html |archive-date=30 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The BBC broadcasts to Central America and South America in several languages. It is possible to receive the [[West Africa|Western African]] shortwave radio broadcasts from eastern North America, but the BBC does not guarantee reception in this area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/010119_namerica.shtml |title=FAQ &#124; World Service |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 February 2011 |archive-date=18 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918100925/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/010119_namerica.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> It has ended its specialist programming to the [[Falkland Islands]] but continues to provide a stream of World Service programming to the [[Falkland Islands Radio Service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/02_february/23/falklands.shtml |title=Press Office – Falkland Islands and BBC to boost home-grown media |publisher=BBC |date=23 February 2006 |access-date=16 February 2011 |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106014444/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/02_february/23/falklands.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Asia===
For several decades, the World Service's largest audiences have been in Asia, the Middle East, [[Near East]] and South Asia. Transmission facilities in the UK and Cyprus were supplemented by the former BBC Eastern Relay Station in [[Oman]] and the [[BBC Far Eastern Relay Station|Far Eastern Relay Station]] in Singapore, formerly in Malaysia. The East Asian Relay Station moved to [[Thailand]] in 1997 when Hong Kong was [[Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|handed over]] to Chinese sovereignty. The relay station in Thailand was closed during January 2017, and in [[Singapore]] during July 2023;<ref>{{cite news | title = BBC's call will continue after transmissions end | url = https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bbcs-call-will-continue-after-transmissions-end/MBUUASPXN3PNXAVHUNUTHSVKWA/ | author = Rosaleen Macbrayne | access-date = 30 August 2023 | work = New Zealand Herald }}</ref> currently, a relay station in [[Masirah]], Oman serves the Asian region. Together, these facilities have given the BBC World Service an easily accessible signal in regions where shortwave listening has traditionally been popular. The English shortwave frequencies of 6.195 (49m band), 9.74 (31m band), 15.31/15.36 (19m band) and 17.76/17.79 (16m band) were widely known. On 25 March 2018, the long-established shortwave frequency of 9.74&nbsp;MHz was changed to 9.9&nbsp;MHz.

The largest audiences are in English, [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and other major languages of South Asia, where BBC broadcasters are household names. The [[Persian language|Persian]] service is the ''de facto'' national broadcaster of [[Afghanistan]], along with its Iranian audience. The World Service is available up to eighteen hours a day in English across most parts of Asia, and in Arabic for the Middle East. With the addition of relays in Afghanistan and Iraq these services are accessible in most of the Middle and Near East in the evening. In Singapore, the BBC World Service in English has been carried on [[FM broadcasting|FM]] alongside domestic stations since 1976, via a relay operated by the country's state-owned broadcaster [[Mediacorp]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-03-31 |title=How to listen to BBC World Service in South-East Asia |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-radio-and-tv-12927616 |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Press Office - BBC and MediaCorp renew agreement on transmission in Singapore |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories//2005/07_july/06/singapore.shtml |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> For many years [[Radio Television Hong Kong]] broadcast BBC World Service 24/7 but as of 12 February 2021, Hong Kong has banned the BBC's World Service radio from its airwaves, following swiftly on the heels of China's decision to bar its World News television channels, seemingly in retaliation for Ofcom revoking the UK broadcasting licence of China Global Television Network. In the [[Philippines]], [[DZRJ-AM|DZRJ 810 AM]] and its FM sister station [[DZRJ-FM|RJFM 100.3]] broadcasts the BBC World Service in English from 06:00 to 20:00 [[Philippine Standard Time|PHT]] from Mondays to Saturdays.

Although this region has seen the launch of the only two foreign language television channels, several other services have had their radio services closed as a result of budget cuts and redirection of resources.<ref>{{cite news | title = BBC Thai service ends broadcasts | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4609860.stm | author = Clare Harkey | date = 13 March 2006 | access-date = 8 November 2008 | work = BBC News | archive-date = 18 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218021705/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4609860.stm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12864041 |title=BBC Chinese Service makes final broadcast in Mandarin |author=Vivien Marsh |publisher=BBC |date=28 March 2011 |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511224200/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12864041 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Japan and Korea have little tradition of World Service listening, although during the Second World War and in the 1970s to 1980s, shortwave listening was popular in Japan. In those two countries, the BBC World Service was only available via shortwave and the Internet. As of September 2007, a satellite transmission (subscription required) became available by Skylife (Channel 791) in South Korea. In November 2016, the BBC World Service announced it plans to start broadcasts in Korean. ''BBC Korean'', a radio and web service, started on 25 September 2017.<ref name=38north-20170926>{{cite web |url=http://www.38north.org/2017/09/mwilliams092617/ |title=Option for North Korean Radio Listeners |last=Williams |first=Martyn |publisher=U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies |work=38 North |date=26 September 2017 |access-date=28 September 2017 |archive-date=27 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927034911/http://www.38north.org/2017/09/mwilliams092617/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Jamming====
{{Further|Radio jamming|Radio jamming in China}}
The Soviet Union, Iran, [[Iraq]] and [[Myanmar]]/Burma have all [[Radio jamming|jammed]] the BBC in the past. [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]] was heavily jammed by the People's Republic of China until shortwave transmissions for that service ceased<ref name="bbc-20110328">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12864041 |title=BBC Chinese Service makes final broadcast in Mandarin |first=Vivien |last=Marsh |publisher=BBC |date=28 March 2011 |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-date=27 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227080708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12864041 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="guardian-20110320">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/mar/20/bbc-world-service-us-funding |title=BBC World Service to sign funding deal with US state department |first=Ben |last=Dowell |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 March 2011 |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-date=11 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311160518/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/mar/20/bbc-world-service-us-funding |url-status=live }}</ref> but China continues to jam transmissions in [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/10_october/15/uzbek_jammed.shtml |title=Press Office – Uzbek language broadcasts jammed |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 March 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714022716/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/10_october/15/uzbek_jammed.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="parliament1">{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmfaff/267/267we06.htm |title=House of Commons – Foreign Affairs: Written evidence from the BBC World Service |website=Publications.parliament.uk |access-date=15 March 2014 |archive-date=14 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314131836/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmfaff/267/267we06.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and has since started to jam transmissions in English throughout Asia.<ref name="parliament1"/><ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Plunkett |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/feb/25/bbc-condemns-china-jamming-world-service |title=BBC condemns China's 'deliberate' jamming of World Service broadcasts &#124; Media |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 25 February 2013|access-date=15 March 2014 |archive-date=14 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314115802/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/feb/25/bbc-condemns-china-jamming-world-service |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Europe===
The BBC World Service is broadcast in Berlin on 94.8&nbsp;MHz. FM relays are also available in Ceske Budjovice, Karlovy Vary, Plzen, Usti nad Labem, Zlin and Prague in the Czech Republic, Pristina, Riga, Tallinn, Tirana and Vilnius. The station is also available in Reykjavík, Iceland on 94.5&nbsp;MHz FM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC World Service coming back to Iceland |url=https://icelandmag.is/article/bbc-world-service-coming-back-iceland |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Icelandmag |language=en}}</ref> A BBC World Service channel is available on [[DAB+]] in Brussels and Flanders and Amsterdam, the Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam. Following a national reorganisation of DAB multiplexes in October 2017, the station is available on DAB+ across the whole of [[Denmark]].<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC World Service joins new Danish DAB+ network|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2017/10/bbc-world-service-joins-new-danish-dab.html|access-date=2 October 2017|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030312/http://www.a516digital.com/2017/10/bbc-world-service-joins-new-danish-dab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The World Service employed a [[Orfordness transmitting station|medium wave transmitter]] at [[Orford Ness]] to provide English-language coverage to Europe, including on the [[frequency]] 648&nbsp;[[kHz]] (which could be heard in parts of the south-east of England during the day and most of the UK after dark). Transmissions on this frequency were stopped on 27 March 2011, as a consequence of the budgetary constraints imposed on the BBC World Service in the 2010 budget review.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC World Service: The closure of 648 kHz medium wave|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/institutional/2011/02/110208_648khz_mw_closure.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 August 2012|archive-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302130012/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/institutional/2011/02/110208_648khz_mw_closure.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> A second channel (1296&nbsp;kHz) traditionally broadcast in various Central European languages, but this frequency has also been discontinued and in 2005 it began regular English-language transmissions via the [[Digital Radio Mondiale]] (DRM) format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/faq/news/story/2005/09/050907_drm_launch_release.shtml|title=BBC Launches DRM Service in Europe|publisher=BBC World Service|date=7 September 2005|access-date=15 November 2006|archive-date=29 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061229085829/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/faq/news/story/2005/09/050907_drm_launch_release.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> This is a digital shortwave technology that VT expects to become the standard for cross-border transmissions in developed countries.

In the 1990s, the BBC purchased and constructed large medium wave and FM networks in the former Soviet bloc, particularly the Czech (BBC Czech Section), Slovak Republics (BBC Slovak Section), Poland ([[BBC Polish Section]]) (where it was a national network) and Russia ([[BBC Russian Service]]). It had built up a strong audience during the Cold War, whilst economic restructuring made it difficult for these governments to refuse Western investment. Many of these facilities have now returned to domestic control, as economic and political conditions have changed.

On Monday, 18 February 2008, the BBC World Service stopped analogue shortwave transmissions to Europe. The notice stated, "Increasing numbers of people around the world are choosing to listen to radio on a range of other platforms including FM, satellite and online, with fewer listening on shortwave."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5nCxH0NlsPtyW8WvJ0rwDJP/about-world-service-radio|title=BBC - About World Service radio|website=BBC|access-date=31 October 2019|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108015309/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5nCxH0NlsPtyW8WvJ0rwDJP/about-world-service-radio|url-status=live}}</ref> It is sometimes possible to pick up the BBC World Service in Europe on SW frequencies targeted at North Africa. The BBC's powerful 198&nbsp;kHz LW, which broadcasts the domestic [[BBC Radio 4]] to Britain during the day (and carries the World Service during the night) can also be heard in nearby parts of Europe, including the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium and parts of France, Germany and Scandinavia.

In Malta, BBC News bulletins are carried by a number of radio stations, including Radju Malta and Magic 91.7, owned by national broadcaster PBS Ltd. These are broadcast at various points in the day and supplement news bulletins broadcast in Maltese from the PBS Newsroom.

Former BBC shortwave transmitters are located in the United Kingdom at [[Rampisham Down]] in [[Dorset]], [[Woofferton transmitting station|Woofferton]] in [[Shropshire]] and [[Skelton transmitter|Skelton]] in [[Cumbria]]. The former [[British East Mediterranean Relay Station|BBC East Mediterranean Relay Station]] is in [[Cyprus]].

In response to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the BBC began broadcasting World Service English programming at shortwave frequencies 15.735&nbsp;MHz and 5875&nbsp;kHz for receivers in Ukraine and parts of Russia.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Millions of Russians turn to BBC News|publisher=[[BBC]]|location=London|date=2 March 2022|accessdate=3 March 2022|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/millions-of-russians-turn-to-bbc-news|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302232002/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/millions-of-russians-turn-to-bbc-news|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Revives Shortwave Radio Dispatches in Ukraine and Draws Ire of Russia|first=Tiffany|last=Hsu|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=3 March 2022|accessdate=3 March 2022|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/business/media/bbc-shortwave-radio-ukraine.html|archive-date=18 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318142410/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/business/media/bbc-shortwave-radio-ukraine.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Pacific===
The World Service is available as part of the [[subscription]] Digital Air package (available from [[Foxtel]] and [[Austar]]) in Australia. [[ABC NewsRadio]], [[SBS Radio]], and various [[community radio]] stations also broadcast many programmes. Many of these stations broadcast a straight feed during the midnight to dawn period. It was also available via the [[satellite service]] [[Optus Aurora]], which is encrypted but available without subscription. In Sydney, Australia, a transmission of the service can be received at 152.025&nbsp;MHz. It is also available on the [[Digital radio in Australia|DAB+ Network in Australia]] on SBS Radio 4 (except during [[Eurovision Song Contest|Eurovision]] and special events). 2MBS-FM 102.5, a classical music station in Sydney, also carries the BBC World Service news programmes at 7a.m. and 8a.m. on weekdays, during its ''Music for a New Day'' breakfast programme.

Shortwave relays from Singapore (see Asia, above) continue, but historic relays via [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)]] and [[Radio New Zealand International]] were wound down in the late 1990s. BBC World Service relays on [[Radio Australia]] now carry the BBC Radio news programmes.

{{anchor|Auckland Radio Trust}}In the Pacific and New Zealand, the Auckland Radio Trust operates a BBC World Service network as a non-profit donation-funded public broadcaster.<ref name=aucklandfriends>{{cite web|title=Friends|url=http://worldservice.co.nz/Friends.php|website=worldservice.co.nz|publisher=Auckland Radio Trust|access-date=23 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128182515/http://worldservice.co.nz/Friends.php|archive-date=28 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It broadcasts on 810&nbsp;kHz in [[Auckland]], 107.0&nbsp;MHz in [[Whitianga]] and [[Whangamatā]], 107.3&nbsp;MHz in [[Kaipara Harbour]], 88.2&nbsp;MHz in [[Suva]] and [[Nadi]], 100.0&nbsp;MHz in [[Bairiki]] and [[Tarawa]], 101.1&nbsp;MHz in [[Pohnpei]], 107.6&nbsp;MHz in [[Port Moresby]], 105.9&nbsp;MHz in [[Honiara]], 99.0&nbsp;MHz in [[Port Vila]] and [[Luganville]], and 100.1&nbsp;MHz in [[Funafuti]].<ref name=aucklandhomepage>{{cite web|title=Home Page|url=http://worldservice.co.nz/Home_Page.php|website=worldservice.co.nz|publisher=Auckland Radio Trust|access-date=23 January 2016|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128182507/http://worldservice.co.nz/Home_Page.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The station also broadcasts local content.

In New Zealand, AREC FM carries the BBC World Service 24/7 in the [[Wellington]] region. Available on 107.0&nbsp;MHz in the CBD, 87.6&nbsp;MHz in [[Porirua]]/Mana, and 87.9&nbsp;MHz in [[Waikanae]]/[[Paraparaumu]]. AREC FM is a non-profit donation funded LPFM broadcaster and a subscriber to the [[Community Broadcasting Association of Australia]]'s [[Community Radio Network (Australia)]].

In New Zealand, [[Radio Tarana]] and members of the [[Association of Community Access Broadcasters]] carry some BBC World Service programmes. The BBC World Service was previously available on 1233&nbsp;kHz in Wellington between 1990 and 1994, and again from 1996 to 1997.

===UK===
The BBC World Service is broadcast on [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]], [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], [[Virgin Media]] and [[Sky UK|Sky]] platforms, as well as on [[BBC Sounds]]. It is also broadcast overnight on the frequencies of [[BBC Radio 4]] and the [[Welsh language]] service [[BBC Radio Cymru]] following their closedown at 0000 or 0100 British time. The BBC World Service does not receive funding for broadcasts to the UK. In southeast England, the station could be picked up reliably on medium wave 648&nbsp;kHz, which was targeted at mainland Europe.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

According to [[RAJAR]], the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 1.2 million with a listening share of 0.7% as of March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php|title=RAJAR|website=www.rajar.co.uk}}</ref>