BBC launches emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran

BBC launches emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran

The programme will air daily for 30 minutes across medium and shortwave frequencies

The BBC World Service has launched a temporary emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran in response to the ongoing turmoil in the country, and the unprecedented crackdown on protests.

To complement the existing BBC News Persian video and digital services, the radio programme will be available on mediumwave and shortwave across Iran to increase the population's access to news and information. To broaden its offer and availability of programming, the BBC World Service has also made some of its TV content available on mediumwave radio.

Since 8 January, the Iranian people have been subject to an internet blackout. Prior to this, BBC News Persian's digital services saw their biggest reach in a year with their platforms reaching more than 33 million people.

The short-term programme will cover the latest news and developments in Iran and will place events inside the country within their wider regional and international context. It will feature voices from inside Iran alongside clear, informed analysis of the most recent political, social, and economic developments shaping the situation in the country.

The programme will air daily for 30 minutes across medium and shortwave frequencies from 4.30pm GMT / 8pm Iran Standard Time. The temporary programme has been granted resource from existing funds until the end of March 2026.

Fiona Crack, Interim Global Director, BBC News, says: "A key role of the BBC World Service is to step up in times of crisis to provide news and information for our audiences in greatest need. BBC News Persian reaches one in four adults in Iran, which is an astonishing feat considering their reporting is banned in the country.

"The team have been essential in telling the urgent story of the Iranian people to audiences around the world, and our new radio programme will give the Iranian people more ways to access independent and impartial news."

Tarik Kafala, Interim Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa, says: "BBC News Persian have worked tirelessly to deliver journalism throughout this period of unrest as the demand for trusted news has soared in Iran. The teams have supplied extended TV hours in Iran and an increased offer on digital platforms for the Iranian people. They have reported for UK audiences across bulletins, live pages and on forensic journalism with BBC Verify."

The BBC World Service has a history of launching emergency services in times of crisis. In April 2025, BBC News Burmese started providing audio and video content on a satellite channel in the aftermath of Myanmar earthquake.

In April 2024, following the fall of the Assad regime, the BBC World Service set up an enhanced audio channel on FM and mediumwave for the people of Syria. This follows the emergency radio service for Gaza in November 2024 and for Sudan in May 2023 amid conflict.

In February 2022, the BBC News Ukraine service extended TV bulletins following the invasion of the country.

Where to find the programme:

The live programme will be available at 4.30pm GMT (8pm Iran Time) on 702kHz medium wave and 9465kHz short wave

The programme will be repeated at 6pm GMT (9.30pm Iran time) on 702kHz mediumwave and 5395kHz shortwave

A visualised version of the programme will be broadcast on BBC Persian TV at 6pm GMT (9.30pm Iran time)

(Source: BBC Press Release)

BBC adds SW/MW frequencies in Persian to Iran

BBC NEWS @bbcpersian on X

Listen to the latest news related to the nationwide protests and unrest in Iran via radio on shortwave and medium wave :

Shortwave
7:00 to 7:30 am Tehran time (0330 - 0400 UTC) on frequency: 9410 KHz
8:00 to 8:30 am Tehran time (0430-0500 UTC) on frequency: 9465 KHz
10:00 to 11:00 pm Tehran time  (1830-1930 UTC)  on frequency: 7445 KHz

Medium wave 

Frequency 1395KHz
9:00 to 9:30 p.m. Tehran time (1730-1800 UTC)
11:00 to 11:30 p.m. Tehran time (1930-2000 UTC)

The BBC World Service stopped broadcasting its Persian (Farsi) radio service, which included shortwave transmissions, on March 26, 2023.

(Translated from Persian, UTC added)

Logo courtesy BBC Persian

Alokesh Gupta

Jonathan Munro to become BBC News Global Director

Jonathan Munro will take up the post of BBC News Global Director from September. In this new role, spanning international services, he will be Director of the BBC World Service, oversee BBC Monitoring and remain Deputy CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs.

Full story at :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/jonathan-munro-to-become-bbc-news-global-director

BBC News Ukraine marks 30th anniversary amid Russian invasion

BBC News Ukraine marks 30th anniversary amid Russian invasion

As Russia's war on Ukraine continues to hold the global centre stage, the BBC is marking 30 years of serving its Ukrainian-speaking audience.

On 1 June 1992, the BBC started short- and medium-wave radio broadcasts for then newly independent Ukraine.  Today, BBC News Ukraine – BBC News Україна – is serving its audience via the website bbc.ua, its YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and Viber.  The BBC News Ukraine Monday to Friday TV news programme is rebroadcast by Ukraine's national TV channels Espreso, Priamyj and 5 Kanal.

The Ukrainian service was the BBC's first non-Russian language service for the post-Soviet states.  First based in London, with correspondents in Ukraine, the service then moved to digital platforms, primarily delivered from Kyiv.  Its TV news programme is produced in and presented from London.

Senior Controller of BBC News International Services and Director of BBC World Service, Liliane Landor, says: "The excellent work of the BBC's Ukrainian service has gone from strength to strength over the decades.  Their coverage of the war really showcases their outstanding and often selfless professionalism, as demonstrated by each and everyone in the team.  Their journalism has been crucial, both for their direct audience and for the BBC's UK and global audiences."

As Russia launched its assault on Ukraine in the early hours of 24 February 2022, the BBC News Ukraine website bbc.ua started its live coverage, Russia's war against Ukraine. Published as the first explosions shook Kyiv, the live page, maintained by contributions from every member of the team, hasn't stopped its flow of comprehensive reporting and analysis.

Since 24 February, the BBC News Ukraine TV news bulletin has been extended from 15 to 30 minutes.  During the first two weeks of the war, to keep the viewers abreast of the fast-moving developments, the TV team produced a second daily 30-minute edition while also contributing to the BBC's English-language news coverage.  Weekly channel viewing on YouTube grew tenfold compared to the pre-war period.  Since 11 May, two more national TV channels, Priamyj and 5 Kanal, have been rebroadcasting the BBC News Ukraine TV programme.  

BBC News Ukraine Editor, Marta Shokalo, comments: "While each of us, be it in Kyiv or London, has been personally affected by the life-shattering developments, our work as journalists has continued. From the very first day we were fully aware – also on a personal level – how crucial trusted information was when life-and-death decisions had to be made.  Those of us in Ukraine learned that we can work anywhere, even in a bomb-shelter.  I'll always remember the relief after morning and evening rollcalls confirming every member of the team was accounted for and safe.  And the unwavering support of the BBC colleagues in London and around the world."    

On the first week of the Russia invasion, BBC News Ukraine reached a record 5.6 million people across the website bbc.ua and social platforms. Over the following two months, the service has maintained a weekly digital audience that is more than double its average for previous years.  Among the service's popular content, Albiy Shudrya's piece from the trenches in the Donetsk region about the contents of the Ukrainian army fighter's dry ration has clocked 1.4 million views on YouTube and 2.8 million views on the service's newly launched TikTok channel.

Alongside bringing the BBC's global news coverage to Ukrainian audiences, BBC News Ukraine continues to be a crucial part of bringing Ukraine to international audiences.  And even as the service's resources are dedicated to the all-consuming war coverage, Viktoriia Zhuhan's documentary about the Eurovision winners, Kalush Orchestra, provided the BBC's UK and international audiences with exclusive access to the group, following them from the war-torn outskirts of Kyiv to their triumph in Turin.

As it delivers the BBC's global news coverage to Ukrainian audiences, BBC News Ukraine continues to be a crucial part of bringing Ukraine to international audiences, with correspondents appearing across the BBC, helping shape the BBC storytelling with expert voices and analysis.

BBC News Ukraine is part of BBC World Service.

(BBC Press Release)

BBC World Service continues expansion with new services for Ethiopia and Eritrea

Three new language services for Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the diaspora are being launched today by the BBC World Service as part of its biggest expansion since the 1940s.

BBC News in Amharic, Afaan Oromo and Tigrinya will be available online and on Facebook. This will be followed later in the year with shortwave radio services in each language consisting of a 15-minute news and current affairs programme, followed by a 5-minute Learning English programme, from Monday to Friday.

The new BBC services will provide impartial news, current affairs and analysis of Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as regional and international news. Boosting the BBC's operation in the Horn of Africa will also provide the rest of the BBC's global audience with a better understanding of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Programmes will target a younger audience with social media playing a key role. In addition to news and current affairs, there will be extensive coverage of culture, entertainment, entrepreneurship, science and technology, health and sport - including the English Premier League.

These services will benefit from a growing network of journalists across the region and around the world.

Francesca Unsworth, BBC World Service Director, says: "The BBC World Service brings independent, impartial news to audiences around the world,  especially in places where media freedom is limited. I'm delighted we're extending our service to millions of people in Ethiopia, Eritrea and the diaspora worldwide." 

Will Ross, Editorial Lead for Africa, says: "We know that there is a great deal of hunger for audiences in Ethiopia and Eritrea to access a broad range of high quality content in Amharic, Afaan Oromo and Tigrinya. It has been a privilege to work with Ethiopian and Eritrean journalists who are so keen to learn new skills and to ensure the new language services are a success."

(Press Release)

BBC news programmes disrupted by second 24-hour strike

BBC news programmes were disrupted again today by a second 24-hour strike over proposed compulsory redundancies at the broadcaster.

BBC Radio 4's Today programme delayed and BBC 1's Breakfast show off-air as NUJ members stage second one-day walk out over compulsory redundancies

More at :

http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/bbc-news-programmes-disrupted-by-second-24-hour-strike/s2/a545411/