Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who writes:
Also spotted this at the BBC Press information website — it’s been in
effect, apparently, since early in February:
BBC launches emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran (BBC Media Centre)
4 February 2026
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 December 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 2023 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 5935kHz shortwave
- A visualised version of the programme will be broadcast on BBC Persian TV at 6pm GMT (9.30pm Iran time)
THIS is why shortwave broadcasting must not die. Internet depends on infrastructure that can be denied to its residents by any government. And shortwave broadcasting is useless without the easy availability of shortwave receivers, which in turn depends on a certain threshold of reliable broadcast content. The US has nearly obliterated its own broadcast capacity, and it’s good to know that BBC continues doing its part to maintain this essential service.
I totally agree with you on the fact that shortwave radio is essential, but in this case, I think this 30-mins “emergency” broadcast is not much more than a PR stunt, unfortunately. IIRC, the regular Persian service has been dropped in 2023, not long ago. The management must have known perfectly well, even at that time, that the Iranian rulers are not particularly fond of free speech and their reporting, yet they decided to scrap SW nonetheless. And it was not only the case of Iran and the BBC – we know that many Western broadcasters removed SW altogether, including the services aimed at most vulnerable, unstable and censored regions. With the removal of BBC Persian on shortwave, the target audiences got the message from the BBC management: radio is not a thing anymore and the service will not be provided. Go find something else to listen to.
Now, why I call this a PR stunt? The press release says a lot about emergencies and how great is the BBC’s response to these kind of situations supposed to be. But in fact, there is no emergency service I can think of that only appears during the time of emergency, staying useless in other times. Think fire hydrants, they must be constantly maintained so that they can be used when the need arises. Radio is no different – for it to be effective as a method of disseminating information and a fallback in crises, it needs to be established (in the general audience view) as a thing that exists and can be relied upon, and that requires regular broadcast. Not necessarily blasting big signals all-day round on multiple frequencies, but just a regular service (think an hour of two daily) with stable transmitting times and somewhat good coverage.
As mentioned before, regular Persian service from the BBC has already been cancelled, so right now this ’emergency’ service is too little and too late. I don’t think the Iranians will find the time or will to flock through the bands just to find this 30-mins broadcast. The frequencies and times were announced on the Internet, which remains blocked in the country. I also think that this special broadcast will disappear as soon as the interest in the region wanes (same as they did with the previously launched service supposedly targeted at Ukraine, which was just a relay of English World Service). But at least the executives can write a nice PR note boasting about fixing the issues they created earlier.