Each year, we look forward to one of the most unique traditions in the world of shortwave radio: the BBC’s Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast—a special program beamed to a handful of overwintering scientists and support staff at British Antarctic research stations.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the broadcast, and it promises to be a particularly memorable one. Hosted by Cerys Matthews, the program features personal messages from friends and family back home, as well as music requests from those wintering in Antarctica.
Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Source: British Antarctic Survey)
SWLing Post readers around the globe regularly tune in and make off-air recordings of this remarkable broadcast, sharing reception reports and recordings from every corner of the planet. It’s one of our favorite annual traditions!
SWling Post contributor Richard Langley, noted that a test broadcast last Saturday (20:30 UTC) used the following frequencies:
- 5960 kHz – UAE
- 9575 kHz – Ascension
- 13810 kHz – Woofferton
UPDATE (19 June 2025) – Richard adds the following:
According to the British DX Club:
“Saturday 21 June 2025: at 1832-1900 and 2130-2200 UTC.
BBC World Service annual mid-winter broadcast to Antarctica for British Antarctic Survey staff working at UK bases on Antarctica’s midwinter’s day.
Shortwave schedule 2130-2200 UTC on 5960 UAE, 9575 Ascension Island, 12065 Woofferton (UK), 13810 Woofferton (UK).
A slightly shorter version will be carried the same day from 1832-1900 UTC on BBC World Service English streams online as well as via DAB in the UK.”
Frequencies will likely be posted on this page for the official broadcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct7zyv
As always, we’ll post an article here on Saturday as the broadcast begins, where you can share your own reception reports, audio clips, and impressions in the comments section—just as we’ve done in years past.
Stay tuned—once the official frequencies are confirmed, we’ll post them here as well.
Happy DXing, and let’s celebrate midwinter together—wherever you are in the world!
