{"id":65489,"date":"2026-03-03T07:41:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T11:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=65489"},"modified":"2026-03-03T07:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T11:41:14","slug":"bbc-world-services-emergency-radio-programme-for-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/bbc-world-services-emergency-radio-programme-for-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC World Service’s Emergency Radio Programme for Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor Richard Cuff, who writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also spotted this at the BBC Press information website — it’s been in
\neffect, apparently, since early in February:<\/p>\n

BBC launches emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran (BBC Media Centre<\/a>)<\/h1>\n

4 February 2026<\/p>\n

The programme will air daily for 30 minutes across medium and shortwave frequencies<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Since 8 January, the Iranian people have been subject to an internet blackout. Prior to this, BBC News Persian\u2019s digital services saw their biggest reach in a year with their platforms reaching more than 33 million people.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Fiona Crack, Interim Global Director, BBC News, says: \u201cA 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tarik Kafala, Interim Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa, says: \u201cBBC 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

In February 2022, the BBC News Ukraine service extended TV bulletins following the invasion of the country.<\/p>\n

Where to find the programme:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The live programme will be available at 4.30pm GMT (8pm Iran Time) on 702kHz medium wave and 9465kHz short wave<\/li>\n
  • The programme will be repeated at 6pm GMT (9.30pm Iran time) on 702kHz mediumwave and 5935kHz shortwave<\/li>\n
  • A visualised version of the programme will be broadcast on BBC Persian TV at 6pm GMT (9.30pm Iran time)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[960,3,43],"tags":[327,1162,1012],"class_list":["post-65489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bbc-world-service","tag-iran","tag-richard-cuff"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-h2h","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14002,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/bbc-world-service-as-a-lifeline-and-making-radio-as-a-symbol-of-resistance\/","url_meta":{"origin":65489,"position":0},"title":"BBC World Service as a lifeline and making radio as “a symbol of resistance”","author":"Thomas","date":"July 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor, \u00a0Richard Cuff, for sharing this article from the NewStatesman: In the week when Apple\u2019s Beats 1 radio station was launched \u2013 \u201cWorldwide. Always on . . . It broadcasts 24\/7 to over 100 countries from our studios in Los Angeles, New York and London\u201d \u2013\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Burundi","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Burundi.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Burundi.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Burundi.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7477,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/the-bbc-launches-a-new-interactive-news-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":65489,"position":1},"title":"The BBC launches a new, interactive news program","author":"Thomas","date":"October 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"See full press release below--many thanks to Richard Cuff for the tip: (Source: BBC Media Center) The BBC has today announced development of a brand new news programme, Outside Source, hosted by Ros Atkins, to be broadcast across its international platforms - BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ros Atkins, host of Outside Source (Photo: BBC Media)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/RosAtkins-OutsideSource-300x168.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8821,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/02\/bbc-world-service-to-further-reduce-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":65489,"position":2},"title":"BBC World Service to further reduce shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"February 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I appears the BBC World Service is cutting shortwave broadcasts even further in an attempt to meet tighter budget numbers. Not many details, at the moment, in terms of what language programs will suffer the most. Many thanks to Richard Cuff for the tip: (Source: The Guardian) The BBC World\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"(Image source: BBC)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/BBC-Headquarters-300x168.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13077,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/bbc-shortwave-frequencies-and-schedule-for-nepal-earthquake-relief\/","url_meta":{"origin":65489,"position":3},"title":"BBC shortwave frequencies and schedule for Nepal earthquake relief","author":"Thomas","date":"April 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: BBC Media Centre press release) BBC World Service broadcasts Lifeline programmes in Nepal In response to the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal, the BBC World Service is now broadcasting additional programming on shortwave in both Nepalese and in English. BBC Media Action - the BBC's international development charity\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nepal-Earthquake-Map","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Nepal-Earthquake-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Nepal-Earthquake-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Nepal-Earthquake-Map.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10891,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/bbc-world-service-launches-ebola-radio-network\/","url_meta":{"origin":65489,"position":4},"title":"BBC World Service launches Ebola radio network","author":"Thomas","date":"September 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: BBC Media Centre) The BBC World Service is launching special Ebola broadcasts for West Africa, starting today (Monday 22 September). Each evening shortwave transmissions to the region will be increased. There will be a round-up of news, concentrating on efforts to combat the virus - particularly to the three\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ebola Cases Map (Source: World Health Organization) ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2884,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/03\/bbc-world-service-a-lifetime-of-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":65489,"position":5},"title":"BBC World Service: A Lifetime of Shortwave Radio","author":"Thomas","date":"March 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"An Antarctic\u00a0glaciologist, Burmese monk, communications professor and a Somalian tell their shortwave radio stories in this article posted by the BBC World Service in honor of 80 years of shortwave radio broadcasts. In my opinion, these stories are very much representative of the power of shortwave radio and why, for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/BBCWSRadioListening-300x168.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65489"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65490,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65489\/revisions\/65490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}