The Latest Breaking News from World Service

The week in audio: Love, Janessa; The Comb; Arctic Monkeys: Believe the Hype and more

A global catfish scam and a Somalian woman’s adolescence make for two gripping World Service shows, while Sheffield’s finest still sound good on the dancefloor

The Guardian - UK · Feb 4, 2023

Major BBC radio stations see second consecutive year-on-year drop in listeners

However, Radio 5 Live experienced a strong uptick in the final quarter of 2022 amid the World Cup.

The Independent UK · Feb 2, 2023

BBC Arabic radio goes off air after 85 years

The Arabic language radio station is among 10 different language services that are ending, BBC says.

Al Jazeera · Jan 27, 2023

Midwinter magic: Robert Macfarlane on the enduring power of The Dark Is Rising

Susan Cooper’s 1973 novel, newly adapted for a BBC audio series, has enthralled generations of children and writers with its folkloric tale of an English boy caught in a battle between light and dark

The Guardian - UK · Dec 3, 2022

BBC at 100: why local radio is not being replaced by the web – and why the BBC should not scrap it

BBC radio faces substantial cuts at the very moment it celebrates its centenary. In September 2022 it was announced that the range and scope of World Service radio would be reduced.

The Conversation · Nov 16, 2022

BBC local radio stations face big cuts to content made for their area

Exclusive: cost-cutting plans would leave local stations in England with hardly any programmes made for their own listeners

The Guardian - UK · Oct 30, 2022

BBC at 100: a trusted international news source, but it's important to remember whose values it reflects

As the BBC turns 100 we should celebrate its extraordinary history as a public service broadcaster bringing news and other programming to audiences around the globe. In 2020-2021 the BBC announced that its World Service achieved its highest-ever audience, with an average of close to 500 million listeners globally each…

The Conversation · Oct 17, 2022

BBC at 100: the future for global news and challenges facing the World Service

The BBC celebrates its 100th birthday on October 18 2022. It comes as the institution faces increasing competition for audiences from global entertainment providers, anxieties about the sustainability of its funding and a highly competitive global news market.

The Conversation · Oct 14, 2022

The Observer view on the shortsighted cuts to the BBC World Service

Removing radio broadcasts in several languages will severely damage Britain’s ability to promote its priorities and values

The Guardian - UK · Oct 2, 2022

BBC accused of endangering World Service Vietnamese staff

Cost-cutting plan to move staff from London to Bangkok will put them at risk of abduction, reporters say

The Guardian - UK · Sep 30, 2022