BBC World Service live
The World's Radio Station
BBC World Service at a glance
About BBC World Service
BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, bringing trusted news, analysis and documentaries to audiences in every corner of the globe. In English and dozens of other languages, it explains the stories shaping the world, from politics and conflict to science, business, culture and sport. On this page you can listen to the BBC World Service English live stream online for free.
Broadcasting to the world since 1932
The World Service began life in December 1932 as the BBC Empire Service, broadcasting on short wave to listeners across the British Empire. During the Second World War it became a lifeline for millions in occupied Europe and beyond, and it has since built a worldwide reputation for accurate, impartial journalism. Today it broadcasts in more than forty languages, including services such as BBC Somali, Hindi, Arabic, Persian and Swahili, reaching hundreds of millions of people every week from its base in London.
What you will hear
The English service offers round-the-clock news bulletins and programmes such as Newsday, Newshour and The Newsroom, along with business coverage, science and technology programmes, in-depth documentaries and interviews with people making the news. Its correspondents report from almost every country, giving listeners a truly global perspective. Weekends bring longer features, sport and cultural programmes, and many episodes are available as podcasts. In the UK, BBC World Service is available on DAB digital radio, and it is also carried overnight on BBC Radio 4.
How to listen to BBC World Service
You can hear BBC World Service on DAB digital radio in the UK, on FM, medium wave and short wave in many countries, on smart speakers and on BBC Sounds. The easiest way is to press play above and the World Service live stream starts straight away on your phone, tablet or computer, wherever you are. If you like it, you may also enjoy BBC Radio 4, Times Radio, LBC and BBC Somali, all on our site.
For reliable international news and a window on the whole world, BBC World Service has no equal.
- 100% free, no sign-up
- Live stream, 24 hours a day
- Listen from anywhere
- Works on phone and computer
How to listen to BBC World Service live
In 3 simple steps, with nothing to install.
- 01Press play
Click the "Listen live" button at the top of this page.
- 02Wait a moment
The live stream starts loading within a few seconds.
- 03Enjoy
BBC World Service plays right in your browser, with nothing to install.
News
News and talk stations keep you informed around the clock, with live debate, phone-ins, sport and coverage of the day’s biggest stories.
BBC World Service schedule
- BBC News00:00–00:06
- Outlook00:06–00:30
- BBC News Summary00:30–00:32
- Discovery00:32–01:00
- BBC News01:00–01:06
- World Business Report01:06–01:30
- BBC News Summary01:30–01:32
- Science in Action01:32–02:00
- BBC News02:00–02:06
- The Newsroom02:06–02:30
- BBC News Summary02:30–02:32
- Health Check02:32–03:00
- BBC News03:00–03:06
- HARDtalk03:06–03:30
- BBC News Summary03:30–03:32
- The Conversation03:32–04:00
- BBC News04:00–04:06
- The Forum04:06–04:50
- Sporting Witness04:50–05:00
- BBC News05:00–05:06
- The Newsroom05:06–05:30
- BBC News Summary05:30–05:32
- CrowdScience05:32–06:00
- BBC News06:00–06:06
- Newsday06:06–07:00
- BBC News07:00–07:06
- Newsday07:06–08:00
- BBC News08:00–08:06
- Newsday08:06–08:30
- BBC News Summary08:30–08:32
- Business Daily | Witness08:32–09:00
- BBC News09:00–09:06
- The Inquiry09:06–09:30
- BBC News Summary09:30–09:32
- Boston Calling09:32–10:00
- BBC News10:00–10:06
- World Update10:06–11:00
- BBC News11:00–11:06
- The Newsroom11:06–11:30
- BBC News Summary11:30–11:32
- The Conversation11:32–12:00
- BBC News12:00–12:06
- Outlook12:06–13:00On now
- BBC News13:00–13:06
- The Newsroom13:06–13:30
- BBC News Summary13:30–13:32
- The Why Factor | More or Less13:32–14:00
- BBC News14:00–14:06
- Newshour14:06–15:00
- BBC News15:00–15:06
- Newshour15:06–16:00
- BBC News16:00–16:06
- BBC OS16:06–17:00
- BBC News17:00–17:06
- BBC OS17:06–18:00
- BBC News18:00–18:06
- Outlook18:06–19:00
- BBC News19:00–19:06
- The Newsroom19:06–19:30
- BBC News Summary19:30–19:32
- Sport Today19:32–20:00
- BBC News20:00–20:06
- HARDtalk20:06–20:30
- BBC News Summary20:30–20:32
- Discovery20:32–21:00
- BBC News21:00–21:06
- Newshour21:06–22:00
- BBC News | The Newsroom | Sports News22:00–22:30
- BBC News Summary22:30–22:32
- World Business Report22:32–23:00
- BBC News23:00–23:06
- The Why Factor23:06–23:30
- BBC News Summary23:30–23:32
- The Conversation23:32–00:00
Frequently asked questions
Press play at the top of this page to listen to BBC World Service live for free. In the UK it is also on DAB digital radio, BBC Sounds and overnight on Radio 4.
It began in December 1932 as the BBC Empire Service.
BBC World Service broadcasts in English and more than forty other languages.
Yes. In the UK, BBC Radio 4 carries BBC World Service overnight after it closes down for the night.
Yes. You can listen to BBC World Service live for free here on UK Radio Stations, 24 hours a day.
Yes. BBC World Service plays in your phone’s browser on Android or iPhone — there is no app to install. Just open this page and press play.
Yes. Connect your phone to the car stereo by Bluetooth or cable, open BBC World Service here on UK Radio Stations and enjoy the live stream on the road.
If the stream does not load, wait a few seconds and press play again — some streams take a moment to connect. You can also refresh the page or try another News station meanwhile. UK Radio Stations checks every stream automatically.