How to listen to BBC World Service in Europe and Western Russia
- Published
Local stations
A number of local radio stations in continental Europe broadcast the BBC World Service on FM or AM frequencies. This may be our 24-hour English service, or selected programming broadcast along with the stations' own output.
Find out if we broadcast on radio where you are from our schedules page.
Cable
In some countries, notably Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria - BBC World Service can be heard on cable FM frequencies in many cities. Contact your local cable network to see if BBC World Service is one of the channels on offer.
In France, BBC World Service is available via CanalSat and in Greece and Cyprus via Multichoice Hellas.
Satellite
Free-to-air from Eutelsat Hot Bird 8at 13° East, transponder 50, vertical polarisation, 11727 MHz, Service ID 13907. Hot Bird 8 services cover the whole of Europe, including the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores, Iceland, western Greenland and Malta.
Short-wave radio
Direct short-wave transmissions for Europe have now ceased. Frequencies for western Russia remain, however, and listeners in south-eastern Europe may be able to pick up frequencies for the Middle East when atmospheric conditions permit.
Medium and long wave radio
Medium wave frequency 648 kHz can normally be heard 24 hours a day in north-east France (south to Paris, west to Le Mans), Belgium, The Netherlands, north-west Germany (south to Bonn & east to Osnabrück) and south-east England. This service will cease on 27 March, 2011.
Long wave frequency 198 kHz normally carries BBC World Service between 0100 and 0530 GMT (and the BBC's domestic channel BBC Radio 4 at other times). Although intended to serve the UK, 198 kHz is usually audible in parts of countries bordering the North Sea and English Channel. The BBC WS schedule carried on 198 kHz differs slightly from the core European schedule.
In the Moscow and St Petersburg areas, local frequency 1260 kHz carries BBC World Service in English, as does 666 kHz in Ekaterinburg. These services will also cease on 27 March, 2011.