Broadcasting news and information in Arabic, the service service will provide a trusted source of independent news…
Following the rapid developments in Syria, the BBC World Service will offer enhanced services to audiences across the country.
Jonathan Munro, Global Director, BBC News:
“As we have all been watching, listening to and reading about the dramatic changes that have swept through Syria, the Syrian population have been left without essential access to reliable and independent news about the events taking place. The BBC World Service’s enhanced services will bring them the latest breaking news and analysis from Syria, the Middle East and the rest of the world.”
Broadcasting on medium wave and FM, an enhanced audio service will offer the people of Syria and neighbouring countries a reliable source of independent news, especially crucial when local media and digital services face disruptions.
The service will broadcast news and information in Arabic, featuring BBC News Arabic bulletins throughout the day, including ‘World at One‘ and ‘Newsnight‘ from BBC News Arabic. Additionally, it will include content from the Gaza Lifeline service and insights from correspondents like Feras Kilani, alongside the BBC’s extensive network of reporters in the region. For Syrians who speak English, the network will also provide a selection curated from World Service English.
The Syrian radio network will go out on medium wave, 720kHz and 639kHz, and on 93.0 FM.
“The BBC World Service has a history of responding to emergency situations globally. Most recently, in Nov 2024, we launched an emergency radio service for Gaza – which remains on air – and in May 2023 during the conflict in Sudan, BBC News Arabic began an emergency radio service. In February 2022, the BBC News Ukraine service extended TV bulletins following the invasion of the country.” – BBC News
BBC News has responded to the events in Syria with special programming across the week.
World Service English amended their schedules on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December in response to the fast-developing story, there have been additional episodes of the BBC Global News podcast and correspondents including Barbara Plett-Usher, Lyse Doucet and BBC News Arabic’s Feras Kilani, have brought audiences breaking news across Beeb outlets.
