How to listen to BBC World Service in North and South America

North America - local stations

More than 480 public radio stations in the USA and a number of local radio stations in Canada broadcast BBC World Service programmes on terrestrial channels via FM, AM and increasingly on HD.

These may be individual programmes as a supplement to their own schedules, or blocks of programming broadcast over several hours.

Over 5.4 million weekly listeners tune into the BBC World Service programming in key US markets including Washington DC and New York.

To find stations in your area along with their BBC broadcast times, visit our schedules page.

Digital satellite radio

Sirius and XM satellite radio networks offer digital radio services in Canada and the USA (except Alaska and Hawaii).

XM radio carries the BBC World Service English mixed programme schedule 24 hours a day on channel 131 and Sirius radio carries a news-based schedule on channel 141.

These are subscription services which require a special receiver. For information visit the XM Radio and Sirius Radio websites.

Direct short-wave transmissions for North America have now ceased.

South America - local stations

BBC World Service in English can be heard on the following partner stations in Buenos Aires and Argentina on Europe 97.1 FM; in Bogotá, Colombia on HJUT 106.9 FM (English and Spanish); in Cuenca, Ecuador on Radio Antena 1 90.5 FM.

Direct short-wave transmissions for South America have now ceased, although some frequencies for West Africa can sometimes be received on the east coast of Brazil (try those marked AS on the frequency chart for West Africa).

Listening to BBC World Service in English in the rest of South America is now via the website .