BBC DOCS AND SPECIALS
Each month, the BBC World Service offers new documentaries and specials selected specifically for U.S. audiences, with in-depth, relevant reporting. Typically one-hour, or two half-hours on a similar topic, they offer great content for any time of day, and satisfy audiences' needs for deeper narratives and more reflective listening.
Monthly offerings are available via ContentDepot, complete with promos and billboards. Click on individual titles to visit and subscribe to unique ContentDepot pages, where you can access programs as air windows open.
Subscribe to BBC Monthly to receive the latest updates.
The Forum: Green Revolutions
April 27 - May 24
One hour
The "green revolution" of the 20th century is credited with saving many people from hunger and malnutrition across Asia and Latin America. And yet, a half-century on, farmers’ incomes in Africa, Asia and Europe are falling and farmers in many countries are on the streets protesting. At the same time, the environmental impacts of intensive food production are becoming increasingly clear. Do we need a new "green revolution"?
World Book Club: Percival Everett - The Trees
May 4 - June 1
One hour
A powerful satire of revenge and social justice in America. Percival Everett will be discussing his Booker-shortlisted novel The Trees. This powerful and fiercely funny satire centring on revenge and racial justice in America shifts genres between police procedural, magical realism and horror with wit and consummate skill.
Labelling the World - The Power of DSM
May 18 - June 14
One hour
An examination at the influence of the DSM, the US diagnostic bible for mental disorders. We explore how attitudes to the DSM differ around the world and how the manual has a powerful influence on research, pharmaceutical companies, insurance firms and legal systems.
Shadow Wars: China and the West
May 25 - June 21
One hour
The rise of China is a defining challenge for the West. The BBC’s Security Correspondent, Gordon Corera, delves into the worlds of espionage, surveillance, technology, the theft of commercial secrets, free speech at universities and political interference to explore the points of friction.
Witness History: Pride Month
June 1 - June 30, 2024
One hour
An all-new special edition of Witness History from the BBC World Service. Remarkable stories of LGBT+ rights, told by the people who were there.
World Questions: Michigan, USA
June 8 - July 5, 2024
One hour
A debate with leading lawmakers and campaigners in Michigan, USA. The cost of living, abortion laws, parental control in schools and an upcoming Presidential election - all will be up for debate in the swing state of Michigan, USA. Anu Anand will present the program, which will be recorded in front of a local audience in the state capital of Lansing.
The Forum: Music on the move
June 22 - July 19, 2024
One hour
A brief history of portable music. Most of us remember the first portable music gadget we owned; a transistor radio, a boombox, a Walkman or perhaps an iPod. We might even recall the songs we played on it. But we might be less aware of how profoundly audio technology developments from the 1950s to 2000s changed the ways in which we consume music outside of the home or concert venue.
Iszi Lawrence discusses the history of portable music with Dr. Annie Jamieson, curator of sound technologies at Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum, American drummer and poet Damon Krukowski, Jahnavi Phalkey, science historian and Founding Director of Science Gallery Bengaluru, and World Service listeners. Presented by Iszi Lawrence.
Air Windows
The BBC World Service has blanket contractual arrangements in place, typically offering a seven-day rebroadcasting window for non-news programs. If you would like to request an air window extension, please contact your Station Relations Representative. Extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis and may be granted subject to rights.
Program image use
Images on the BBC Partners Site and other digital platforms are restricted, and use may be strictly prohibited. Neither BBC nor APM can cover station use of those owned by Getty Images or other providers.
If your station has a current license to use Getty Images, you may use the images covered by your own station license and credit the Getty source. If you would like to use BBC credited images to promote BBC World Service programs, please contact your Station Relations Representative.
Video Usage
- Videos from the BBC Partners Site may be posted to station-controlled streaming-only channels (website, YouTube, Facebook, etc) and cannot be made available for download.
- Videos must remain unedited and cannot be altered to include station branding or underwriting.
- Stations must credit the BBC World Service in any text caption.
- Stations will adhere to individual usage windows for each video (if applicable).
- If you have any questions regarding these terms (or about the BBC Partners Site content), please contact your Stations Relations Representative.
Visit the BBC Media Partner Centre for detailed program descriptions, new program rundowns, content downloads, and more.
Questions about carrying BBC World Service or your affiliation?