BBC tests SW frequencies for broadcast to isolated researchers in Antarctica

Once a year the BBC has a very special broadcast to Antarctica. It happens on the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, which is 21 June. The broadcast is aimed at people who are stationed at three British Antarctic Survey research stations in Antarctica.

A week before the special transmission, the BBC always tests some frequencies. This test was last night, 14 June 2024. In this video you can hear some of the test frequencies that I received at my location in Johannesburg, South Africa. on the Qodosen DX-286.

The Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast will happen on 21 June 2024, between 21:30 UTC and 22:00. Some or all of the frequencies shown in my video will be used. This test is a relay of BBC World Service. The Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast is a special programme that contains messages from family members to researchers who are completely isolated because of the severe Antarctic winter. The programme also contains music requests.

The broadcast targets researchers and staff at three British Antarctic Survey research stations, namely Rothera, Bird Island and South Georgia, but people stationed at many other bases around Antarctica (including a South African base) often also tune in. It is a highlight for these people in the middle of the dark Antarctic winter. There is no sunlight for months and Antarctica is at its coldest.

Credits for pictures used in the video:

King Edward Point: By Liam Quinn - Flickr: King Edward Point on South Georgia, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

Rothera base in summer: By Apacheeng lead at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

SANAE IV: By Dr Ross Hofmeyr, Wildmedic (talk) 14:41, 17 August 2008 (UTC) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAN..., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

SAS Agulhas II: By nairnbairn - 12 1412m - SA Agulhas II, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

00:00 BBC Antarctica midwinter broadcast
01:30 National bases in Antarctica
02:23 Test frequencies
03:39 11685 kHz from Woofferton
02:56 7255 kHz from the UAE
03:05 9585 kHz from Woofferton
03:15 9870 kHz from Ascension Island
03:26 Back to 11685
03:30 Clearest signal, 9585 kHz