Documentaries & 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.
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BBC Witness History: Pride Month
Air window: June 1 - June 30, 2026
One hour
To mark Pride Month, we look back at some of the major moments that changed the lives of LGBT+ people and communities. Its history told through the people who were there. We hear a range of stories including the first openly gay person to run for public office in the United States, an activist involved in a trailblazing Pride march in Russia and a secret lesbian love diary from nineteenth-century England.
BBC World Questions: Morocco - Young Women and Change
Air window: June 13 - July 10, 2026
One hour
The North African country of Morocco stands at a pivotal moment in civil society. A new generation is pushing for change with the country standing out in the Muslim world as it holds open discussions on reform. World Questions puts young women in Morocco at the heart of a national debate about rights, faith, and family law. Jonny Dymond chairs a panel of feminist activists and conservatives as they debate issues such as child marriage, harassment and polygamy.
BBC In Our Time: The Code of Hammurabi
Air window: June 20 - July 17, 2026
One hour
Hammurabi, King of Babylon (c1810 - c1750 BC), had almost 300 laws carved into a black basalt pillar in what is now present-day Iraq. Since its rediscovery in 1901, in present-day Iran, it has affirmed Hammurabi's reputation as one of the world’s first great lawmakers. Visitors to the Louvre Museum in Paris can see the pillar on display with the rules written in cuneiform, covering how to handle murder, divorce, witchcraft, false accusations and the principle of ‘an eye for an eye’.
The Code of Hammurabi, as it became known, made such an impression in Mesopotamia that it was copied and shared for a millennium after his death and, since its reemergence, Hammurabi and his Code have been commemorated in the United State Capitol Building and the International Court of Justice.
BBC Soccer Special
Air window: June 27 - July 25, 2026
One hour
Two programs exploring soccer as the 23rd edition of the World Cup kicks off in June.
Agony and ecstasy - A history of penalty shootouts
What is it about penalty shootouts that create so much drama and entice even non-soccer fans to watch the big games? Former South African international captain, Amanda Dlamini, looks back at the history of the shootout and asks why it has such a psychological impact on players and fans. She also looks at whether there could ever be an alternative to spot-kicks to decide knockout games.
And
Good Bad Billionaire: Cristiano Ronaldo
We delve into the business of soccer as we look at the sport's first billionaire.
Cristiano Ronaldo grew up in poverty on the remote Portuguese island of Madeira but has leveraged social media fame to build his CR7 brand empire, becoming one of the most recognisable people on the planet. Business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng trace Ronaldo's rise from a homesick kid playing for the academy at Portugal's soccer club Sporting CP, to global superstardom at English team Manchester United and Spanish giants Real Madrid, where relentless training and record-breaking performances turned him into a sporting and commercial machine.
BBC Science Special
Air window: July 4 - July 31, 2026
One hour
We bring you a BBC Science Special with two programs that explore the natural world.
In the first half, we take a close look at the social lives of bacteria. From the crowd-lovers, to backstabbers and do-gooders, bacteria are fighting it out in the world and inside our bodies. Scientists explore how the organisms interact and how it could potentially help us to produce new medicines.
In the second half, we head to the Philippines and delve into the relationship between plants and animals. Plants use a vast range of techniques to attract pollinators, from their appearance to their taste and even their smell. The Southeast Asian country is one of only 18 in the world to be classed as ‘mega-biodiverse’ - a place where a huge number of plants have evolved in incredible ways to draw in animals and insects.
World Questions: Czech Republic
Air window: July 11 - August 7, 2026
One hour
We look at the big issues currently facing the central European country of Czech Republic, also known as Czechia. Presenter Jonny Dymond chairs a discussion with leading politicians there. They debate housing, the cost of living, regional disparities, and the threat currently posed by Russia.
In Our Time: Silicon
Air window: July 18 - August 14, 2026
One hour
We explore the fascinating element of silicon. It's at the heart of some of the most useful and beautiful objects on the planet. The silicon we have here on Earth was made billions of years ago, in dying stars. But some of it is still being created throughout the universe. We have long used silicon compounds for glass and, more recently, purified silicon has become the foundation of modern electronics. However, perhaps less appreciated is the role silicon compounds play in the biology of life on Earth and on the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Discussion and Documentary: Driving Across The Divide
Air window: July 25 - August 21, 2026
One hour
Cars driven by Israeli volunteers wait at check points and border crossings to give ill Palestinians lifts to hospital appointments. It is what the volunteers call “one hour of peace”. Since Hamas’ brutal attacks on October 7, it has become an increasingly rare space for Israelis and Palestinians to speak, and build trust and connection. Presenter Naomi Scherbel-Ball unpacks this meeting of two worlds amid the trauma of war.
Broadcast Rights
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