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.

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2024 Paris Olympics

• Download a specially curated list of Olympic themed specials here.
• Contact your station rep to sign-up to receive the BBC Paris Update - a 3 minute module highlighting the Olympics stories and results from Paris.

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.

World Book Club: Kevin Kwan

July 6 - August 9, 2024
One hour

Kevin Kwan discusses his internationally best-selling novel, Crazy Rich Asians, with readers from around the world. Chinese-American academic Rachel Chu lives a modest and happy life with her boyfriend and fellow academic Nick. But when Nick invites her home to Singapore to meet the family, everything changes - starting with the first class flights. Saturated with wildly wealthy and deliciously dysfunctional super-elites, this ironic and funny rom-com makes a perfect escapist summer read.

The Evidence: Salt

July 20 - August 16, 2024
One hour

For eons, salt has been crucial to human health, culture, and diet. On this episode of The Evidence, we explore the strange science of salt taste – why it can be sweet, salty, or even a flavour enhancer. We look at how salt keeps our bodies running, and what happens if we have too little of it. And while too little salt may be bad, too much is also a problem. What does the science say about how much salt is optimal, and what can we do to make sure we’re eating the right amount? Claudia Hammond is joined by a panel of salty experts who will help find the answers to these questions and more.

The Forum: History of mountaineering

July 27 - August 23, 2024
One hour

Humans have always co-existed with mountains, as ancient remains found in glaciers prove. But our interest in them may have been more spiritual or religiously motivated, rather than as a place to go to improve our health and wellbeing. In some cultures today mountains are still considered to be the home of deities. So when did mountaineering become a popular pastime and how did the obsession with bagging summits start? Iszi Lawrence investigates our evolving relationship with the planet’s highest peaks.

World Book Club: Paul Auster - The New York Trilogy

August 3 - September 6, 2024
One hour

Another chance to hear Harriett Gilbert talking to bestselling American writer Paul Auster, who died earlier this year (on 30th April 2024). Paul Auster joined Harriett in 2012, with a literary festival audience and readers from around the world, to discuss his acclaimed work The New York Trilogy, three brilliant variations on the classic detective story. Hear what readers made of Paul and his novel and what happened when another Paul Auster stood up to introduce himself to the Paul Auster on the stage – a very New York Trilogy occurrence.

Discussion and Documentary: The Engineers - Intelligent Machines

August 10 - September 6, 2024
One hour

Intelligent machines are remaking our world and are the technological revolution of our era. The speed of their improvement is accelerating fast and every day there are more things they can do better than us. There are risks, but the opportunities for human society are enormous. Three engineers at the forefront of that revolution come to London to join Kevin Fong and a public audience at the Great Hall of Imperial College.

Under Ash - Uncovering Maui’s Past

August 17 - September 13, 2024
One hour

In August of 2023, the tourist epicentre of the Hawaiian island of Maui caught fire and the blaze engulfed 2,000 houses, 800 businesses and took the lives of at least 115 people. But the history of the town of Lahaina means it did not go from being the lush and prosperous capital of Hawai’i it once was to disappearing through flames overnight. Born and raised on the island of Maui, Pūlama Kaufman returns there and, with cultural leader Hokulani Holt, they ask questions about the hidden stories of mistreatment, illegal ownership and cultural stripping that may have contributed to seeing Lahaina hidden under ash.

The Forum: Diary keeping

August 31 - September 27, 2024
One hour

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people found that keeping a diary was one way of reducing stress during uncertain times. They also felt that it was important to chart their day to day experience of a historic moment in world history. Such diaries will be valuable sources in years to come for historians, providing future scholars with a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people. Iszi Lawrence explores what motivates people to keep diaries. She’s joined by a panel of experts including Dr Polly North, Founding Director of the Great Diary Project at Bishopsgate Institute in the UK.

Visit the BBC Media Partner Centre for detailed program descriptions, new program rundowns, content downloads, and more.