BBC World Service: schedule operation and the new Bush House control room

The BBC World Service based in Bush House, London, now broadcasts 788 hours of radio programmes each week in 38 different languages. The operation spans 24 hours a day so that transmissions reach their overseas audiences at prime times especially the early morning and evening in the countries to which the broadcasts are aimed. A wide variety of programmes are produced, although, news and current affairs programmes take a predominant place. The paper describes how the switching operation has developed over the years, culminating in a new Bush House control room which is currently undergoing operational acceptance.<>