Having trouble playing our audio?

BBC World Service strives to make all of its programmes available on the internet as both live and the 7 day listen-again services.

We continuously review our distribution techniques - the codecs and bitrates used, and the streaming methods employed. Where possible we deliver our services currently using Windows Media Audio and Flash. From the end of March 2011, click you will no longer be able to watch our videos or listen to our audio in Real Media format.

Embedded Media Player

You can listen live and listen again in BBC iPlayer. To find out more and get help with BBC iPlayer, visit the click BBC iPlayer Help site.

Some of our audio and video is available in the BBC's Embedded Media Player. You can usually recognise embedded video because there is a big Play icon on the centre of an image in a story or index . The Embedded Media Player uses Flash software and plays directly in a text story or index. click Click here to download Flash.

System requirements for embedded video and audio player meet current BBC web standards.

You can find more information on our BBC web standards and guidelines by clicking click here.

Media Selector

Alternatively you can access all of our available audio in Windows Media Player. If you have not selected a preference before you will see this screen:

This is called the BBC Media Selector. It tells you how we think your computer is set-up. If you are happy, click ok. If you are unsure, simply click on the test my connection speed button and Media Selector will double-check for you. Please note that from the end of March 2011, click you will no longer be able to watch our videos or listen to our audio in Real Media format.

You only have to do this once - and then whenever you play BBC World Service audio we will provide you with the best possible quality for your computer.

Let us know what you think

If you would like to comment or have any suggestions about this BBC service then you can contact us by completing the form below.