BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — WBHM, Birmingham’s NPR member station, says it will begin carrying BBC World Service programming overnight on its main 90.3 FM signal starting July 13, 2026, adding an international news block to the station’s schedule.
The station announced the change on its website, saying the BBC World Service and other BBC News programming “will be joining the 90.3 FM” as part of upcoming schedule adjustments. The announcement did not specify the exact overnight hours or whether the new lineup will run seven nights a week, and WBHM did not immediately provide additional details beyond the webpage posting.
Overnight hours on many public radio stations are commonly filled by BBC World Service, which distributes news, features and analysis to U.S. affiliates for late-night and early-morning slots. The BBC describes the service as providing “up to the minute news from around the world,” and it is already carried overnight by other U.S. stations.
WBHM’s programming changes come after the station lost a significant portion of its budget last year when Congress eliminated federal funding for public media. In a message to listeners, WBHM Executive Director Will Dahlberg said the rescission would trim 10% from the station’s annual operating budget and force “difficult choices” as it works to preserve local journalism and community service. Dahlberg did not address the overnight schedule change in that message, and the station has not publicly linked the BBC addition to specific budgetary or strategic factors.
In recent months, WBHM has adjusted its daytime and weekend lineups, adding new shows such as “On the Media,” “Click Here,” and “The New Yorker Radio Hour” to weekday afternoons and moving “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me?” to The Hub, its 106.1 FM/HD-2 service launched in late 2025. The station has said it regularly reviews its schedule to expand listening options, but it has not publicly explained the rationale for adding BBC programming overnight.
Listeners who want to confirm the new overnight hours or provide feedback can contact WBHM through its website or email the programming team, which the station lists for questions about schedule changes.