BFBS Update April 2026

I’m delighted to open this update with the news that we have secured a new 10-year-contract with the MOD to transform the way that our UK Armed Forces and their families access media and entertainment, wherever they are serving.

Media in all its forms is being disrupted, and we are living in complex geopolitical times, so it’s more important than ever for BFBS to offer you trusted, relevant, and secure media.

This newsletter also brings you top picks from recent Forces News stories, alongside updates on our BFBS Esports Pro League, now in Season Two. We’ve got the latest on how our Cinemas and Live Events teams have been bringing military communities together with exclusive entertainment, and we look ahead to what’s coming up on BFBS TV and Radio including the Army v Navy clash this weekend, and of course FIFA World Cup coverage starting in June.

Wherever you are serving, I wish you and your families all the very best... and here's to a brand-new decade of bringing you the very best media experiences from BFBS!

Ben

BFBS Proleague with 3 armed forces esports players

BFBS Esports…Bigger and Better for 2026

Building on the success of our inaugural BFBS Esports Pro League last year, we launched Season Two at the beginning of April.

It’s more competitive and more accessible than ever as we are now featuring Rocket League, F1 25, and League of Legends in our tournaments. And for 2026, we’ve also created the BFBS Open Series, where new and casual players can develop their skills.

Serving personnel and veterans (and their direct family, including spouses, parents, children and siblings), reservists, the bereaved, cadets, RFA personnel, and MOD civil servants are all eligible to play in the Pro League and the Open Series.

If you’d like to meet our BFBS Esports team and try your hand at gaming, we’ll also be attending a number of in-person events with our esports rig. Come and see us at: Brize Norton Families Day on 29 May, RAF Cosford Air Show on 14 June, Aldershot & Farnborough Armed Forces Day on 27 & 28 June, and HMS Collingwood Field Gun Run and Open Day on 4 July.

For more info and to sign up to play see bfbsesports.com

A Decade of Entertainment on MiPlayer

This year we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of our BFBS MiPlayer platform – the powerful service we created to keep UK Armed Forces entertained even when they’re serving in the most remote and hostile environments.

First launched in 2016 as a modest onboard system delivering ten TV channels and six radio stations to HMS Iron Duke, it has grown into one of BFBS’ most significant and far-reaching innovations, operating across the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleets, operational bases, remote islands and soon, even on submarines.

Reflecting on the milestone, Nick Beer, Director of BFBS Development and Strategy, said: “MiPlayer started as a bold idea to solve a seemingly impossible problem: how do you bring home to people serving in the most remote and demanding environments on Earth?  And how do you do that in the way users demand: on their personal devices and with catchup when there is little or no internet available?"

Find out more about the BFBS MiPlayer here.

Duotoned background of the Union Jack flag, text 'Best of British, Bank Holiday on BFBS Radio'.

Live Coverage, Commemorations, and Bank Holiday Bangers on BFBS Radio

Get set for a brilliant mix of sport, music, and events on BFBS Radio, including live commentary of Army v Navy on 2 May, as part of our on-air coverage of the Inter Services Rugby Championship, plus May Bank Holiday celebrations of the Best of British music, and Music Legends.

Looking ahead we’ll be marking the anniversary of the end of Op Telic, as part of nationwide commemorations, and covering the Armed Forces Days in Northern Ireland, and the national celebration in Aldershot. Our teams will also be out on the ground at military and community events, including live reporting from the Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT. And of course, we'll be following England and Scotland closely as they play in the FIFA World Cup!

Check out all the ways to listen here.

BFBS TV... Bringing the Best of Live Sport and Series to Personnel and Families Overseas

We've got a stunning line-up of sport on BFBS TV, including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League finals (TNT Sports), FA Cup Final (ITV/BBC), FIFA World Cup 2026 (BBC/ITV), and the end of Scottish and English Premiership seasons (Sky Sports, TNT Sports, PLP).

And thanks to the unique and special BFBS relationship with The Premier League, overseas users have been able to watch every fixture from the 2025/26 season live, as part of morale and welfare, which is significantly more football than is available in the UK marketplace. 

There's also plenty of choice with our offering of movies and series. We'll mark Fixmas: Christmas on 25 June (as celebrated in the Falkland Islands) with seasonal entertainment, and we've got the anticipated third season of House of The Dragon, premiering on the same day as the UK, plus series box sets of new series Amadeus, Prisoner, and Saturday Night Live.

BFBS Creative's Content for Stress Awareness Month

Stress is information, not weakness. Through a new article, Vulnerability is an Operational Strength, we explored how pressure can shape decision-making, team culture, and performance when the stakes are high, and how leaders can recognise and respond to it.

We also revisited episodes of our podcast, The Culture Colonel, with Zena Everett on trust and everyday leadership, Adrian Bird on power and psychological safety, and Captain Tim Grimley on allyship and inclusive cultures. 

For more insight, practical ideas, and real-world perspectives on the challenges shaping leadership, communications, and culture today, follow BFBS Creative on LinkedIn, explore our website, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Comms Dispatch.

Two forces children with Super Mario merchandise

Hoppers, Super Mario, and GOAT ...Magical Movies for Military Families

BFBS Cinemas are proud to support community events throughout the year, with family films consistently topping our box office. We’ve welcomed some of our biggest audiences for Hoppers, GOAT, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, with some guests getting into the spirit by dressing up as Mario, while AirPlay hosted special screenings.

We also ran some exciting giveaways of exclusive movie merchandise, with the children of Scott McEwan from HMNB Clyde delighted to win.

Film screenings provide valuable opportunities for military families to feel connected and welcomed—and that’s exactly what the incredible volunteers at RAF Brize Norton are achieving through the BFBS Cinelink service. Their social media post read: "A fabulous 40 of you came along yesterday to see GOAT, and honestly, you filled the hall with such brilliant energy."

View of a stage and members of the audience

Overseas and at Home – BFBS Live Events have Entertainment Covered!

Against a backdrop of geopolitical unrest in the Middle East, but before the current war, the team delivered a very welcome comedy and music show for troops based in the region.

In February their focus moved to those deployed on Op Cabrit in Estonia with a live show featuring comedy, music from Hive and headline act Afishal. Commanding Officer of the Battlegroup in country said: "The opportunity to suspend reality for one night in a tank hangar was much needed by all ranks. Once again, the line up that was provided was excellent and provided appeal across the age ranges.”

In the same month, those serving in Poland also enjoyed a show featuring comedians Alistair Barrie and Pat Smith and two musicians Ste Johnson and Cat Cook. It was former soldier Pat Smith’s first tour with BFBS Live Events...he's very well known on social media and the audience were very excited to meet him afterwards.

And for the fifth year running, the team also produced the glittering Celebrating Forces Families Awards at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London, where BFBS was Event Partner. The very special (and always emotional) night honours the inspirational achievements and successes of the families that support our military.

Find out more about BFBS Live Events here.

Proud to be Reducing Our Gender Pay Gap

BFBS is committed to being a truly inclusive organisation, where everyone feels valued for the contribution they make. The instillation of gender equality in the workplace is a fundamental part of this commitment. In 2025, our median gap (5.9%) is materially below the UK national median for all employees (12.8%), placing BFBS well ahead of the external benchmark.

During the year to 31 March 2025, we continued with a series of initiatives, which will over time positively impact our gender pay gap, including sponsoring ‘Rise Women in Broadcast’ (allowing us to collaborate with others across the industry to devise strategies to improve the representation of women in these roles) as well as flexible working arrangements and annual review of pay gaps at pay award, and continuous monitoring when recruiting.

Read our full report here.

Tasty Treats at PJHQ

And finally… there were grins all round at a few weeks ago when our BFBS Ice Cream Ops served up cones at PJHQ.

Sqn Ldr Lauren Hall, SO2 J1 Policy & Plans said: “It was so great to see such long queues throughout the afternoon and it went down really well…there were lots of smiles from contractors, guards, shift workers, very tired workers, civil servants, visiting forces, RAF, Navy, Army, junior ranks, senior ranks, the whole force and one or two very lucky children who walked out of nursery just at the right time!

“Those few minutes of getting some sunshine, laughing and talking to people you either have never met or haven’t seen in a while were really valuable.”

For more info about how to book Op Ice Cream see here.