Domestic and international re-use of VOA materials are subject to separate guidelines. VOA programs are intended for an international audience, however, VOA may, upon request, make available its programs and materials to private individuals, organizations, and media entities in the United States. In addition, the VOA may enter partnerships to place its programming on satellite, digital, or other platforms that reach its target foreign audience, even if this distribution incidentally reaches the U.S. This page provides information on both domestic and overseas use. You can also click on the appropriate link to make a request for one-time use, or to have ongoing access to a program for broadcast use.
Usage Requests
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of VOA programming is available for use in the United States?
All programs broadcast on or after July 2, 2013 are available upon request, unless we're restricted by licensing agreements with third-party copyright holders. Such programs (e.g., full length television and radio episodes) may already be available on voanews.com for download.
UNDER U.S. LAW, VOA IS NOT PERMITTED TO DISTRIBUTE IN THE UNITED STATES CONTENT PRODUCED PRIOR TO JULY 2, 2013.
However, copies of this content may be available through the National Archives and Records Administration (www.archives.gov). Please contact NARA with any requests for VOA content produced prior to July 2, 2013, or with questions about specific VOA content that is available from NARA.
Can I get access to VOA programming for personal use?
VOA makes program materials available within the U.S. through the same news and information websites that VOA uses to communicate with its global audiences. To access currently available program materials, please visit www.voanews.com and click on the Usage Request tab at the bottom of the page.
Are all VOA programs available on VOANews.com?
Please note that www.voanews.com links to VOA’s many individual language service websites. Click the ‘Sites by Language’ tab at the top of the page to see the full range of languages available. Many programs and news stories are only available on the site for the language service which broadcast those materials abroad.
Does VOA make its programming available to the media or other organization on an ongoing subscription basis?
Yes. VOA and the IBB Office of Strategy and Development evaluates ongoing subscription requests based on the broadcasting principles and standards found in The U.S. International Broadcasting Act. For more information on the criteria used to determine whether VOA fulfills an ongoing subscription request, see BBG’s policy linked here from the Broadcasting Administrative Manual.
Can the media or other organizations get ongoing access to VOA programming for professional use?
Media entities, or other organizations, may request ongoing subscriptions by filling out an application form found on the Direct System, the BBG’s professional distribution system. Expect a representative from BBG to contact you about your application.
Will I be charged for accessing VOA programming through the Direct System?
BBG may collect a fee for reimbursement of the reasonable costs incurred to fulfill a request for program materials, including ongoing subscriptions for the media and one-time requests for copies of BBG’s program materials. Any fees will be outlined in an agreement between the media entity, or other organization, and BBG.
Are there special terms of use for accessing VOA programming on its websites?
Yes. By accessing Agency websites, Requestors agree to the respective Terms of Use available at:
http://www.voanews.com/p/5338.html, or http://direct.voanews.com.
I can’t find an older episode on VOA websites. What happened to it?
From time to time, VOA removes content from its website. For instance, VOA removes program materials from its websites when required by licensing agreements with third-party copyright holders. Once materials have been removed from one of VOA's websites, they are no longer available from VOA.
When VOA takes materials off of its websites, materials designated as permanent under the BBG’s records schedule will be transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Programs designated as temporary under the BBG’s records schedule will be permanently deleted once they are removed from VOA websites, and will no longer be available. BBG’s records schedule is published in the Federal Register and is available at NARA's website, through this link. See Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart F for information on how to request BBG program materials that have been transferred to NARA.
Where can I find details about VOA programs, times, satellites?
VOANews content is available in more than 40 languages.
Radio & TV Program Listings found here.
TV Satellite Schedule found here.
Can I get free VOA news summary via e-mail?
VOA offers a free newsletter via email. Subscribe to our daily newsletter Today@VOA here.
Can I read VOANews on my mobile phone?
A: To find VOA News content in a format optimized for mobile phones and PDA's, use your device's Internet browser and navigate to:
http://www.voanews.com/ Then select your desired language.
There is also the VOA mobile app, which is available for Android and iPhones/iPads.
Domestic Use Regulations
Under U.S. law, VOA is authorized to make program materials available for domestic use, upon request, when doing so is consistent with all statutory authorities, prohibitions, principles, and standards. Requests may be for single use or for regular use of programs. VOA reserves the right to deny requests under circumstances described in Section 502.7 of this regulation.
To review regulation for recurring domestic use, click here.
Become an Affiliate
Voice of America's rapidly growing, multi-media affiliate network around the world offers audiences a wide range of program and content options that are placed by the marketing team of the International Broadcasting Bureau. With its headquarters in Washington and offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, the marketing team targets high-impact affiliations with television networks, prominent internet portals and local AM and FM stations.
Click here for more.
Terms of Use/Privacy Notice
Voice of America websites and programs may contain copyright protected material, which cannot be copied, redistributed, sold, or published without the express permission of the copyright owner. Click here for our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Internal Policy
Domestic distribution of VOA materials, and partnership agreements with domestic organizations, are subject to policy regulations established by the International Broadcasting Bureau in accordance with the U.S. Informational and Educational Exchange Act (Smith-Mundt) as amended in 2013 and codified into law.
Read our Internal Policy Document