How to Listen to MBC Radio 1 Malawi: Live Online, FM Frequencies and More

MBC Radio 1 · live 24/7

MBC Radio 1

News, talk and music from Malawi’s national public radio, on air since 1964. Listen free on your phone, find your FM frequency, or catch up on MBC programmes you missed.

Listen live now Find your FM frequency

87.6 & 87.8 FM
About 25 MB an hour online
Chichewa & English

Quick answer: Open mbc.mw on your phone and tap the grey Listen to Radio One button under the video player. It is free and uses about 25 MB of data an hour. In Malawi you can also tune in on 87.6 FM or 87.8 FM, depending on your town.

Pick your way

Three ways to listen

Online, liveFree stream from the MBC website. Works anywhere in the world.About 25 MB an hour FM radio87.6 or 87.8 FM from towns across all three regions.No data needed Catch up laterMBC news and shows on Facebook, YouTube and the MBC Plus app.On demand

Way 1 · Online

Listen live on your phone

No app and no sign-up. All you need is a browser and some data or Wi-Fi.

Open the MBC website
In Chrome, Safari or any browser, go to mbc.mw. Or tap the Listen live now button at the top of this guide.
Scroll down past the top news story. You will see a video player for MBC TV, which is television, not Radio 1.
Tap Listen to Radio One
Just under the video player is a wide grey button that says Listen to Radio One. Tap it. The stream opens in a new tab.
The Radio One button sits under the MBC TV player.
Press play if it does not start
You get a plain black page with a small player. If the sound does not start on its own, tap the play triangle. It turns into a pause button and Radio 1 starts after a few seconds.
Playing: the button now shows pause.

Your browser may say “Not secure”. That is only because MBC’s stream link starts with http, not https. It is the official stream from mbc.mw, and you do not type anything into it, so it is fine to listen.

Way 2 · FM radio

MBC Radio 1 FM frequencies

Radio 1 now broadcasts on two frequencies, set by MACRA in 2024. Find your town below. Between two towns? Try both and keep the clearer one.

87.6 FM
87.8 FM

Northern Region

87.8FMChitipa
87.6FMKaronga
87.6FMLivingstonia
87.8FMRumphi
87.6FMMzuzu
87.8FMChikangawa

Central Region

87.8FMKasungu
87.6FMNkhotakota
87.8FMDwangwa
87.8FMNtchisi
87.8FMDowa
87.6FMSalima
87.6FMMchinji
87.6FMLilongwe
87.8FMDedza
87.6FMNtcheu

Southern Region

87.8FMMangochi
87.8FMZomba
87.8FMMwanza
87.6FMBlantyre
87.8FMMulanje
87.6FMNgabu
87.8FMNsanje

Seen 94.7, 95.5 or 97.9 for MBC? Those are Radio 1’s old frequencies, still listed on an MBC page from 2021. Malawi moved every station to new frequencies in January 2024, so use the list above instead.

No radio set? Use your phone’s FM app

Plug in wired earphones. The cable is the aerial, so Bluetooth earphones will not work.
Open the FM Radio app. Many Tecno, itel and Infinix phones have one built in.
Type 87.6 or 87.8, or tap Scan and pick MBC from the list.
Want the loudspeaker? Switch the sound to the speaker, but leave the earphones plugged in.

It uses no data and no airtime. iPhones do not have an FM app, so use Way 1.

Data

How much data does MBC Radio 1 use?

25 MBfor one hour of listening online

1 hour25 MB
1 hour a day for a week175 MB
1 hour a day for a month750 MB

MBC streams Radio 1 at 56 kbps (we measured it in October 2026). That is nearly twice the data of Times Radio or Zodiak, which use about 15 MB an hour. On a small bundle, FM is the cheaper way to listen. Live radio keeps using data until you press pause. More ways to stretch a bundle: our mobile data guide.

Way 3 · Catch up

Missed a show? Catch up later

You cannot rewind live radio, but MBC posts news, interviews and programmes online after they air.

MBC Digital on FacebookLive streams, news and clips MBC Digital 247 on YouTubeReports and programmes MBC Plus app (Android)MBC’s own app for live TV, radio and on-demand MBC Plus app (iPhone)The same app on the App Store

About the station

Who runs MBC Radio 1?

MBC Radio 1 belongs to the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, the country’s public broadcaster, set up by an Act of Parliament. It is Malawi’s oldest station: MBC started broadcasting on 16 January 1964 with one radio service, the one now called Radio 1.

MBC added Radio 2 in 1997 and merged with Television Malawi (now MBC TV) in 2010. Its head office is in Blantyre.

Owner: Malawi Broadcasting Corporation
Head office: Blantyre
On air since: 1964
FM: 87.6 & 87.8

Questions

MBC Radio 1 FAQ

Is it free to listen online?

Yes. There is no fee, account or app needed. You only pay for the data you use, about 25 MB an hour.

Can I listen from outside Malawi?

Yes. The stream on mbc.mw works anywhere in the world, and so does the MBC Plus app. Malawi is on Central Africa Time (GMT+2), so check the time at home before a show.

Why can I not find MBC on its old frequency anymore?

In January 2024 the regulator, MACRA, moved all national stations to new frequencies. Radio 1 is now on 87.6 or 87.8 FM, depending on where you are.

Is there an MBC app?

Yes. MBC Plus is MBC’s own app for Android and iPhone, with live TV, radio and on-demand shows. The website stream is the lightest option and needs no install. Avoid look-alike “MBC Malawi” apps from other developers.

What is the difference between Radio 1 and Radio 2?

Radio 1 is MBC’s main public service station, with national news, talk and programmes for the whole country. Radio 2 (2FM) is MBC’s commercial station, with more music and entertainment.

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