Business
BBC Ends Longwave Broadcasting After Nearly a Century
July 13, 2026 at 06:16 PM
Coverage
BBC has permanently ended its longwave broadcasts, shutting down Radio 4 on the longwave frequency after nearly 100 years of service.
- BBC ceased longwave broadcasting on Saturday, with Radio 4's longwave signal ending at 1 a.m. GMT.
- The longwave service had been used since 1934, including for wartime transmissions, and Radio 4 moved to the frequency in 1978.
- BBC stated that longwave technology is "near its end" and that maintaining it would be too costly for a small listenership.
- BBC confirmed that no Radio 4 programs will be lost as a result of the shutdown.