The BBC have today confirmed the date its Long Wave 198 kHz service will close is Saturday June 27th 2026. It is broadcast from sites at Droitwich, Burghead and Westerglen. BBC Radio 4 news said the time of closure will be at 00:00 GMT/UTC (01:00 BST) on Saturday June 27th.
BBC Reception Dept announcement:
"Radio 4’s Long Wave (LW) service will close on the 27th June 2026. We will broadcast daily on-air reminders to help everyone switch to other ways of listening."
"Why the LW service is closing
The company that owns and operates the LW broadcast equipment has confirmed that the system is reaching the end of its life. As LW is an older broadcasting technology, recent years have seen a decline in listener numbers, with the majority now opting for FM and DAB digital platforms. Given these factors, investing in upgrading the LW equipment is not considered a cost-effective solution for licence fee-funded services. You can verify the services available at your location by visiting our transmitter checker."
Full updated BBC Reception post on 11 May: https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/work-warning/news/radio4lw
See less
BBC Reception Dept announcement:
"Radio 4’s Long Wave (LW) service will close on the 27th June 2026. We will broadcast daily on-air reminders to help everyone switch to other ways of listening."
"Why the LW service is closing
The company that owns and operates the LW broadcast equipment has confirmed that the system is reaching the end of its life. As LW is an older broadcasting technology, recent years have seen a decline in listener numbers, with the majority now opting for FM and DAB digital platforms. Given these factors, investing in upgrading the LW equipment is not considered a cost-effective solution for licence fee-funded services. You can verify the services available at your location by visiting our transmitter checker."
Full updated BBC Reception post on 11 May: https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/work-warning/news/radio4lw
See less