BBC Radio 4 permanently switched off its Long Wave (LW) service at 1:00 am on Saturday, 27th June 2026.
The historic 198 kHz frequency signed off following a final broadcast by presenter Al Ryan and the playing of the National Anthem. Transmitting stations at Droitwich (Worcestershire), Westerglen (Stirling), and Burghead (Moray Firth) were all silenced at the exact same moment, ending nearly 92 years of continuous UK long-wave broadcasting.
The BBC stated that the third-party infrastructure had reached the end of its operational life. Sourcing replacement parts (such as the massive, specialized transmitter valves) was no longer viable for an audience that has overwhelmingly migrated to digital platforms
The Herald, 28 June 2026:
A few historical snippets from the archives:
Nottingham Evening Post, 22 August 1924:
Civil & Military Gazette [Lahore], 6 November 1935:
