Age UK has warned of the importance of “leaving no-one behind” as the BBC ended its long-wave radio broadcasts after almost 100 years. BBC Radio 4, the last long-wave station in the UK, had the service permanently switched off at 1am on Saturday.
End of an Era for Long-Wave Radio
Long-wave services have been used since 1934 and were used to transmit messages during the Second World War. Radio 4 moved to the frequency in 1978, where it remained until now. The BBC has used long-wave technology for almost a century.
Long-wave radio is frequently used by those in remote and rural communities, as well as mariners, fishermen and older demographics who prefer not to use digital services. The closure marks a significant shift in broadcasting.
Age UK's Concerns for Older Listeners
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Some older people who are avid listeners to BBC radio on old but still perfectly functional and much-loved analogue radios will no doubt mourn the closure of broadcasting via long wave.”
She added: “This is just one of the changes we can anticipate in broadcast media in the coming years, as more and more of it gravitates online. As this happens, it’s imperative that we leave no-one behind, especially older people who do not use computers or who do to a limited extent but who are not digitally savvy.”
Abrahams called for government action: “There’s a pressing need for Government to step up to its leadership role of prompting, co-ordinating and at least part-funding a big national digital inclusion effort, so everyone who wants to go online is able to do so. At the same time, it is equally important that we continue to guarantee offline methods of accessing essential services, including public broadcasting, for those who will never be online, most but not all of them people in advanced older age.”
Reaction from Radio Enthusiasts
Nick Totterdell, lead for the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) long-wave transmitter activities and the organisation’s contest committee chair, called the change “very significant for radio enthusiasts in the UK”. He said: “It marks the end of the main source of UK long-wave transmissions. These have been focused on the Droitwich transmitters and their huge aerial, for more than 90 years.”
He added: “Radio amateurs from the RSGB and the BBC Amateur Radio Group are marking the occasion by communicating one-to-one with thousands of radio enthusiasts worldwide using short-wave radio.”
BBC's Decision and Future Plans
The BBC first announced in 2022 that it expected its long-wave services to close, and in 2024 it ended the separate scheduling of Radio 4 long wave ahead of the change. The corporation said the service has been shut down as long-wave technology is “coming to the end of its life” and its continued use would be a “significant investment” for a platform used by a small proportion of listeners.
The BBC also said it is focused on “investing in platforms that best serve audiences and provide resilient coverage for the future” amid the significant rise of digital listening. In a statement, it added: “We also work closely with organisations that support vulnerable audiences around platform closures, to ensure listeners are helped in a timely and sensitive way.”
Radio 4, known for shows such as The Archers and Desert Island Discs, will continue to be available across other platforms such as FM, DAB, television platforms and on digital services. The BBC has confirmed no Radio 4 programmes will be lost as a result of the closure.
Campaign and Final Broadcast
Before its closure, campaigners fought against the decision by citing the importance of the platform as a non-digital national communication network. The long-wave technology used by the BBC is owned and operated by Arqiva. During the Shipping Forecast on Saturday, a Radio 4 announcer acknowledged the “end of an era” as he addressed the BBC ending its use of long-wave signals.
