BBC article today:
“BBC Radio 4 broadcasts on Long Wave will end on 27 June 2026, ahead of the Long Wave platform closing on 30 June 2026.
The Long Wave infrastructure is owned and operated by a third party who have advised us the platform is now coming to the end of its life as a technology. Continuing would require significant investment to replace ageing equipment and sustain a platform now used by a very small proportion of listeners.
Digital listening has also grown significantly over the past decade, with the majority of UK radio listening now taking place digitally or online. The BBC’s focus is on investing in platforms that best serve audiences and provide resilient coverage for the future.
The BBC first announced in 2022 that it expected Long Wave to close, and in March 2024 ended separate scheduling on Radio 4 Long Wave in anticipation of this change.
No programmes will be lost as a result of the closure. Radio 4’s programmes and services previously associated with Long Wave will continue to be available across other BBC platforms.
Radio 4 remains widely available on FM, DAB, BBC Sounds, smart speakers and television platforms, including Freeview, satellite and connected TV. FM remains the main fallback option and is available to 99.5% of UK households.
Over the past months we have provided clear information to help listeners move to alternative ways of receiving Radio 4. This includes on-air interruption messages, support through BBC help pages and phone support via the BBC Helpdesk.
We also work closely with organisations that support vulnerable audiences around platform closures, to ensure listeners are helped in a timely and sensitive way.
Long Wave is not classified as Critical National Infrastructure.
The Shipping Forecast does not constitute part of the UK’s mandatory Maritime Safety Information (MSI) service; it has always been a UK-specific, complementary broadcast. MSI is considered of vital concern to all vessels, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency encourage all seafarers to make every effort to receive it.”
Listeners who need support can visit BBC help pages or contact the BBC Helpdesk for practical advice on how to continue listening.”
Presume 3 days of retune announcements after BBC Radio 4 programmes end.
Mike Barraclough to MWCircle iog (2026-06-24)