Long Wave radio era set to end with Droitwich switch-off

The BBC will switch off its Long Wave radio service on June 26, 2026, ending nearly a century of broadcasts from the Wychbold Masts in Worcestershire, which have transmitted since 1934. Local historians and heritage groups are campaigning to have the iconic 700-foot transmitter masts listed as historical monuments, citing their role in World War Two communications and radar jamming, as well as their significance as a landmark on the M5 motorway. The BBC cited declining listener numbers and the high cost of upgrading aging equipment as reasons for discontinuing Long Wave in favor of FM and DAB digital platforms.