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Âé¶¹Éç Radio 4 begins information campaign to transition listeners from Long Wave

Published: 11:30 am, 29 May 2023
Updated: 11:24 am, 28 May 2023

Âé¶¹Éç Radio 4 begins information campaign to transition listeners from Long Wave 

The Âé¶¹Éç has begun an information campaign to help transition listeners of Radio 4 Long Wave (LW) to alternative Âé¶¹Éç platforms. 

This follows the announcement in May 2022 that the Âé¶¹Éç is to stop scheduling separate content for Radio 4 LW in anticipation of the closure of the LW platform, owned and operated by a third party, which is coming to the end of its life as a technology. 

Radio 4 LW is starting to run targeted on air trails from today, giving listeners plenty of advance notice of the coming changes.   

All programmes on Radio 4 LW -  Shipping Forecast, Daily Service, Yesterday in Parliament and Test Match Special – will continue to be available on other Âé¶¹Éç platforms. 

Digital listening has grown significantly over the past decade as the range of alternatives has become easier to switch to, and listeners are increasingly accessing content elsewhere on the Âé¶¹Éç. The audiences for Radio 4 LW are small, but we know there are some who still tune in on LW for their favourite programmes. 

The Âé¶¹Éç is working with key organisations so that specific audiences will be notified how they can switch to other Âé¶¹Éç platforms to hear programmes between now and the end of Radio 4 LW separate scheduling in March 2024. 

The Shipping Forecast will cease to be broadcast four times a day, and will instead be available via the Radio 4 FM simulcast twice a day (weekdays) and three times a day (weekends) as well as on DAB and Âé¶¹Éç Sounds. 

It will also continue to be broadcast via HM Coastguard’s channels. Whilst modern technology and new methods means the Shipping Forecast is no longer integral to mariners, the Âé¶¹Éç has been working closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Met Office to ensure seafarers have adequate advance notice of the changes taking place next year and can prepare accordingly.

The Daily Service and the longer version of Yesterday in Parliament will also continue on LW until March 2024 and will then be available on Âé¶¹Éç Radio 4 Extra and Âé¶¹Éç Sounds.

Yesterday in Parliament will still be broadcast on the Today programme on Radio 4 FM/DAB.  

Test Match Special is already available uninterrupted on Radio 5 Sports Extra and Âé¶¹Éç Sounds where listeners will continue to be able to access it digitally. All scheduled cricket matches on Radio 4 LW will still be broadcast this summer, for the final time. Radio 4 LW listeners will be reminded where they can hear the cricket across the Âé¶¹Éç going forward. 

Helpful links:

Âé¶¹Éç Weather: Coast and Sea

/weather/coast-and-sea 

Maritime safety: weather and navigation