Closure of BBC Radio 4 Long Wave: how can I continue listening in France?
As of this weekend, listeners will no longer be able to access the station on their radios
The BBC’s Long Wave service is set to shut after more than 90 years
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BBC Radio 4’s Long Wave (LW) service will close this Saturday, June 27, meaning listeners in France must now use the broadcaster’s online services.
“The company that owns and operates the LW broadcast equipment has confirmed that the system is reaching the end of its life. As LW is an older broadcasting technology, recent years have seen a decline in listener numbers, with the majority now opting for FM and DAB digital platforms,” stated the BBC.
“Given these factors, investing in upgrading the LW equipment is not considered a cost-effective solution for licence fee-funded services,” it added.
The closure means international audiences can no longer tune in to Radio 4’s LW service on 198kHz using physical radios.
The decision follows the end of the BBC Sounds app for international listeners, which has been unavailable in France since July 2025.
“There are no plans to offer BBC Sounds or BBC iPlayer as subscription services internationally,” a spokesman for the BBC previously told The Connexion.
“Both remain licence fee-funded platforms designed exclusively for UK audiences.”
Following the end of BBC Sounds for international listeners, listeners in France can access the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 on the BBC.com website or via the free BBC app.
For all other BBC stations, use the directory at tinyurl.com/BBC-directory and scroll to this heading: Where can I listen to live BBC stations outside the UK?
It is advisable to make sure you have deleted the BBC Sounds app from your device before trying to tune in. This is to ensure the link opens via the website rather than defaulting to the app (which will not work).
History of Long Wave radio
The three LW transmitting stations in the UK (Droitwich in England, as well as Westerglen and Burghead in Scotland) were constructed in the early 1930s making each of them close to 90 years old.
The first transmissions were broadcast from the Westerglen station in 1932.
“For decades, it [LW] provided a uniquely national unifying voice, spanning the entire UK and reaching far into Europe,” said the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).
LW transmitters were also better at reaching rural areas and off-shore locations where FM, DAB, and internet signals struggle to reach, broadcasting news of war, politics and royal succession over the years.
The LW signal was even used to send coded messages to the French Resistance during World War Two.
“Long wave broadcasting has left an indelible mark on British life and culture, acting as both an essential lifeline and an enduring cultural touchstone,” said the RSGB.
