Historic Radio Site Celebrates 80 Years
The UK’s last shortwave radio transmitter site is celebrating its 80th anniversary this week, with listeners able to join in the festivities.
Built by the BBC during the Second World War, Woofferton Transmitting Station, near Ludlow, made its first broadcasts overseas on 17th October 1943.
To celebrate its 80th anniversary, local dignitaries will switch on a special shortwave radio broadcast celebrating the site’s rich history.
The special anniversary transmission can be heard on Tuesday, 17th October 2023 at 13:30 UTC/GMT on the following frequencies:
- 17785 kHz for Europe (analogue)
- 11725 kHz for Europe (DRM digital radio)
- 15245 kHz for North America (historic transmitter)
The broadcast to North America will be a rare outing for the oldest transmitter at the site, a British-designed and built Marconi BD272 dating from 1963, which is maintained in working condition.
The site is now owned and operated by Encompass Digital Media Limited. Paul Firth, Commercial Director, Radio Services at Encompass, said, “The Woofferton Transmitting Station has a long and varied history, and we at Encompass are excited to recognise this milestone of 80 years of international transmissions from the site. We are proud to continue to sustain Woofferton’s vital work in transmitting shortwave around the world whilst also developing its capabilities to ensure it can keep pace with technological developments in radio and satellite distribution.”
In keeping with the information needs of a changing world, the station has been re-engineered several times. A significant rebuild in the 1960s saw Woofferton play a crucial role broadcasting news into the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Woofferton continues to broadcast programmes on shortwave radio for the BBC and many other international broadcasters. Today, it is also equipped for digital radio and boasts impressive satellite capabilities.
For further information, contact Steve Palmer, Senior Account and Service Manager, at spalmer@encompass.tv and on +44 (0)7788 133684, or Paul Firth, Commercial Director, Radio Services, at pfirth@encompass.tv.
UPDATE: Click to listen to the special anniversary transmission