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List of longest-running radio programmes

Regular broadcasts made for decades From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These are the longest-running radio programmes – those which were broadcast regularly for many decades.

Pilots, special broadcasts and repeats after the continuous run are not counted in the primary statistic. Title changes are acceptable if the format and presentation is otherwise continuous.

List

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

  Programmes with a shaded background indicate that it is no longer in production.

More information Programme, Years ...
ProgrammeYearsLongest serving yearsStationFirst broadcastLast broadcastNumber of broadcastsGenreNotes and citations
Shipping Forecast 101 40 by Peter Jefferson BBC 4 July 1925 over 130,000 Information
(weather)		 Shipping forecasts were first broadcast in 1859 by telegraph to observation stations that would then raise signal flags for ships at sea. Broadcasts over radio using Morse Code by the UK Air Ministry's radio station began in January 1924. Spoken word broadcasts began on 4 July 1925 on the BBC.[4][5]
Grand Ole Opry 100 67 by Jimmy Dickens WSM 28 November 1925 Over 5,000 Music
(country)		 Live country music[6]
Radioavisen 100 DR 1 August 1926 News "Radio Newspaper". Hourly news broadcast. Launched as Pressens Radioavis in 1926. Adopted its current name on 1 July 1964.
Choral Evensong 99 BBC 7 October 1926 Music
(Religious/choral)		 Longest running live outside broadcast programme in radio history. Generally comprising Anglican evensong, occasionally Roman Catholic vespers. Initially broadcast on BBC Home Service, later branded BBC Radio 4, until 8 April 1970 when the programme moved to BBC Radio 3.
The Daily Service 98 43 by All Souls Church, Langham Place BBC 2 January 1928 over 33,500 Religious
(Christian)		 Live church sermon, bible reading, and choral music[2]
Music & the Spoken Word 97 40 by Richard L. Evans[7] KSL (flagship), NBC Radio (1929-1932), CBS Radio (1932-2005), syndicated (2005-present) 15 July 1929[7] over 4,700 Music
(religious)		 The Mormon Tabernacle Choir started broadcasting occasional rehearsals on KZN in 1922 but were wary of radio's quality and the current weekly programme did not start until 1929[7]
Voice of Prophecy 96 40 by H. M. S. Richards syndicated 19 October 1929 Religious
(Christian)		 Seventh-day Adventist religious program. Previously broadcast nationally on the Mutual Broadcasting System (1942-1947), ABC Radio (1947-1956), NBC Radio Network (beginning in 1956).[8]
Folkemusikktimen 95 26 by Rolf Myklebust (1952-1978) NRK 7 March 1931 4,700+ Music
(folk)		 Weekly folk music program[9]
Metropolitan Opera 94 44 by Milton Cross (1931-1975) NBC Blue Network (1931-1945),
ABC (1944-1958),
CBS Radio (1958-1960),
syndicated (1960–present)
CBC Radio (1934-present)		 25 December 1931 1,500+ Music
(opera)		 Longest-running continuous classical music program in radio history[10]
Chapter a Day 94 75 by Karl Schmidt WPR (WHA (AM)) 25 July 1932 (possibly earlier) Books Daily reading of books from various genres in half-hour increments. Summer program until 1939 and has been year-round since then. Some records suggest it may have first aired on WHA (AM) in the late 1920s. Carried on Wisconsin Public Radio since that network began in 1932 as Wisconsin Educational Radio.
Mahishasura Mardini 93 Birendra Krishna Bhadra, live until 1966 when a recording was made All India Radio 11 October 1932 Religious
(Hindu)		 An annual religious recital of the Chandipath for Durga Puja which started in the 1930s.[11][12][13]
The King's/Queen's Christmas Message 93 69 by Elizabeth II BBC 25 December 1932 90 Christmas
(speech)		 Broadcast internationally on the BBC World Service and by various Commonwealth broadcasters. Not broadcast in 1936, 1938, and 1969.
(WWVA) Jamboree 93 WWVA to 2007
WWOV-LP since 2014		 7 January 1933 Music
(country)		 Originally a weekly show, now limited to semi-annual specials and reruns[14]
The Haven of Rest/Haven Today 92 37 by Paul Myers syndicated 16 March 1934 Religious
(Christian)		 Christian evangelical. Called Haven Today since 2001, is a mix of music, Biblical teaching, interviews and current events. Based in California.
Make Believe Ballroom 91 29 by William B Williams WNEW until 1992, currently on WGMC, syndicated since 1940 3 February 1935 Music
(popular)		 Popularized the concept of radio disc jockeys playing recorded music. Name of show was dropped in the 1970s, but restored in 1979.
The Lutheran Hour 91 33 by Oswald Hoffmann 2 October 1930/
3 February 1935		 Religious
(Christian)		 Program originally broadcast from 2 October 1930 to 11 June 1931 and began its continuous run on 3 February 1935.[15]
Julehilsen til Grønland 91 DR 18 December 1932[16] 17 December 2023[17] 91 Christmas
(information and music)		 Christmas greeting to Greenland. Televised from 1983. In 2024, DR announced that the programme would no longer be on the holiday schedule.[18]
Rambling with Gambling 91 34 by John B. Gambling WOR 1925 2016 News/Talk Hosted by three generations of hosts all named "John Gambling." Known as The John Gambling Show from 2000 to 2016 for legal reasons.
A Voz do Brasil 91 22 July 1935 Information
(public affairs)		 National government sponsored weekly information programme. Originated as Programa Nacional, renamed A Hora do Brasil in January 1938 when it became a mandatory broadcast; known as Voz do Brasil since 1971.
Dagens dikt 89 Sveriges Radio 1 February 1937 Literature
(poetry)		 Daily poetry programme in which a poem is read on Swedish radio. First broadcast on 1 February 1937, it is one of Sveriges Radio's longest-running programmes.[19]
La Hora Nacional 89 25 July 1937 Information
(public affairs)		 Weekly government-sponsored cultural and information broadcast required to be aired by all Mexican radio stations.
Dagens Eko 88 Sveriges Radio 1 October 1937 News Swedish national radio news programme, commonly known as Ekot. First broadcast by Radiotjänst on 1 October 1937, it developed into Sveriges Radio's principal national news service, with bulletins broadcast throughout the day.[20]
CBS World News Roundup 88 25 by Dallas Townsend CBS News Radio 13 March 1938[21] 22 May 2026 22,900+ News Broadcast on which Edward R. Murrow made his debut. Began as a special to report the Nazi occupation of Austria and again during the Sudetenland crisis, evolved into a daily broadcast during World War II. Ending due to closure of CBS News Radio in 2026.[22]
Lørdagsbarnetimen 86 NRK 20 December 1924 11 September 2010 Children A weekly children's radio program. Off the air during World War II. By the time of its final broadcast it had become the world's longest-running regular weekly radio series.[23]
Back to the Bible 86–87 41 by Theodore Epp 1939 2020 Religious
(Christian)		 Has been only available as a podcast since 2020.
King Biscuit Time 84 67 by "Sunshine" Sonny Payne KFFA 21 November 1941 over 17,000 Music
(Blues)		 Longest running daily American radio program[24] Live Blues music.
Voci del Grigioni italiano 84 RSI 25 November 1941 4,000 approx. Information
(public affairs)		 Guinness World Record: "Longest running factual weekly radio programme"[25]
Desert Island Discs 84 43 by Roy Plomley BBC 29 January 1942 over 3,200 Music/Talk Interview featuring musical choices selected by the guest.[26]
National Research Council Time Signal 83 CBC Radio 5 November 1939 9 October 2023[27] Information Aired daily marking 1 pm, Eastern Time
Renfro Valley Gatherin' 82 CBS Radio (1943–1957)
syndicated (1957-present)		 September 1943 Music
(country, folk, gospel)		 Features short stories, monologues, and a house band performing folk, gospel, and traditional country music.[28]
The Country Hour 80 ABC Radio 3 December 1945 Information
(public affairs/rural)		 Australia's longest running radio program. Started as a national program, currently seven separate state-based editions[29] broadcast on all regional ABC Local Radio stations weekdays from 12pm to 1pm.[30] Features rural and regional news, with a heavy focus on the agricultural industry.[31]
Arbeidsvitaminen 80 NPO Radio 5 19 February 1946 Music Music request programme
Woman's Hour 79 33 by Jenni Murray BBC 7 October 1946 Information
(women's interests/current affairs)		 Daily magazine programme covering news, politics, culture, health and issues affecting women. First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1946, it transferred to BBC Radio 2 in 1967 and to BBC Radio 4 in 1973.[32]
Gardeners' Question Time 79 40 by Fred Loads BBC 9 April 1947 over 3,500 Information
(gardening)		 Gardening advice programme in which a panel of experts answers questions from amateur gardeners. It was first broadcast by the BBC North Region as How Does Your Garden Grow? on 9 April 1947 and was renamed Gardeners' Question Time in 1951 when it began broadcasting nationally.[33]
Hot Air 79 30 by Bob Smith CBC Vancouver 24 May 1947 Music
(jazz)		 CBC Radio's longest-running show features jazz from all eras.[34][35]
Midnite Jamboree 79 WSM 31 May 1947 3,807+ Music
(country)		 Country music performed live. Interruptions in continuous run in 2015,[36] 2020, and 2022.
Sports Report 78 39 by James Alexander Gordon BBC 3 January 1948 Sports The show started listing classified football results in the early 1950s but this ceased in 2022.[37][38]
Any Questions 77 32 by Jonathan Dimbleby BBC Radio 4 12 October 1948 Information
(public affairs)		 The longest running live discussion programme in the UK, Any Questions?, began in the West Region on 12 October 1948. It moved to the Home Service on 13 June 1950[39]
Reith Lectures 77 BBC 26 December 1948 Information
(lectures)		 Annual series of radio lectures in which a prominent figure gives a series of talks on significant contemporary issues. Established in 1948 in honour of John Reith, the BBC's first director-general. The inaugural lectures were given by philosopher Bertrand Russell. The series was not broadcast in 1992.[40]
Your Story Hour 77 syndicated 27 March 1949 Children/Religious
(drama)		 Children's Radio dramas based on the Bible, historical heroes, and true-to-life adventures.
The Sunday Hour 77 17 by Roger Royle BBC 14 July 1940 28 January 2018 Religious
(Christian)		 Christian worship programme featuring hymns, prayers and religious discussion. Broadcast as Sunday Half Hour from 1940 until 2013, when it was expanded to an hour and renamed The Sunday Hour. It ended on BBC Radio 2 in January 2018 after more than 77 years.[41]
Las Dos Carátulas 76 Radio Nacional 9 July 1950 Drama
(radio theatre)		 Argentine radio theatre programme presenting adaptations and performances of dramatic works. It began broadcasting on 9 July 1950 and Radio Nacional described it in 2023 as having been on the air uninterruptedly for 73 years.[42]
Unshackled! 75 syndicated 23 September 1950 over 6,500 Religious/drama
(Christian)		 Religious anthology series.[43]
The Archers 75 63 by June Spencer as Peggy Woolley BBC 1 January 1951 over 18,740 Soap opera Longest-running Soap opera in the world. Set in rural England.[44]
The Fisheries Broadcast 75 CBN (CBC Radio Newfoundland) 5 March 1951 News/Information
(rural)		 Originally The Fisherman's Broadcast and now The Broadcast, daily "explores the stories of people in Newfoundland and Labrador who work in jobs or live in communities that depend on the sea."[45]
The Baptist Bible Hour 73 70 by Elder Lasserre Bradley Jr. WCVX, syndicated across the United States February 2, 1953 Over 5,000 Religious
(Christian)		 Daily Baptist sermon and choral singing, broadcast from Cincinnati, Ohio[46]
The Midnight Special 73 37 by Rich Warren (including 13 years as a co-host) WFMT 23 May 1953 Music
(folk)		 Saturday night folk music program originally hosted by future film director Mike Nichols. Syndicated nationally since 1971.[47][48]
Friday Night Is Music Night 72 BBC 25 September 1953 Music
(orchestral/light music)		 Live orchestral music programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra. It began on the BBC Light Programme in 1953, moved to BBC Radio 2 in 1967 and to BBC Radio 3 in 2024. Known as Sunday Night Is Music Night for broadcasts on Radio 2 from 2020 to 2023. No new editions were produced during part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when repeats were broadcast.[49]
Le Masque et la plume 70 34 by Jérôme Garcin France Inter 13 November 1955 Arts (debate) Roundtable of professional critics devoted to the lively arts (film, literature, theater)[50][51]
Folksong Festival 70 70 by Oscar Brand WNYC 9 December 1945 24 September 2016 3,600 approx. Music
(folk)		 Guinness World Record: "Longest running weekly radio programme (same host)"[52]
Matysiakowie 69 Polskie Radio 15 December 1956 Soap opera Weekly 25-minute kitchen sink drama.
Test Match Special 69 BBC 30 May 1957 Sports
(cricket)		 Ball-by-ball commentary on international cricket. The programme began on the BBC Third Programme in 1957, initially providing full ball-by-ball coverage of Test matches involving England. The first match covered was the first Test between England and the West Indies at Edgbaston.[53]
Le Jeu des 1000 euros 68 30 by Lucien Jeunesse France Inter 19 April 1958 Quiz Travelling general-knowledge quiz programme created by Henri Kubnick. It began in 1958 as Cent mille francs par jour, later becoming Le Jeu des 1,000 francs before adopting its present title following the introduction of the euro.[54]
Farming Today 65 BBC 20 September 1960 Information
(public affairs/rural)		 Agricultural news
The Big Broadcast 62 26 by John Hickman WAMU 15 February 1964 3,100+ approx. Drama
(old-time radio)		 The show features a collection of radio from the golden age, the 30s, 40s, and 50s.[55]
Cross Country Checkup 61 21 by Rex Murphy CBC Radio 16 May 1965 News/information
(public affairs)		 Weekly national phone-in show.
The Happy Station Show 61 35 by Eddy Startz PCJJ (1928-1940, 1946–47), Radio Netherlands (1947-1995) 18 November 1928 17 September 1995 Music/light entertainment Long-running shortwave radio light entertainment programme from Holland in English and Spanish. Had an audience of as high as 100 million in the 1930s[56] and 25 million in the 1970s.[57] Off the air during World War II.
Ideas 60 20 by Paul Kennedy CBC Radio 10 October 1965 Documentary A nightly hour-long scholarly documentary programme.
Night Vision 58 51 by Pastor George W. Bogle Sr. WMUZ-FM 15 September 1967 16,500 approx. Religious
(Christian)		 A live call-in broadcast for prayer. Began in 1967 as Evangel Echos, changed name to Night Vision in 2005.[58]
Eighteenth Floor Block C 58 Commercial Radio Hong Kong 3 July 1968 Information
(public affairs)		 A social satire set in a local Hong Kong diner where customers discuss politics and current events.[59]
As It Happens 57 18 by Mary Lou Finlay CBC Radio 18 November 1968 News/information
(public affairs)		 A nightly 3urrent affairs newsmaker interview programme.[60]
Moscow Mailbag 57 48 by Joe Adamov Radio Moscow/Voice of Russia 1957 9 November 2014 Information
(public affairs)		 The long-running English-language Radio Moscow program answered listener letters about life, culture, and politics in the Soviet Union and later Russia. Hosted for decades by Joe Adamov until his retirement in 2005, it later continued under various hosts before being rebranded as From Moscow With Love in 2011 with Vasily Strelnikov and Natalia Stefanova. When Voice of Russia was disbanded in 2014, the show continued online on Sputnik until ending in March 2015.
Letter from America 57 57 by Alistair Cooke BBC 24 March 1946 20 February 2004 2,869 Information
(public affairs)		 Longest-running speech radio programme hosted by one individual.[61]
The World Tomorrow 52 32 by Herbert W. Armstrong syndicated in North America, Radio Luxembourg to Europe (1953-1980s) 7 January 1934 ca. 1986 Religious
(Christian)		 Called the Radio Church of God until 1939. Continued on television until 1994. Presented predominantly by Garner Ted Armstrong from 1958 to 1978 and by Herbert W. Armstrong until 1958 and from 1978 until his death in 1986.
Quirks and Quarks 50 23 by Bob McDonald (current host) CBC Radio 8 October 1975 Science news Weekly magazine featuring science news, interviews, and documentaries. Previous hosts include Dr. David Suzuki (1975—1979) and Jay Ingram (1979—1991)[62]
The Hour of Prayer 48 Rev. George W. Phillips KGO (1924), KTAB (from 1925), later other San Francisco Bay Area stations 1924 c. 1972 Religious
(Christian)		 Daily religious program founded by the Rev. George W. Phillips. It began on KGO in 1924, moved to KTAB after that station was established in 1925, and subsequently aired on various San Francisco Bay Area stations until Phillips's death in 1972 or shortly thereafter.[63]
Voice of America Jazz Hour 47–48 41 by Willis Conover Voice of America 6 January 1955 2003 12,000+ Music
(jazz)		 At its height, the Voice of America Jazz Hour was listened to by up to 30 million people daily and was popular behind the Iron Curtain, despite being banned. The show continued in repeats for several months after Conover's death on May 17, 1996 and then resumed airing new programs under different hosts until 2003.
Your Hundred Best Tunes 47 44 by Alan Keith BBC 15 November 1959 21 January 2007 2,500 approx. Music Popular works which were mostly classical excerpts, choral works, opera and ballads.[64]
The Dr. Demento Show 40 40 by Barry Hansen aka Dr. Demento KPPC-FM (1971), KMET (1972—1987), syndicated (1974—1977, 1978—2010), KACV-FM (until 2011)[65] January 1971 January 2011 4,000+ novelty music Show continued to be broadcast online only until October 11, 2025 when Hansen retired.[66][67]
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