Oldest Radio Stations Still Broadcasting

April 5, 2026

Radio broadcasting is now over a century old, and remarkably, some of the earliest stations are still on the air. These pioneers of the airwaves have survived world wars, technological revolutions, economic depressions, and the rise of television and the internet, continuing to broadcast to audiences that may tune in on devices their founders could never have imagined. The history of these stations is the history of modern communication itself, and listening to them today connects you to a tradition that stretches back to the earliest days of electronic media. Here is a look at some of the oldest radio stations still broadcasting.

The Debate Over "First"

Determining the world's oldest radio station is surprisingly contentious. Several stations claim the title, and the answer depends on how you define key terms like "station," "broadcast," and "regularly scheduled programming." Experimental transmissions predate regular broadcasting by years, and the line between amateur experimentation and formal station operation is not always clear. What is certain is that by the early 1920s, radio stations were broadcasting regularly to the public in several countries, and a handful of those stations continue to operate today.

KDKA, Pittsburgh (1920)

KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is often cited as the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States. Its November 2, 1920 broadcast of the Harding-Cox presidential election results is one of the most famous moments in broadcasting history, and KDKA has been on the air continuously since then. The station now broadcasts a news and talk format, but its historical significance as a pioneer of regular public broadcasting ensures its place in the annals of media history. KDKA demonstrated that radio could serve as a mass medium for news and information, an idea that seems obvious today but was revolutionary in 1920.

WBL / 8MK, Detroit (1920)

The station now known as WWJ in Detroit also claims to be the oldest in the United States, having begun regular broadcasts on August 20, 1920, before KDKA's famous election night transmission. Originally operated by the Detroit News newspaper as 8MK, the station broadcast news bulletins read directly from the newspaper, pioneering the concept of radio news. WWJ continues to operate as a news station in Detroit, maintaining a continuous broadcasting record that stretches back over a century.

CFCF / CINW, Montreal (1919)

Canada's claim to early radio history is strong. Experimental broadcasts from Montreal date to 1919, making the station that eventually became CINW (and operated under various call signs throughout its history) one of the earliest anywhere. While the station's history is complex and its direct lineage debated, Canadian broadcasting was indisputably among the earliest in the world, and the country's radio heritage is a source of national pride.

PCGG, The Hague (1919)

The Netherlands entered radio history early, with experimental entertainment broadcasts from The Hague beginning in 1919. While PCGG itself did not survive as a station, Dutch broadcasting has maintained a continuous tradition since those early days, and the Netherlands' contribution to radio's development is significant. The country's current public and commercial radio stations are direct descendants of those pioneering transmissions.

The BBC (1922)

The British Broadcasting Company began radio transmissions in 1922, and when it was reconstituted as the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1927, it established a model for public service broadcasting that has been adopted, in various forms, by countries around the world. The BBC's radio services have been on the air continuously for over a century, and the organization's influence on global broadcasting standards, journalistic ethics, and cultural programming is immeasurable. Listening to BBC Radio today connects you to a tradition that began when radio was a novelty and has evolved into one of the most respected media institutions in the world.

WSM, Nashville (1925)

WSM in Nashville began broadcasting in 1925 and quickly became home to the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in American history. The Opry's Saturday night broadcasts have continued without interruption since 1925, making WSM not just one of the oldest stations but the home of one of the oldest continuously produced radio programs anywhere. For country music fans, WSM is sacred ground, and the station's continued operation is a living link to the earliest days of country music broadcasting.

Radio Argentina (1920)

Argentina claims one of the earliest entertainment broadcasts in history. On August 27, 1920, a group of radio enthusiasts broadcast a live opera performance from the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, an event that is recognized in Argentina as the birth of radio broadcasting. While the claim is not universally accepted by broadcasting historians in other countries, Argentina's early contribution to radio is undeniable, and the country's radio tradition remains vibrant and culturally important today.

Other Early Pioneers

Numerous other stations from the 1920s and early 1930s continue to broadcast. DZRH in the Philippines, established in 1939, is one of the oldest in Asia. Radio Progreso in Cuba, broadcasting since 1929, maintains traditions of radio drama that have largely disappeared elsewhere. Cesky Rozhlas in the Czech Republic has been operating since 1923. NHK in Japan began radio broadcasting in 1925 and continues as one of the world's most sophisticated broadcasters.

In Australia, 2SB (now ABC Radio Sydney) began broadcasting in 1923, while 3AR (now part of the ABC network) launched in Melbourne in 1924. South Africa's broadcasting history dates to 1924. These early stations, scattered across multiple continents, demonstrate that radio technology spread rapidly around the world in the early 1920s, with stations launching on every inhabited continent within just a few years of each other.

What Keeps Them Going

The survival of century-old radio stations through multiple technological revolutions is remarkable. These stations have adapted from AM to FM, from analog to digital, from terrestrial to online streaming, each time finding new ways to reach audiences while maintaining the core function that radio has always served: bringing voices, music, and information into people's lives in real time. Their longevity testifies to the enduring value of curated, live broadcasting as a medium of communication and culture.

Many of the oldest stations have preserved archives of historical broadcasts that represent invaluable cultural documents. Recordings of historic speeches, live concert performances, breaking news coverage, and everyday programming from decades past offer windows into how people lived, what they listened to, and how they understood their world. These archives are national treasures, and stations that maintain and share them perform an important service to cultural memory.

Listen to Broadcasting History

RadioGlob lets you tune into many of the world's oldest and most historically significant radio stations. Listening to KDKA, the BBC, WSM, or any of the other centenarian broadcasters connects you to a tradition that has shaped modern culture in ways that are difficult to overstate. These stations have witnessed history, documented it, and in many cases helped to make it. Tuning in today is an act of connection with the past and an affirmation that the medium that transformed human communication over a century ago remains vital and relevant.

Explore more broadcasting history and heritage with our guides to the most listened radio stations in the world and radio stations by continent. Or discover tips and tricks for getting the most out of RadioGlob.