Skip to content
Skip to main content

The Listener Historical Archive, 1929-1991 – Trial ended June 8, 2011

The Listener was a weekly publication, established by the BBC in 1929 as the medium for reproducing radio – and later, television – programmes in print. It is our only record and means of accessing the content of many early broadcasts.

As well as expanding on the intellectual broadcasts of the week, The Listener also discussed major literary and musical programmes. 10% of its content was not connected to broadcasting at all, and it regularly reviewed new books. What united the often diverse articles was the BBC’s cultural mission of educating the masses.

Having chronicled the transformative rise of radio and television, The Listener finally ceased publication in 1991, just on the dawn of the internet age.

Please send additional comments to Ericka Raber.