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The BBC World Service Celebrates 80

On February 29, 1932, the BBC launched its Empire Service on shortwave – 80 years later, you know it as the World Service, and hear it throughout the day on KALW. 

On Wednesday, to mark the anniversary, the World Service will have a day of special programming that looks back at its history, and opens up today’s BBC to listeners around the world.  If you’re a BBC fan, you can prepare yourself for the big day with this timeline of major dates in World Service history and by listening to this interview with BBC World Service Commissioning Editor Steve Titherington

And tune into World Have Your Say at 11am, Newshour at 2pm, and Business Daily at 5:30pm on Wednesday to hear 80th anniversary special coverage on KALW.

Matt Martin was KALW’s general manager from 2006 through 2018. Under his leadership, KALW grew into one of the most productive and innovative stations in public radio. Programs launched at KALW during Matt’s tenure as GM include the award-winning local newsmagazine Crosscurrents, the design podcast 99% Invisible, and the Spanish-language narrative journalism program Radio Ambulante. He helped create the station’s Audio Academy, a year-long program aimed at developing new talents in public radio, and led the first broad-based strategic planning process in the station’s history.