The last print edition of the World Radio TV Handbook will be in 2026...

The World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH) has been a valuable source of information for short wave listeners and DX-ing enthusiasts for about 80 years. 

Up to 2022, it used to be be published by a company in the UK and I had a post about this back in December of 2021.

It was subsequently taken over by a company in Germany and they published print copies in 2023, 2024 & 2025. They also introduced an E-book version in 2024 and an app version in 2025.

They have now announced that the last printed edition will be in 2026.

They wrote... "An Important Message to the WRTH Community

Dear Friends of WRTH,

As we approach the publication of the 80th edition of the World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH 2026), we find ourselves at both a moment of celebration and of change. For eight decades, WRTH has been a constant companion to radio listeners, broadcasters, and enthusiasts worldwide. We know that many of you treasure the annual arrival of the printed book, and it is with great care and reflection that we share the following news.

The Final Printed Edition

WRTH 2026 will be the last edition to appear in print. After this milestone 80th edition, WRTH will move entirely to digital formats—our regularly updated Web App and the twice-yearly E-book (Winter and Summer schedules). This is not a decision we have taken lightly. The printed WRTH has been part of the identity of our community, and we understand what it means to see it come to a close.

Example page inside the book showing frequency lists

Why This Change Is Necessary

Over the past years, the costs of producing WRTH in print have risen sharply. Printing, paper, tariffs, shipping, and logistics have all become increasingly expensive and difficult to manage. Despite our best efforts to absorb these pressures, continuing to publish in print on a yearly basis is no longer sustainable. In order for WRTH to survive as a publication, and continue serving the global broadcasting community, we must adapt.

Pre-Order Only: A Collector’s Edition

The WRTH 2026 printed book will be available exclusively through pre-order, with delivery scheduled for December 2025. There will be no launch stock or reprints. Once pre-orders close, the book will not be available again. This makes WRTH 2026 a true collector’s edition—our final tribute in print to 80 years of The World’s Most Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Guide to Broadcasting.

Pre-orders will open on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, and close on Friday, October 31, 2025.

Please watch our communication channels for the official announcement, and subscribe to our newsletter to always stay up-to-date: https://wrth.info/newsletter/ 

Looking Ahead with Digital

Moving forward, WRTH will be available in two formats:

The WRTH Web App, updated throughout the year with the most current data.

The WRTH E-book, released twice a year to cover Winter and Summer schedules.

We believe this transition will allow WRTH to remain relevant, accessible, and sustainable, while providing you with more up-to-date information than print has ever allowed.

Updated Pricing

To reflect the realities of production and to keep WRTH alive in its new form, prices for 2026 are as follows:

WRTH 2026 Printed Book: EUR 59,90 (excluding shipping)
WRTH 2026 Web App: EUR 47,90
WRTH 2026 E-book (Winter and Summer editions): EUR 47,90

Please note: Prices are set in EUR. Currency conversion applies at the point of purchase for all other currencies.

Shipping costs will remain similar to last year, varying by region, with WRTH continuing to subsidize rates in some areas.

A Word of Thanks

We know these changes may be difficult to accept, especially for those who have collected the printed WRTH for many years. Please know that this was not an easy decision for us to make. It comes from a deep responsibility: to ensure that WRTH not only celebrates its remarkable past but also secures its future.

We are grateful beyond words for your loyalty and support, and for the place you have given WRTH in your lives. As we turn this page together, we hope you will join us in celebrating the WRTH 2026—the final printed volume and a lasting collector’s item—and in embracing the new digital editions that will carry WRTH into the years ahead.

If you have any other questions, please visit our FAQs ( https://wrth.info/faqs/ ) for quick, clear answers and support.

With gratitude, The WRTH Team"

Obviously the cost of printing a large book for a diminishing number of people has become prohibitive.

The image below shows how the price of the printed edition has changed recently.

The 2026 edition will cost almost €60 before shipping which I'm sure some will find very expensive. The 2026 physical edition costs about 50% more than the 2023 edition.

On their website, they have the E-book editions for 2024 & 2025 listed as €29.90. The 2026 price is €47.90 and that covers a winter and summer edition.

The 2026 app version at €47.90 is only €10 cheaper than the printed book.

In summary... The WRTH contains a wealth of information about various radio and TV stations around the world. Most if not all of this information is available online but the advantage of the WRTH is that it's in one location.

For some, the price of the WRTH will be way too high. For other users, the price will be acceptable.

If you're interested in ordering the last print edition for 2026 then visit their website... https://wrth.info/

A look back at the Long Wave band in 1991...

In a recent video on his popular Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel, Clint, M0OXF lamented on how few stations are now listed in the 2025 edition of the World Radio TV Handbook. 

I have embedded the video at the bottom of this post.

Just by chance, I came across the 1991 edition of the same publication today and I had a look at the Long Wave section.

As might be expected, there were no shortage of stations back then in Europe and in Asia.

The list for Europe, Africa, the Near & Middle East is shown above and below..

As was common with long wave stations of the day, power levels up in the hundreds of kilowatts were pretty common.

The other region of the world where Long Wave was used was the eastern part of the then USSR and Mongolia. The first section is shown above with the second part below...

This was of course a time when broadcasting on the Long Wave, Medium Wave and Short  Wave bands was a source of information and entertainment in a pre-Internet World.

The video below from Clint shows the current state of the Long Wave band in 2025...

End of the road for the World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH)

It was announced today that the World Radio TV Handbook is coming to an end and the 2022 edition will be the last one.

In a statement, the publishers wrote... "Having produced this book for the past 24 years, we are very sorry to announce that WRTH 2022 will be the final edition of World Radio TV Handbook produced and published by WRTH Publications. 

This has been an extremely difficult decision and was only made after a lot of thought and discussion. 
We know that many people rely on WRTH and greatly enjoy getting the new edition every year. 

We realise that this news will be disappointing for many people. We wish to thank you all for your loyal support over the years.

Good DX and Happy Listening,

Nicholas Hardyman (WRTH Publisher) and the WRTH Editorial team"

Back before the widespread use of the Internet in the mid to late 1990's, this book was a must for any serious short wave listener.

Fast forward to today and there is a huge amount of information available for free online. In addition to that, shortwave broadcasting in many parts of the world has disappeared or declined.

The current price for the 2022 edition is £35 which is about €41 or $46. There may be post & packing costs to be added to that so it is quite expensive in contrast to what is free online.

If you would like to purchase the 76th and final edition of the World Radio TV Handbook then go to their website... https://wrth.com/_shop/