London Calling (magazine)

London Calling is a former monthly magazine that contained programme listings for the BBC World Service shortwave radio broadcasting service. Originally called the Empire Programme Pamphlet and then BBC Empire Broadcasting, the title was changed to London Calling in mid-1939 when the magazine expanded from 12 pages to 16. The title alludes to the BBC World Service's station identification: "This is London calling...", which was used during World War II, often in broadcasts to occupied countries.

Background

In November 1993, the magazine was replaced with a 100-page colour magazine and started including more and deeper stories, and renamed BBC Worldwide. However, rising costs, which forced the BBC to reduce the size of the paper it used at one point, caused the magazine to change back to a mainly-listings format, and the title was changed to BBC On Air, although the longer stories would make their way back into the magazine over the years.
The last edition of BBC On Air was that of December 2004. In a letter sent to subscribers the managing director of the magazine cited as reason for the discontinuation "that many of our listeners are getting programme information on line and that it is no longer cost-effective to produce the printed edition of the magazine."