BBC Radio Lancashire
BBC Radio Lancashire is the Local BBC Radio service for the county of Lancashire, in North West England. It began as BBC Radio Blackburn on 26 January 1971 and changed to its current name on 4 July 1981. It broadcasts from studios in Blackburn on 95.5 (Hameldon Hill, Burnley), 103.9 (Winter Hill, Horwich), 104.5 (Lancaster) FM and 855 (Riley Green near the A6061 between Preston and Blackburn, near junction 3 of the M65), 1557 (Oxcliffe Hill, close to the A683 near Lancaster) AM, DAB, Freeview channel 720 and RealPlayer via the website. According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 164,000 listeners and a 6.2% share as of December 2018.[1]
City | Blackburn |
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Broadcast area | Lancashire |
Frequency | FM: 95.5 MHz FM: 103.9 MHz FM: 104.5 MHz DAB: 12A AM: 855 MW AM: 1557 MW |
RDS | BBC_LANC |
Slogan | The sound of Lancashire, and all the music you love |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Local news, talk and music |
Network | Local BBC Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | BBC |
Operator | Local BBC Radio BBC North West |
BBC Radio Merseyside BBC Radio Manchester BBC Radio Cumbria | |
History | |
First air date | 26 January 1971 |
Former names | BBC Radio Blackburn BBC Lancashire |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen |
Website | BBC Radio Lancashire |
Transmitters
The 103.9 FM signal comes 2,500 feet (760 m) high on the Winter Hill transmitter, and its height gives it the greatest coverage over Lancashire. North Manchester, although nearby, can just about pick up the signal. Winter Hill also carries national radio (including BBC National DAB), TV, Digital One, and the commercial stations Heart North West (formerly 105.4 Real Radio), Rock FM (formerly Red Rose Radio) on 97.4FM and Smooth North West on 100.4FM. Winter Hill also broadcasts two other local digital multiplexes - MXR North West 12C and CE Digital Manchester 11C (it is a digital transmitter for Radio Manchester). Radio Manchester is very clear in the south of Lancashire as is Radio Merseyside. The Lancaster transmitter also carries TV, BBC National DAB stations and Digital One. Beginning on 1 October 2001, the DAB signals have come from the EMAP Digital Central Lancashire 12A multiplex located at Winter Hill and Pendle Forest (near Nelson). Pendle Forest also started broadcasting BBC National DAB stations in April 2004.
Programming
The majority of BBC Radio Lancashire's programming is produced and broadcast from its Blackburn studios. During off-peak hours, BBC Radio Lancashire also carries some shared programming with sister station BBC Radio Manchester. During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Lancashire simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight.
Notable former presenters
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References
- "RAJAR". RAJAR. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/14/steve-barker-the-anti-john-peel-sidelined-by-the-bbc-after-43-years