Bilsdale transmitting station

Bilsdale
The Bilsdale mast stands high above the hills of the North York Moors
Height of mast	314 metres (1,030 ft)
Grid reference	SE553962
Built	1971
BBC region	BBC North East and Cumbria
ITV region	ITV Tyne Tees & Border
Analogue switch-off	12 September 2012 (Stage 1) 26 September 2012 (Stage 2)

The Bilsdale transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, located at Bilsdale West Moor, close to Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England. It includes a guyed steel tubular mast that is primarily used for radio and television transmission. The height of the mast is 314 metres (1,030 ft) to the pinnacle. It is among the most powerful in the UK at 500 kW ERP and has recently been equipped with new aircraft warning lights, in the form of arrays of ultra bright red LEDs.

History

Bilsdale was constructed in 1971 by the BBC to bring 625-line colour television on UHF to Teesside and the surrounding areas for the first time. Having added UHF TV to the existing VHF TV stations at Pontop Pike and Emley Moor, it was quickly established that a new station would be required to cover County Durham and north North Yorkshire where existing coverage was poor, and thus the new station was built.

Coverage

Coverage extends throughout Teesside and the surrounding regions, encompassing north North Yorkshire and southern County Durham. This includes Harrogate and York to the south, Filey and Whitby to the east, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Hartlepool, Peterlee, some areas of Seaham and some areas of Sunderland to the north, and Barnard Castle and Worton to the west.

Channels listed by frequency

Analogue radio

Frequency	kW	Service
89.0 MHz	5	BBC Radio 2
91.2 MHz	5	BBC Radio 3
93.4 MHz	5	BBC Radio 4
95.0 MHz	10	BBC Tees
96.6 MHz	8.9	TFM Radio
98.6 MHz	5	BBC Radio 1
100.7 MHz	8.9	Real Radio
101.6 MHz	1	Classic FM
106.4 MHz	8.9	Capital FM

Digital radio

Frequency	Block	kW	Operator
222.064 MHz	11D	4.7	Digital One
223.936 MHz	12A	2	MXR Yorkshire
225.648 MHz	12B	5	BBC National DAB
227.360 MHz	12C	2	MXR North East

Analogue television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
487.25 MHz	23	500	Channel 4
511.25 MHz	26	500	BBC Two
535.25 MHz	29	500	ITV1
567.25 MHz	33	500	BBC One
583.25 MHz	35	500	Channel 5

Digital television

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
474.0 MHz	21	6	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)
498.0 MHz	24	6	BBC (Mux B)
522.0 MHz	27	6	Arqiva (Mux C)
554.0 MHz	31	6	SDN (Mux A)
578.0 MHz	34	4.8	BBC (Mux 1)
642.0 MHz	42	1.6	Arqiva (Mux D)

Digital switchover

In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that the television frequency assignment after digital switchover would be such that a wideband or group K aerial would be required for reception of all six multiplexes. However, the three public service multiplexes will still fall within the station's original analogue frequency range assignment of aerial group A. The digital switchover is expected to take place between 12 - 26 September 2012, and the following frequencies will be used from then:

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
490.0 MHz	23	100	BBC B
514.0 MHz	26	100	BBC A
538.0 MHz	29	100	Digital 3&4
626.0 MHz	40	50	Arqiva B
650.0 MHz	43	50	SDN
674.0 MHz	46	50	Arqiva A

See also

• List of masts
• List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

External links

• The Transmission Gallery: Photographs and Information
• The Transmission Gallery: Coverage Maps
• Info and picture of Bilsdale transmitter.
• A photograph
• Views of Bilsdale from Anorak's Guide to Radio in North Yorkshire.
• http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b19268
• Bilsdale Transmitter at thebigtower.com