BBC Radio Lancashire

BBC Radio Lancashire

File:BBC Radio Lancashire.png
Blackburn
Broadcast area	Lancashire
Frequency	95.5 MHz, 103.9 MHz, 104.5 MHz, 855 MW, 1557 MW RDS: BBC_Lanc
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Local news, talk and music
Ownership
Owner	BBC Local Radio, BBC North West
History
First air date	26 January 1971
Links
Webcast	Listen
Website	BBC Radio Lancashire

BBC Radio Lancashire is the BBC Local Radio service for the county of Lancashire, in North West England. It began as BBC Radio Blackburn on 26 January 1971 on 96.4FM, then adding 854 kHz AM in 1972 and changing 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.

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 the station's programming is produced and broadcast from the Blackburn studios. During off-peak hours, BBC Radio Lancashire also carries some shared programming with sister station BBC Radio Manchester. As with all BBC Local Radio stations, it also airs the networked weekday evening shows, originating from BBC Radio Leeds and produced independently by Wire Free Productions. During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Lancashire simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight.

Notable former presenters

• Jim Bowen
• Richard Hammond
• Bob Roberts

• Norman Thomas
• Tony Livesey (now on BBC Radio 5 Live)
• Andy Peebles
• Martin Roberts (now on Homes Under The Hammer)

External links

• BBC Radio Lancashire
• On the Wire.
• North West Radio - BBC Radio Lancashire Memories
• History of local radio in Lancashire.
• The former Radio Blackburn.
• MDS975's Transmitter Map.
• Hameldon Hill transmitter.
• Lancaster transmitter.
• Oxcliffe transmitter.
• Pendle Forest (Digital).
• Winter Hill transmitter.

Audio clips

• 2001 jingle
• Some old jingles and clips.