BBC Radio Manchester
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Manchester and East Cheshire. Broadcasts from MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, England, UK |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 95.1 MHz, 104.6 MHz DAB: 11C RDS: BBC_Manc |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Local news, talk and music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC Local Radio, BBC North West |
| History | |
First air date | 10 September 1970 |
| Links | |
| Webcast | WMA |
| Website | BBC Radio Manchester |
BBC Radio Manchester is a BBC Local Radio station broadcasting to Greater Manchester and north east Cheshire in North West England. The radio station broadcasts 24 hours a day from studios at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays via a transmitter at Holme Moss, with a small repeater at Saddleworth that covers Tameside and Saddleworth. It can be heard on DAB radio and via internet streaming. It is a department of the BBC North Group division.
History
BBC Radio Manchester (1970–1988)
BBC Radio Manchester launched at 6.00am on 10 September 1970 as the first local radio station in the city of Manchester. Initially broadcasting from studios at Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre, the station's long-standing home was New Broadcasting House on Oxford Road. Radio Manchester originally broadcast only on 95.1MHz VHF/FM and later added 206AM (medium wave). The first voice on air was Alan Sykes. Other presenters included Roy Cross, Sandra Chalmers, Mike Riddoch and Alex Greenhalgh. In the mid 1970s, Radio Manchester was notable for the "Midway through the Day" programme which introduced strip programming and ran from lunchtime until 7.00pm. Presenters changed throughout the day and it was the precursor of the now common chat and music format. At the same time Radio Manchester began an evening programme from 10.00pm to midnight which often repeated interviews from "Midway through the Day".
Opt-out stations
In 1983 and 1984 the radio station ran a series of experimental community stations, each of which used the 1296 kHz AM frequency in turn. The stations were BBC Radio Bury (late 1983/early 1984), BBC Radio Oldham, BBC Radio Rochdale (eight weeks from 14 May 1984), BBC Radio Trafford (which operated from a mobile studio in a school playground) and BBC Radio Wigan (summer 1984). The stations were part-time services which opted out from the main BBC Radio Manchester service.
BBC GMR (1988–2006)
From October 1988 until 3 April 2006, the station was named BBC GMR (Greater Manchester) and, for a brief period in 1997, GMR Talk. BBC Greater Manchester Radio. Programmes included a phone-in with Allan Beswick (now the station's weekday breakfast presenter), late-night music and comedy show Michelle Mullane around Midnight and GMR Brass, a brass band music programme. GMR was part of the BBC Night Network.
In 1996, BBC GMR began broadcasting from a second transmitter from Saddleworth on 104.6 FM, (which had and continues to serve as a transmitter for Key 103 for over 20 years). This meant areas of the Upper Tame Valley including Saddleworth and Tameside, down to Hyde saw improved coverage, which was poor at times from Holme Moss especially indoors.
BBC Radio Manchester relaunch (2006-present)
After 18 years the station reverted to its original name, Radio Manchester. The first voice on the relaunched station was that of Tony Wilson followed by long-time local personality and breakfast presenter Terry Christian, the first song was Manchester by the Beautiful South.
At 6.00am on Saturday 8 October 2011, the station ended its transmissions from its Oxford Road studios and began broadcasting from MediaCityUK in Salford Quays. The final show from Oxford Road was presented by Darryl Morris and the first from the new studios by Andy Crane.
Programming
The majority of the station's programming is produced and broadcast from Salford Quays. During off-peak hours, BBC Radio Manchester also carries some shared programming with sister station BBC Radio Lancashire. 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 presenters
Former presenters
- Gordon Burns
- Sandra Chalmers
- Terry Christian
- Susie Mathis
- Caroline Woodruff
- Tony Wilson
- Jeff Cooper
- The Baron