BBC Radio Lancashire

Infobox Radio Station
name = BBC Radio Lancashire


city = Blackburn
area = Lancashire
branding =
slogan =
airdate = 26 January 1971
frequency = 95.5 MHz, 103.9 MHz, 104.5 MHz, 855 MW, 1557 MW
share = 10.7%
share as of = March 2008
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
format = Local news, talk and music
power =
erp =
class =
callsign_meaning =
owner = BBC Local Radio,
BBC North West
website = [http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/local_radio/ BBC Radio Lancashire]

BBC Radio Lancashire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Lancashire. It began as BBC Radio Blackburn on 26 January 1971 on 96.4FM, then adding 854 kHz AM in 1972 and changing to the 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 and Real Player via the website.

Transmitters

The 103.9 FM signal comes 2500ft 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 DAB National), TV, Digital One, and the commercial stations 105.4 Century FM, Rock FM (formerly Red Rose Radio) on 97.4FM and Smooth FM 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 DAB National stations and Digital One. Beginning on 1st 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 DAB National stations in April 2004.

Programming

Weekdays

*0500-0700 Alec Makinson
*0700-0900 Tony Livesey
*0900-1100 Ted Robbins
*1100-1300 Sally Naden and Carole Turner
*1300-1600 John Gillmore
*1600-1800 Brett Davison
*1800-2000 "Lancashire Sport"
*2000-0100 Various programming (see "Weekday variations")
*2200-0100 "The Late Show" with John Barnes (Monday - Thursday) / "FNAT" (Friday)
*0100-0500 Radio 5 Live: "Up All Night"

Weekday variations

*Mondays: 1800-1900 "Lancashire Sport", 1900-2200 Gerald Jackson
*Tuesdays/Wednesdays: 2000-2200 "JukeBox" with Keith Fletcher
*Thursdays: 2000-2100 "Indus", 2100-2200 "The Drift" with Phil Brown
*Fridays: 1800-2100 "Lancashire Sport", 2100-2200 Bryan

Former Presenters

* Jim Bowen
* Richard Hammond
* Graham Liver (now on BBC Radio Leeds)

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/local_radio BBC Radio Lancashire]
* [http://www.onthewire.uk.com On the Wire.]
* [http://www.northwestradio.info/memories/radiolancashire.htm North West Radio.]
* [http://www.geocities.com/thehotw/aircheck_UKLancs.htm History of local radio in Lancashire.]
* [http://www.gjmedia.co.uk/rb/RBburn.htm The former Radio Blackburn.]
* [http://www.arar93.dsl.pipex.com/mds975/txmaps/lancashire.html MDS975's Transmitter Map.]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/hameldon-hill.php Hameldon Hill transmitter.]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/lancaster.php Lancaster transmitter.]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/oxcliffe.php Oxcliffe transmitter.]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/pendle-forest.php Pendle Forest (Digital).]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/winterhill/index.php Winter Hill transmitter.]

Audio clips

* [http://www.intervalsignals.net/files/ukg-bbc_radio_lancashire_111101.m3u 2001 jingle]
* [http://www.gjmedia.co.uk/mediacentre.htm Some old jingles and clips.]