FM broadcasting in the UK
Encyclopedia
FM broadcasting began in the United Kingdom
on May 2, 1955 when the BBC
started an FM
service broadcasting the Light Programme
, the Third Programme
and the Home Service
to the south east of England
. There are now over 40 BBC and over 250 commercial FM stations broadcasting in the UK.
began using FM radio
in 1955, but at that time AM broadcasting
predominated. The BBC's main station Radio 1 left mediumwave
only in 1994, but had been using FM full-time for six years previously, part-time before 1988. All but one of the BBC's analogue services, including Radios 1
, 2
, 3
, and 4
and BBC Local Radio
are provided on FM, although Radio 4 uses mediumwave in some areas, longwave
for national broadcasting; Local Radio broadcasts opt-outs on medium wave. The only analogue service not to use FM is Radio Five Live
. BBC policy was to refer to FM as VHF on air until 30th September 1984 when FM became its official term.
, though offshore pirate radio
stations operated in the 1960s to 1990s, usually from ships anchored off the coast of Britain.
Early licenses were granted to wide-area stations, such as Capital Radio
which served London
and the home counties. Later more local stations were introduced. There is also one national commercial radio station, Classic FM
.
Commercial radio stations simulcast
ed on both FM and medium wave from the beginning until 1989–1990, when the IBA
asked radio stations to end the practice. Typically another service, often a Gold format, was introduced on AM and the original service continued on FM.
Until 1995, parts of the band had been used in the UK for mobile communications by police, fire brigades and the fuel and power industries. These parts were reallocated to broadcasting gradually over many years as the communications services were transferred to new equipment in other parts of the spectrum.
The current frequency plan is based on an ITU
agreement made in Geneva in 1984. The table below shows which kind of stations are the main users of each part of the band. There are many exceptions. In some areas there is some commercial usage of the 'BBC local' sub bands while in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the 'Radio 4' and 'BBC Local' ranges are used interchangeably. Community radio stations and RSLs tend to be fitted into any locally-available position.
And this switch off is recommended to boost digital radio & improve profit of UK digital radio IC suppliers. No further details about alternative use were provided
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/DRWG_Final_Report.pdf
It should be noted that this report is only a recommendation and successive Governments have admitted that FM VHF Band II analogue radio would not cease until the "majority" use "digital", so no actual date has ever been agreed. Digital listening figures however consistently include Satellite, DTT and online streaming, not just DAB. In any case there is a commitment to maintain community FM Radio. This means that as long as there are significant numbers of listeners on FM in the UK no Government is likely to take the politically unpopular decision to turn off analogue.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on May 2, 1955 when the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
started an FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
service broadcasting the Light Programme
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
, the Third Programme
BBC Third Programme
The BBC Third Programme was a national radio network broadcast by the BBC. The network first went on air on 29 September 1946 and became one of the leading cultural and intellectual forces in Britain, playing a crucial role in disseminating the arts...
and the Home Service
BBC Home Service
The BBC Home Service was a British national radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.-Development:Between the 1920s and the outbreak of The Second World War, the BBC had developed two nationwide radio services, the BBC National Programme and the BBC Regional Programme...
to the south east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. There are now over 40 BBC and over 250 commercial FM stations broadcasting in the UK.
BBC
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
began using FM radio
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
in 1955, but at that time AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
predominated. The BBC's main station Radio 1 left mediumwave
Mediumwave
Medium wave is the part of the medium frequency radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting. For Europe the MW band ranges from 526.5 kHz to 1606.5 kHz...
only in 1994, but had been using FM full-time for six years previously, part-time before 1988. All but one of the BBC's analogue services, including Radios 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, and 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for...
are provided on FM, although Radio 4 uses mediumwave in some areas, longwave
Longwave
In radio, longwave refers to parts of radio spectrum with relatively long wavelengths. The term is a historic one dating from the early 20th century, when the radio spectrum was considered to consist of long, medium and short wavelengths...
for national broadcasting; Local Radio broadcasts opt-outs on medium wave. The only analogue service not to use FM is Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
. BBC policy was to refer to FM as VHF on air until 30th September 1984 when FM became its official term.
Commercial broadcasting
Legal commercial broadcasting began in the UK in 1973, with the launch of LBCLBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
, though offshore pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
stations operated in the 1960s to 1990s, usually from ships anchored off the coast of Britain.
Early licenses were granted to wide-area stations, such as Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
which served London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the home counties. Later more local stations were introduced. There is also one national commercial radio station, Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
.
Commercial radio stations simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
ed on both FM and medium wave from the beginning until 1989–1990, when the IBA
Independent Broadcasting Authority
The Independent Broadcasting Authority was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television - and commercial/independent radio broadcasts...
asked radio stations to end the practice. Typically another service, often a Gold format, was introduced on AM and the original service continued on FM.
Frequency allocation
From 1955 the band 88.0 - 94.6 MHz was used for three BBC national networks. Over the next 40 years, the band grew piecemeal to 87.5 - 108.0 MHz, allowing for five national networks and many local stations.Until 1995, parts of the band had been used in the UK for mobile communications by police, fire brigades and the fuel and power industries. These parts were reallocated to broadcasting gradually over many years as the communications services were transferred to new equipment in other parts of the spectrum.
The current frequency plan is based on an ITU
Itu
Itu is an old and historic municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2009 was 157,384 and the area is 641.68 km². The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Itu is linked with the highway numbered the SP-75 and are flowed...
agreement made in Geneva in 1984. The table below shows which kind of stations are the main users of each part of the band. There are many exceptions. In some areas there is some commercial usage of the 'BBC local' sub bands while in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the 'Radio 4' and 'BBC Local' ranges are used interchangeably. Community radio stations and RSLs tend to be fitted into any locally-available position.
| Sub-band (MHz) | Main usage |
|---|---|
| 87.5 - 88.0 | Restricted Service Licence Restricted Service Licence A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event... s |
| 88.0 - 90.2 | BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres... |
| 90.2 - 92.4 | BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation... |
| 92.4 - 94.6 | BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the... |
| 94.6 - 96.1 | BBC Local Radio BBC Local Radio BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for... |
| 96.1 - 97.6 | Independent Local Radio Independent Local Radio Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:... |
| 97.6 - 99.8 | BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock... |
| 99.8 - 102.0 | Independent National Radio Independent National Radio Independent National Radio is the official term for the three national commercial radio stations broadcasting on analogue radio in the United Kingdom... (currently Classic FM Classic FM (UK) Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:... ) |
| 102.0 - 103.5 | Independent Local Radio Independent Local Radio Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:... |
| 103.5 - 104.9 | BBC Local Radio BBC Local Radio BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for... |
| 104.9 - 108.0 | Independent Local Radio Independent Local Radio Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:... |
Future switch off
The final report (written by Digital Radio Working Group) says FM should be switched off between 2017 and 2022.And this switch off is recommended to boost digital radio & improve profit of UK digital radio IC suppliers. No further details about alternative use were provided
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/DRWG_Final_Report.pdf
It should be noted that this report is only a recommendation and successive Governments have admitted that FM VHF Band II analogue radio would not cease until the "majority" use "digital", so no actual date has ever been agreed. Digital listening figures however consistently include Satellite, DTT and online streaming, not just DAB. In any case there is a commitment to maintain community FM Radio. This means that as long as there are significant numbers of listeners on FM in the UK no Government is likely to take the politically unpopular decision to turn off analogue.