Editing LBC (section)

==History==
===Launch and early history===
The station was originally based in studios on Gough Square, off [[Fleet Street]] in the [[City of London]].
[[David Jessel]] was LBC's original breakfast presenter; he opened the station just before 6 a.m. on Monday 8 October 1973. The original station had several presenters who became household names in the British media. These include [[Adrian Love]], [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]], [[Peter Allen (UK broadcaster)|Peter Allen]], [[Rosie Boycott, Baroness Boycott|Rosie Boycott]], and [[Bel Mooney]]. For 10 years from 1975 the  breakfast show ''AM'' was presented by [[Bob Holness]] and [[Douglas Cameron (broadcaster)|Douglas Cameron]]. LBC's late-evening interview and phone-in programme between 9{{nbsp}}p.m. (later 10{{nbsp}}p.m.) and 1{{nbsp}}a.m. was called ''Nightline ''and at various times was hosted by Adrian Love, [[Robin Houston]], [[Montague Modlyn|Monty Modlyn]], [[Jeremy Beadle]] and [[Tommy Boyd]]. There was also a character called "Mr Nasty" (played by [[John Forrest (producer)|John Forrest]]), who argued over the telephone with children. Beadle and Forrest went on to star in the [[ITV Granada|Granada Television]] series ''Fun Factory''.{{CN|date=November 2022}}

===Changes of ownership===
Originally owned by a consortium led by the Canadian [[Selkirk Communications]] of Vancouver, British Columbia with a 47% stake, LBC was sold in 1987, beginning a turbulent commercial history. The new owners were media company Darling Downs, later renamed Crown Communications, owned by Australian entrepreneur David Haynes.  Crown sold the station's original base in Gough Square near [[Fleet Street]] in the [[City of London]] and relocated to [[Hammersmith]]; and in 1989 split the station into two separate services, the news and comment station LBC Crown FM, and the phone-in London Talkback Radio on AM. The transition was not initially well received, and substantially increased costs, pushing the company into the red. In 1993, the company was sold to [[Shirley Porter]]'s Chelverton Investments, after Crown fell into financial difficulties.<ref>[http://www.amfm.org.uk/amfmnews/amfm8.html New Owners For LBC],  AM/FM News, February 1993.</ref>

===London News Radio===
On the morning of Friday, 3 September 1993, the [[Radio Authority]] announced it would not renew the company's two licences, LBC Newstalk and London Talkback Radio, awarding the frequencies instead to '''London News Radio''', a consortium led by former LBC staff and backed by [[Guinness Mahon]].<ref>[http://www.amfm.org.uk/amfmnews/amfm15.html LBC To Appeal Over Licence Decision], AM/FM News, September 1993.</ref> Staff at the station were in shock, not least because while they had received a tip-off from the ''[[Financial Times]]'' that they looked set to lose one of their frequencies, they did not expect to lose both. This was one of only a handful of times the UK media regulator had declined to renew the licence of an incumbent station. The prospective loss of the franchise brought Chelverton to the brink of collapse,<ref>[http://www.amfm.org.uk/amfmnews/amfm22.html Receivers In At LBC], AM/FM News, April 1994.</ref> and London News Radio (soon itself taken over by [[Reuters]]) bought LBC to keep it on air until the official handover date of October 1994.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Eaton |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/lbc-signs-off-after-21-years-1440902.html |title=LBC signs off after 21 years |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=5 October 1994}}</ref>

London News Radio operated the station from LBC's former studios in Hammersmith as London News 97.3, a rolling news and travel information service on the [[Frequency modulation|FM band]], and the phone-in-driven service London News Talk 1152 on the [[mediumwave|MW band]]. These names were simplified slightly in mid-1995 to News 97.3 and News Talk 1152 respectively, but between October 1994 and July 1996 the LBC name was not used on-air at all.

===Return of LBC===
Reuters then brought in additional shareholders, and between 1996 and 2002 LBC was part of London News Radio Limited, a company owned jointly by [[ITN]], [[Daily Mail and General Trust]], Reuters, and the [[GWR Group]]. This new consortium revived the LBC name on 1152AM on 1 July 1996. At the end of 1996, the FM service was relaunched as News Direct 97.3FM. Production for the station was moved to the basement of [[ITN]]'s multimedia building in [[Gray's Inn Road]].

===Chrysalis===
In 2002, the company was bought for £23.5m by the media company [[Chrysalis Group|Chrysalis]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Damian |last=Reece |title=London News Radio for sale with £30m tag |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2001/12/16/cnrad16.xml |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=15 December 2001}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Milmo |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/25/broadcasting.citynews1 |title=LBC takeover imminent |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=25 September 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Cassy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/26/broadcasting.citynews |title=GWR confirms LNR sale |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 September 2002}}</ref> which trumpeted its purchase with the promise that it would lift the listenership to at least one million from around 700,000 (LBC had enjoyed an audience of more than two million in the early 1980s). Production was moved to Chrysalis's base in [[North Kensington]], and the formatting of the two frequencies was swapped, the talk format moving to FM and the news format to AM.<ref>{{cite news |first=Julia |last=Day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/dec/06/radio.commercialradio |title=LBC goes off air in relaunch gamble |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=6 December 2002}}</ref>

On 13 January 2004, then British [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] presented an hour-long phone-in show on the station, taking pre-booked calls from LBC 97.3 listeners. His appearance was part of the "Big Conversation" initiative to promote government as being more accessible and in touch with the people. During the 10{{ndash}}11{{nbsp}}a.m. show, a caller said that he had been denied access to his children for five years and asked what Blair was planning to do about other fathers in a similar situation. Blair assured the caller he would look into his case personally. It later transpired that the caller was in fact [[Fathers 4 Justice]] member Ron Davis, who in May of that year was arrested for entering Parliament and throwing a condom containing purple powder over Blair and nearby Cabinet members. Davis said the attack was in response to the Prime Minister's failure to contact him or look into the matters discussed on LBC 97.3.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Womack|first1=Sarah|title=Estranged father confronted Prime Minister during a radio phone-in|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1462323/Estranged-father-confronted-Prime-Minister-during-a-radio-phone-in.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1462323/Estranged-father-confronted-Prime-Minister-during-a-radio-phone-in.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=15 October 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 May 2004}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=BBC ON THIS DAY {{!}} 19 {{!}} 2004: Angry dads hit Blair with purple flour|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/19/newsid_4516000/4516355.stm|access-date=15 October 2016|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Andy|title=May 19, 2004: Dads' group hits Tony Blair with purple flour during Prime Minister's Questions|url=http://home.bt.com/news/world-news/may-19-2004-dads-group-hits-tony-blair-with-purple-flour-during-prime-ministers-questions-11363981783027|access-date=15 October 2016|work=BT.com|date=19 May 2016}}</ref>

[[Mark Flanagan (communications)|Mark Flanagan]], the station's Managing Director, left Chrysalis in 2005 to set up a political consultancy company, and was replaced by David Lloyd.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Deans |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jul/18/radio |title=Flanagan quits LBC for politics |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=18 July 2005}}</ref> He introduced a [[PODcasting|podcasting]] service called LBC Plus, and a number of premium-rate promotional opportunities to replace falling advertising revenues experienced by the radio sector.

In January 2006, LBC Plus launched as a paid subscription service providing [[podcast]]s;<ref>{{cite news |title=Paid-for podcasts boost LBC revenue |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/broadcast/paid-for-podcasts-boost-lbc-revenue/ |access-date=26 April 2023 |work=Press Gazette |date=14 May 2007}}</ref> eventually this became a free catch-up service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lbc.audioagain.com/|title=LBC Catch Up|website=lbc.audioagain.com|access-date=2020-01-27|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330102749/http://lbc.audioagain.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2006, LBC 97.3 became available in some other parts of the country on the digital [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] platform, after Chrysalis bought out its partners and closed the [[DNN (radio)|Digital News Network]] rolling news station, which had previously been carried on the MXR multiplex. Each multiplex region − the North West, West Midlands, Yorkshire, North East, South Wales, and the West − broadcast the London LBC transmission, augmented with occasional bulletins of regional news and travel information.<ref>{{cite press release |title=LBC Radio in DAB Expansion – potential 17 million audience |url=http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=26524&hilite= |date=28 July 2006 |publisher=LBC Radio}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Julia |last=Day |title=Ofcom gives nod to LBC news hub |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/aug/01/ofcom.commercialradio |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=1 August 2006}}</ref>

===Global Radio===
In February 2007, Chrysalis confirmed media speculation that it was reviewing the entire radio operation at its investors' request.<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Tryhorn |title=Chrysalis joins consolidation race |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/feb/12/mediabusiness.citynews |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=12 February 2007}}</ref> Further media speculation from ''[[The Guardian]]'' suggested that the group had little option, due to shareholder pressure, to sell its radio arm, including LBC, raising up to £200 million for new acquisitions, while ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' suggested that it could be the subject of a management buyout. Subsequently, it was announced on 25 June 2007 that LBC along with its sister stations [[The Arrow (radio)|The Arrow]], [[Heart Network|Heart]], and [[Galaxy Radio|Galaxy]] network were to be sold for £170 million to [[Global Radio]] by the [[Chrysalis Group]], whose Chrysalis Radio operation closed down.<ref>{{cite news |first=Emma |last=Thelwell |title=Chrysalis sells three radio stations |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/06/25/bcnchrys125.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108152234/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/06/25/bcnchrys125.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2008 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=26 June 2007}}</ref> In December 2008 the station moved to the [[Capital London]] studios in Leicester Square.

In April 2007, a new marketing slogan for (what was then called) LBC 97.3 was introduced − "London's Biggest Conversation", a play on the station's initials.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joanne |last=Oatts |title=LBC becomes 'London's Biggest Conversation' |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/radio/a44804/lbc-becomes-londons-biggest-conversation.html |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=3 April 2007}}</ref>

The radio station became involved in the [[MMR vaccine controversy]] after a broadcast by [[Jeni Barnett]] on 7 January 2009 in which she debated the alleged dangers of MMR vaccine with callers. It became the subject of media controversy, first because her views were criticised as irresponsible by medical journalist Dr [[Ben Goldacre]], and then because LBC and Global Radio threatened legal action against Goldacre for copyright infringement after he refused to remove the audio of the show from his blog, which resulted in its being made available at Wikileaks and elsewhere and the preparation of transcripts of the broadcast. [[David Aaronovitch]] in ''[[The Times]]'' argued for "a class action against LBC for permitting a presenter to inflict her preposterous prejudices on her listeners, to the detriment of someone else's kids."<ref>{{cite news | title = The preposterous prejudice of the anti-MMR lobby | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/david_aaronovitch/article5696902.ece | newspaper = The Times | location = London | first = David | last = Aaronovitch | date = 10 February 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[Norman Lamb]] MP tabled an [[Early Day Motion]] criticising Barnett and LBC for the likely effect of the broadcast on public health.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37811&SESSION=899 | title = Early Day Motion 754: MMR vaccine and the media | publisher = UK Parliament | date = 10 February 2009 | access-date = 11 February 2009 | archive-date = 15 August 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180815024515/http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37811&SESSION=899 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Towards the end of October 2012, the station ceased DAB broadcasts to some parts of the country as regional DAB multiplexes in England and Wales were shut down.

Since 2013 LBC has broadcast a consumer law show, called ''The Consumer Hour'' that focused on providing information, advice, and support to listeners on various consumer-related topics, such as personal finance, product safety, and consumer rights. The show was initially hosted by [[Clive Bull]] with listeners' questions answered by guest consumer lawyer [[Dean Dunham]]; since 2020 Dunham has solely presented the show.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dean Dunham - Presenters - Radio - LBC |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/dean-dunham/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=LBC |language=en}}</ref>

On 30 January 2014, LBC announced its intention to begin broadcasting nationally on DAB at 7{{nbsp}}a.m. on 11 February 2014 under a new slogan, "Leading Britain's Conversation", with new jingles composed by [[David Arnold (conductor)|David Arnold]] and performed by the [[City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jacob |first1=Jonathan |title=LBC goes national – new jingle package |url=https://earshotcreative.com/2014/02/lbc-goes-national-new-jingle-package/ |website=Earshot |access-date=14 February 2023 |date=11 February 2014}}</ref> LBC took up the slot previously occupied by [[Jazz FM (UK)|Jazz FM]] (and briefly [[Birdsong (radio channel)|Birdsong]]), and dropped the "97.3" from the station name to reinforce the notion that it now had national coverage.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Sweney |title=LBC to go national on DAB digital radio |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jan/30/lbc-national-dab-digitaal-radio |work=The Guardian |date=30 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Burrell |title=LBC to take on Radio 5 Live with national expansion |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/lbc-to-take-on-radio-5-live-with-national-expansion-9095430.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=30 January 2014}}</ref>

In a 2023 poll by [[YouGov]], 14% of respondents ranked LBC as a trusted news brand. A further 14% of respondents did not trust LBC. The remaining respondents were either neutral or did not answer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Majid |first1=Aisha |title=UK newsbrand trust rankings: The Sun is least-trusted and BBC and FT lead the way |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/uk-newsbrand-trust-rankings-sun-least-trusted-bbc-ft-most/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |work=Press Gazette |date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

As of September 2024, LBC and LBC London broadcast to a combined weekly audience of 4.1 million<!--2.469m+1.386m-->, according to [[RAJAR]].<ref name="RAJAR">{{cite web | url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php | title=Quarterly listening|publisher=RAJAR|access-date=11 January 2024}} Updated quarterly.</ref>