Editing BBC Local Radio

{{short description|Local and regional radio services for England and the Channel Islands}}
{{about|BBC stations in England and the Channel Islands|Scotland|BBC Radio Scotland|and|BBC Radio nan Gaidheal|Wales|BBC Radio Wales|and|BBC Radio Cymru|Northern Ireland|BBC Radio Ulster|and|BBC Radio Foyle}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = BBC Local Radio
| logo = BBC Local Radio 2021.svg
| logo_size = 270px
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2021
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| foundation = 1965
| location_city = [[The Mailbox]], Birmingham (English Regions HQ)
[[Broadcasting House]], London (Audio HQ)
| location_country = United Kingdom
| area_served = {{plainlist|
* [[England]]
* [[Channel Islands]]
  }}
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Chris Burns (Head of Audio and Digital for [[BBC England]])|Jason Horton (Director of Production for BBC Local Radio)}}
| industry = [[Mass media]]
| services = [[Radio broadcasting|Local Radio]]
| parent = [[BBC]]
| homepage = {{URL|bbc.co.uk/radio}}
}}
{{BBC sidebar}}
'''BBC Local Radio''' (also referred to as '''Local BBC Radio''') is the [[BBC]]'s local and regional [[radio]] division for [[England]] and the [[Channel Islands]],<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Local Radio |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/local-radio/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> consisting of 39 stations.<ref name=BBC-LR-2010>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2010/nations_regions/eng_regions.shtml|title=BBC Local Radio in England Policy 2010/2011|publisher=Statements of Programme Policy > [[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=2 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403022647/http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/statements2010/nations_regions/eng_regions.shtml|archive-date=3 April 2012}}</ref>

As of December 2024, the network broadcasts to a combined audience of 7.1 million, with a listening share of 4.6%, according to [[RAJAR]].<ref>{{cite web|title=RAJAR|url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php|access-date=2023-05-18|website=www.rajar.co.uk}}</ref>

==History==
{{for timeline}}
[[File:BBC Local Radio logo.png|thumb|200px|Former BBC Local Radio logo, used from 2008 to 2020]]
The popularity of [[Pirate radio in the United Kingdom|pirate radio]] was to challenge a then very "stiff" and blinkered management at the BBC. The most prominent concession by the BBC was the creation of [[BBC Radio 1]] to satisfy the ever-demanding new youth culture with their thirst for new, popular music. The other, however, was that these pirate radio stations were, in some cases, local. As a result, BBC Local Radio began as an experiment.

Initially, stations had to be co-funded by the BBC and [[Local government in England|local authorities]], which only some [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]-controlled areas proved willing to do. [[BBC Radio Leicester|Radio Leicester]] was the first to launch on 8 November 1967, followed by [[BBC Radio Leeds|Leeds]], [[BBC Radio Stoke|Stoke]], [[BBC Radio Durham|Durham]], [[BBC Radio Sheffield|Sheffield]], [[BBC Radio Merseyside|Merseyside]], [[BBC Sussex|Brighton]], and [[BBC Radio Nottingham|Nottingham]]. The local authority funding requirement was dropped by the early 1970s, and stations spread across the country; many city-based stations later expanded their remit to cover an entire county.<ref name=NewStatesman>{{cite news|author=David Self|date=28 February 2005|url=http://www.NewStatesman.com/200502280033|title=Meet Dave 'n' Sue|website=New Statesman|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125045408/http://www.newstatesman.com/200502280033|archive-date=25 November 2011}}</ref>

There were eight stations in the initial "experiment", which lasted for two years. When this ended, it was deemed so successful that all of the stations, except BBC Radio Durham, remained on air. More followed in 1970 and 1971: [[BBC Radio  WM|BBC Radio Birmingham]], [[BBC Radio Bristol|Bristol]], [[BBC Radio Blackburn|Blackburn]], [[BBC Radio Derby|Derby]], [[BBC Radio Humberside|Humberside]], [[BBC Radio London|London]], [[BBC Radio Manchester|Manchester]], [[BBC Radio Kent|Medway]], [[BBC Radio Newcastle|Newcastle]] (replacing Radio Durham), [[BBC Radio Oxford|Oxford]], [[BBC Radio Solent|Solent]], and [[BBC Tees|Teesside]].<ref name=UKradiohistoryP2>{{cite web|author=Mike Smith|year=2005–2016|title=UK Radio: A Brief History Part 2|url=http://www.MDS975.co.uk/Content/ukradio2.html|website=MDS975.co.uk|publisher=MDS975|access-date=2 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504202423/http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/ukradio2.html|archive-date=4 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Despite the success of this, the original stations were seen as flawed, as they originally only broadcast on the [[FM broadcasting|FM waveband]], and not on the more widely available [[AM broadcasting|AM waveband]]. This was eventually rectified a few years after the creation of these new channels.<ref name=UKradiohistoryP2/>

[[Independent Local Radio]] (ILR) launched nationally in 1973, with nineteen stations; more followed in subsequent years. As a result, many of the BBC Local Radio stations found themselves in direct competition with commercial competitors that utilised many of the popular [[Disc jockey|DJs]] from the pirate radio stations, and that gained, in most cases, large audiences. Despite this, BBC Local Radio continued to flourish, and the 1980s and early 1990s saw the network expanded with a combination of new launches and existing city-based services expanded to include whole counties. By the mid-1990s this expansion concluded and since then, the complement of stations has remained unchanged.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Smith|year=2005–2016|title=UK Radio: A Brief History Part 3|url=http://www.MDS975.co.uk/Content/ukradio3.html|website=MDS975.co.uk|publisher=MDS975|access-date=2 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504202350/http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/ukradio3.html|archive-date=4 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

BBC Local stations were never intended to broadcast around the clock but from launch, rather than each station's frequency going silent, each station has carried another BBC station when not on air. Until the early 1990s [[BBC Radio 2]] was carried due to it broadcasting a 24-hour service, although during the 1980s and early 1990s some stations carried output from [[BBC Radio 1]] at various times, such as simulcasting [[The Official Chart|Radio 1's Top 40 programme]] on Sunday afternoons. During the mid-1990s many stations switched to airing the [[BBC World Service]] and by the end of the 1990s all stations were carrying [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] during their downtime.

The 1980s also saw an expansion of programming hours but stations had still handed over to Radio 2 by early evening. This was seen as unacceptable by the BBC so the decision was taken to begin the roll-out of regional evening programming which saw the same programme networked on all the stations in that area. Consequently, by the end of the 1980s, stations were now providing local/regional programming on weeknights, and in many areas at the weekend as well, until midnight.

==Current operation==
The radio stations are operated from locations around the country that usually share with the BBC regional TV news services, and their news gathering bureaux. The stations are operated by the region in which the station is based and are the responsibility of the [[BBC English Regions]] department, a division of [[BBC News]].

The remit for each Local Radio station is the same: to offer a primarily speech-based service; comprising news and information complemented by music.<ref name=BBC-LR-2010/> The target audience of BBC Local Radio is listeners aged over fifty, who are not served as well as other age groups on the BBC.<ref name=BBC-LR-2010/>

Each station produces local programmes on weekdays from 6am until 2pm.  Depending on location and population, afternoon, evening and weekend schedules will vary from shared regional programmes to being fully local although all live sports coverage continues to remain local. Since October 2023, all stations have carried the all England Late Show which originates in London or Manchester.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/07/becky-want-and-jo-good-to-host-new-local-bbc-radio-late-show/ | title=Becky Want and Jo Good to host new Local BBC Radio late show | date=26 July 2023 }}</ref> and since November 2023, the Sunday evening show is also carried on all stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/10/dotun-adebayo-to-host-new-show-across-bbc-local-radio-network/ |title=Dotun Adebayo to host new show across BBC local radio network |work=Radio Today |date=20 October 2023 |accessdate=20 October 2023}}</ref> 

All local BBC radio stations simulcast [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] from 0100 until 0600.

==Transmission==
All of the BBC Local Radio stations broadcast on [[FM broadcasting|FM]], [[Digital radio in the United Kingdom|digital radio]], [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] and [[BBC Sounds]] in their respective areas across England, but BBC Radio London is also available on [[Sky UK]], [[Freesat]] and [[Virgin Media]].

Also, until the start of the 1990s, all BBC stations used to broadcast on [[medium wave]] although initially, the BBC's local stations were broadcast only on VHF. The start of the 1990s saw new stations, once again, launching only on FM and in 1992 and 1993, six MW transmitters - [[BBC Radio Tees|BBC Radio Cleveland]], [[BBC Radio Northampton]], [[BBC Radio Oxford]], [[BBC GLR]], [[BBC GMR]] and one of [[BBC Radio Nottingham]] and [[BBC Radio WM]]'s transmitters - were switched off<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbceng.info/Information/eid/press-releases/Engineering_Press_Releases_part1_23Mar1994_to_20Mar1989.pdf|title=BBC Engineering Press Release|date=27 November 1991}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amfm.org.uk/amfmnews/amfm17.html|title=AM/FM Online Edition #17: November 1993|website=www.amfm.org.uk|accessdate=4 December 2020}}</ref> although three, including BBC GLR's MW frequency, were re-allocated for use by commercial radio. In 1996, the MW frequencies of [[BBC Radio Leicester]] and BBC WM were handed over to the [[BBC Asian Network]].

MW transmitter closures began again in 2012, initially as a five-week trial to find out if listeners would miss or complain about the lack of [[AM broadcasting|AM]] services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/08/bbc-local-radio-starts-switching-off-am/|title=BBC local radio starts switching off AM|date=19 August 2012|accessdate=4 December 2020}}</ref> Two of the four transmitters partaking in the trial - BBC Radio Nottingham's MW transmitter and [[BBC Radio Kent]]'s relay at [[Rusthall]] near [[Tunbridge Wells]] - remained off-air after the BBC said that the trial switch-off attracted very few complaints from listeners.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/10/mw-switch-off-remains-at-bbc-local-radio/|title=MW switch-off remains at BBC Local Radio|publisher=Radio Today|date=2 October 2012|accessdate=5 October 2012}}</ref> In 2018, the MW transmissions of BBC Radios [[BBC Radio Sussex|Sussex]], [[BBC Radio Surrey|Surrey]], [[BBC Radio Humberside|Humberside]], [[BBC Radio Wiltshire|Wiltshire]], Nottingham, Kent and [[BBC Radio Lincolnshire|Lincolnshire]] ended and MW coverage for Radios Devon, Lancashire and Essex was reduced. Altogether, thirteen MW transmitters were switched off.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clifton |first=Kieran |date=10 August 2017 |title=Changes to some BBC local radio medium wave services |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/46b21269-723b-4cfd-b8f3-fc735d09d0a3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920200344/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/46b21269-723b-4cfd-b8f3-fc735d09d0a3 |archive-date=Sep 20, 2023 |website=BBC Blogs - About the BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2017/08/bbc-starts-medium-wave-switch-off.html|title=BBC Starts MW Switch-off|publisher=a516digital |date=12 August 2017|accessdate=22 September 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170922194728/http://www.a516digital.com/2017/08/bbc-starts-medium-wave-switch-off.html |archive-date= Sep 22, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/01/bbc-confirms-local-radio-medium-wave-closures/|title=BBC confirms local radio medium wave closures|date=1 January 2018|accessdate=4 December 2020 |website=RadioToday |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210128152800/https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/01/bbc-confirms-local-radio-medium-wave-closures/ |archive-date= Jan 28, 2021 }}</ref> In 2020, the MW transmissions of [[BBC Radio Cornwall]], [[BBC Radio Newcastle]], [[BBC Radio Merseyside]], [[BBC Radio Solent]], [[BBC Three Counties Radio]] and [[BBC Radio York]] ended, [[BBC Radio Cumbria]] stopped broadcasting on MW in [[Whitehaven]] and [[BBC Radio Norfolk]]'s [[Norwich]] MW transmitter went silent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frequencyfinder.org.uk/updates_fa.html|title= FM and AM radio updates|website=Frequency Finder |accessdate=4 December 2020}}</ref> In 2021, a further eight BBC Local Radio stations - [[BBC Essex]], [[BBC Radio Cambridgeshire]], [[BBC Radio Devon]], [[BBC Radio Leeds]], [[BBC Radio Sheffield]], [[BBC Hereford & Worcester]], [[BBC Radio Stoke]] and [[BBC Radio Lancashire]] - stopped broadcasting on MW.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/04/ten-more-stations-turn-off-medium-wave-services/ |website=RadioToday |title=Ten more stations turn off Medium Wave services|date=14 April 2021|accessdate=19 April 2021}}</ref> As of May 2024, only [[BBC Radio Cumbria]] (in North Cumbria and South Cumbria), [[BBC Radio Derby]], [[BBC Radio Gloucestershire]], [[BBC Radio Guernsey]], [[BBC Radio Jersey]], [[BBC Radio Norfolk]] (in [[West Norfolk, England|West Norfolk]]) and [[BBC Radio Somerset]], still broadcast on MW.

Due to sports rights broadcasting restrictions, some commentaries are not available on BBC Sounds. In this instance, an alternative national programme will usually be broadcast on Saturday afternoons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2021 |title=Local BBC Radio show Squad Goals returns on BBC Sounds |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/08/local-bbc-radio-show-squad-goals-returns-on-bbc-sounds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113082232/https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/08/local-bbc-radio-show-squad-goals-returns-on-bbc-sounds/ |archive-date=Nov 13, 2023 |website=RadioToday}}</ref>  Overnight events are replaced by a looping message explaining this is broadcast.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

==Stations==
{{BBC Local Radio map}}

A list of the forty local radio stations by [[BBC English Regions|region]]. In addition to these stations, [[BBC Radio Solent]] operates an opt-out service covering [[Dorset]].<ref name=BBC-LR-2010/> There were also opt-out services covering [[Milton Keynes]] ([[BBC Three Counties Radio]]), [[Peterborough]] and [[the Fens]] ([[BBC Radio Cambridgeshire]]), [[Plymouth]] ([[BBC Radio Devon]]), and [[Swindon]] ([[BBC Radio Wiltshire|BBC Wiltshire]]);<ref name=BBC-LR-2010/> but these ceased in 2012 due to cutbacks as part of the BBC's "Delivering Quality First" programme.

===[[BBC East]]===
*[[BBC Essex]]
*[[BBC Radio Cambridgeshire]]
*[[BBC Radio Norfolk]]
*[[BBC Radio Northampton]]
*[[BBC Radio Suffolk]]
*[[BBC Three Counties Radio]]

===[[BBC East Midlands]]===
*[[BBC Radio Derby]]
*[[BBC Radio Leicester]]
*[[BBC Radio Nottingham]]

===[[BBC London]]===
[[File:London Bus Company Routemaster coach RMA48 (NMY 631E), Watney Market, 17 June 2011.jpg|thumb|A [[AEC Routemaster|Routemaster]] double-decker bus, being used as a mobile [[radio broadcasting]] facility by BBC Radio London in 2011, under its then current name of BBC London 94.9.]]
*[[BBC Radio London]]

===[[BBC North East and Cumbria]]===
*[[BBC Radio Cumbria]]
*[[BBC Radio Newcastle]]
*[[BBC Radio Tees]]

===[[BBC North West]]===
*[[BBC Radio Lancashire]]
*[[BBC Radio Manchester]]
*[[BBC Radio Merseyside]]

===[[BBC South]]===
*[[BBC Radio Berkshire]]
*[[BBC Radio Oxford]]
*[[BBC Radio Solent]]

===[[BBC South East]]===
*[[BBC Radio Kent]]
*[[BBC Radio Surrey]]
*[[BBC Radio Sussex]]

===[[BBC South West]]===
*[[BBC Radio Cornwall]]
*[[BBC Radio Devon]]
*[[BBC Radio Guernsey]]
*[[BBC Radio Jersey]]

===[[BBC West]]===
*[[BBC Radio Bristol]]
*[[BBC Radio Gloucestershire]]
*[[BBC Radio Somerset]]
*[[BBC Radio Wiltshire]]

===[[BBC West Midlands|BBC Midlands]]===
*[[BBC Radio WM]] (West Midlands)
*[[BBC CWR]] (Coventry & Warwickshire)
*[[BBC Hereford & Worcester]]
*[[BBC Radio Shropshire]]
*[[BBC Radio Stoke]]

===[[BBC Yorkshire]]===
[[File:BBC Radio in Leeds Blue Plaque.jpg|thumb|[[Blue plaque]] placed by Leeds Civic Society outlining radio in [[Leeds]]]]
*[[BBC Radio Leeds]]
*[[BBC Radio Sheffield]]
*[[BBC Radio York]]

===[[BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire]]===
*[[BBC Radio Humberside]]
*[[BBC Radio Lincolnshire]]

===Former stations===
*[[BBC Dorset FM]]
*[[BBC Radio Durham]]
*[[BBC Southern Counties Radio]]
*[[BBC Thames Valley FM]]

The stations were launched progressively; starting with BBC Radio Leicester on 8 November 1967, with the last station to launch being the short-lived [[BBC Dorset FM]] on 26 April 1993. Since then, many stations have been merged and renamed but no new stations have been created where no service previously existed, as plans to launch stations in unserved areas, most notably in [[Cheshire]], have not materialised.

==Imaging==
Between October 2009 and April 2012, a three note [[jingle]] package produced by Mcasso Music Production was gradually rolled out across the network, and was in use by all BBC Local Radio stations. Mcasso also updated the imaging in October 2015 which was launched by [[BBC Radio London]] (on the day of the station's 45th anniversary) replacing the three-note package with a six-note package.

In January 2020, [[BBC Radio Leicester]] launched a brand new custom-made jingle package by Reelworld, based in [[MediaCity UK]], [[Salford]]. The new jingle package was rolled out to all BBC Local Radio stations over the course of the year, alongside a refreshed "on air" sound to help encourage younger listeners to the station. The new station branding also incorporates a new tag line, "The Sound of *area of coverage*, and all the music you love". The new jingle package marked the first time in ten years that "sung jingles" were used in the stations' on air branding.

==Dave and Sue==
'''Dave and Sue''' are two fictional radio listeners created as [[Persona (user experience)|marketing personas]]. Descriptions of the characters, created by the BBC, were given to all their local radio presenters as representative [[Target market|target listener]]s during the 2000s. They were later superseded by the "BBC Local Radio 2010" strategy.

The characters were created as part of "Project Bullseye". Its stated aim was "To develop great [[radio programming]] ... we need to know where the centre of our [[audience]] target is and be able to focus on it in all we do."<ref name=NewStatesman/>

Dave and Sue are both 55. Sue is a school [[secretary]], while Dave is a [[self-employed]] [[plumber]]. They are both divorcees with grown-up children. The characters shop at [[Asda]], and wear casual clothes. The couple have little interest in [[high culture]], or [[politics]], and see the world as "a dangerous and depressing place". They hope that radio will be "something that will cheer them up and make them laugh".<ref name=NewStatesman/>

BBC Local Radio staff were given facts and timelines about Dave and Sue, described as "composite listeners". Staff were asked to focus on producing something to which the pair would enjoy listening to.<ref>Peter Stewart, ''Essential Radio Skills''</ref>

The BBC also produced photographs of the couple, to encourage presenters to visualise their potential listeners.<ref name=NewStatesman/> At the 2005 [[Frank Gillard Awards]] for BBC Local Radio, the corporation hired two actors to represent the fictional couple and award a prize to the "Receptionist of the Year".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/england/annualreview/pdf/english_regions_annual_review_06.pdf BBC English Regions Annual Review 2005–2006]</ref>

Mia Costello of [[BBC Radio Solent]] wrote a controversial internal memo in October 2006, re-stating the importance of these characters. She wrote: "Whatever job you do on station, make sure this week, you broadcast to Dave and Sue – people in their fifties. Only put on callers sounding in the 45–64 range. I don't want to hear really [[elderly]] voices. Only talk about things that are positive and appealing to people in this age range. Only do caller round ups about people in this age range." This was reprinted the following month in the ''[[Southern Daily Echo]]'', following which a BBC spokesperson commented "Out of context these notes sound harsh and we apologise if they offend anyone."<ref>{{cite news|author=Andrew Napier|date=14 November 2006|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/breifing/display.var.1019701.0.you_are_too_old_at_65_bbc_tells_listeners.php|title=You are too old at 65, BBC tells listeners|website=DailyEcho.co.uk|publisher=[[Southern Daily Echo]], [[Newsquest|Newsquest Media Group Limited]]|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref>

==BBC Sounds==
{{Expand section|date=November 2022}}
BBC Local Radio is available as a listen-again service on [[BBC Sounds]].

England Unwrapped was launched in 2019 and shares stories made by Local Radio teams.

==Podcasts==

* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p086lk9d A full list of Local Radio podcasts]

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|BBC|Radio}}
*[[Independent Local Radio]]
*[[BBC Radio]]
*[[BBC English Regions]]
*[[BBC Scotland]]
*[[BBC Cymru Wales]]
*[[BBC Northern Ireland]]
*[[Radio in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category inline|BBC Radio}}
*{{bbc.co.uk|id=sounds/stations#local-stations|title=BBC Sounds – Local Radio}}

{{BBC Local Radio}}
{{BBC Radio}}
{{BBC}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:BBC Local Radio]]
[[Category:BBC Radio|Local Radio]]
[[Category:BBC nations and regions|Local Radio]]
[[Category:British radio networks]]
[[Category:Radio stations in the United Kingdom]]