BBC Radio Lancashire


BBC Radio Lancashire is the BBC Local Radio service for the county of Lancashire, in North West England. It began as BBC Radio Blackburn on 26 January 1971 on 96.4FM, then adding 854 kHz AM in 1972 and changing to its current name on 4 July 1981. It broadcasts from studios in Blackburn on 95.5, 103.9, 104.5 FM and 855, 1557 AM, DAB, Freeview channel 720 and RealPlayer via the website.
According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 164,000 listeners and a 6.2% share as of December 2018.

Transmitters

The 103.9 FM signal comes 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, TV, Digital One, and the commercial stations Heart North West, Rock FM on 97.4FM and Smooth North West on 100.4FM. Winter Hill also broadcasts two other local digital multiplexes - MXR North West 12C and CE Digital Manchester 11C. Radio Manchester is very clear in the south of Lancashire as is Radio Merseyside. The Lancaster transmitter also carries TV, BBC National DAB stations and Digital One. Beginning on 1 October 2001, the DAB signals have come from the EMAP Digital Central Lancashire 12A multiplex located at Winter Hill and Pendle Forest. Pendle Forest also started broadcasting BBC National DAB stations in April 2004.

Programming

The majority of BBC Radio Lancashire's programming is produced and broadcast from its Blackburn studios. During off-peak hours, BBC Radio Lancashire also carries some shared programming with sister station BBC Radio Manchester. During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Lancashire simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight.

Notable former presenters