BBC Radio Leicester

BBC Radio Leicesteris theBBC's local radio stationserving the counties ofLeicestershireandRutland.

BBC Radio Leicester

Leicester
Broadcast area	LeicestershireandRutland
Frequency	FM:104.9 MHz DAB:11B (NOW Leicester) Freeview:713
RDS	BBC Leic
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Local news, talk and music
Ownership
Owner	BBC Local Radio, BBC East Midlands
History
First air date	8 November1967
Former frequencies	95 FM 837MW
Technical information
Licensing authority	Ofcom
Links
Website	BBC Radio Leicester

It broadcasts onFM,DAB,digital TV and viaBBC Soundsfrom studios at St Nicholas Place inLeicester.

According toRAJAR,the station had a weekly audience of 119,000 listeners and a 4.4% share as of June 2024.

History

BBC Radio Leicester was the firstBBC Local Radiostation, launching at 12:45 on 8 November 1967 on 95.05 VHF from a transmitter located on Gorse Hill above the city centre.

In 2007, the station celebrated its 40th anniversary by launching a Ruby Rainbow Appeal in aid of the Rainbows Hospice based inLoughborough,within its TSA (total survey area). Special events took place throughout the year culminating in a final fundraising appeal around the time of the anniversary in November 2007.

BBC Leicester building at 9 St Nicholas Place.

Studios

In 2005, the station moved to new premises at 9 St Nicholas Place. This new centre is adjacent to the medievalGuildhallandCathedraland includes many aspects ofLeicester's history, such asVictoriantiles and anundercroft(first revealed in 1841), with remains dating toRomantimes. The Centre houses theBBC College of Journalism's base for the Midlands, an IT Centre that is used in partnership with local organisations, and a BBC Shop selling a wide range of BBC-branded merchandise.

Technical

Copt Oaktransmitter next to theM1 motorway.

Although the station'sFMtransmitter mast is only 70 m (230 ft) tall, it is set 235 m (770 ft) abovesea levelon top of theJurassiclimestoneridge atCopt Oak,next to theM1.This is a high point inCharnwood Forest,part of theNational Forest.

Since 6 December 2002, the station'sDABsignal has come from the NOW Digital East Midlands (NDEM)Leicester11B multiplex, which comes from the Copt Oak, Leicester Cardinal,Waltham,andHoughton on the Hilltransmitters.

The station also broadcasts onFreeviewTV channel 713 in theBBC East Midlandsregion and streams online viaBBC Sounds.

The station also used to broadcast on 837kHzmedium wavefrequency from the Freeman's Common transmitter, near theUniversity of Leicester.On 30 October 1989, theBBC Asian Networklaunched on the 837 MW frequency, as well as launching on the MW frequency ofBBC WM.Initially launched as a part-time service across theMidlands,it became a full-time service in 1996, resulting in BBC Radio Leicester no longer broadcasting on medium wave.

Programming

Local programming is produced and broadcast from the BBC'sLeicesterstudios from 06:00 to 14:00 on Mondays to Fridays.

All other programming apart from sport became regional or national in 2023 although the 14:00–18:00 weekday regional show is broadcast from the Radio Leicester studios.

During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Leicester simulcasts overnight programming fromBBC Radio 5 Live.

Presenters

Notable past presenters

• Herdle White
• Bill Buckley
• Bill Maynard

External links

• BBC Radio Leicester
• The history of Radio Leicester