BBC Radio Kent

BBC Radio Kentis theBBC's local radio stationserving the county ofKent.

BBC Radio Kent

Royal Tunbridge Wells
Broadcast area	Kent
Frequency	FM:96.7 MHz (Medway,Maidstone,North andWest Kent) FM: 97.6 MHz (Folkestone) FM: 104.2 MHz (CanterburyandEast Kent) DAB:11C Freeview:711
RDS	BBC Kent
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Local news, talk and music
Ownership
Owner	BBC Local Radio, BBC South East
History
First air date	18 December 1970
Former names	BBC Radio Medway (1970–1983)
Former frequencies	774MW 1035 MW 1602 MW
Technical information
Licensing authority	Ofcom
Links
Website	BBC Radio Kent

It broadcasts onFM,DAB,digital TV and viaBBC Soundsfrom studios at The Great Hall inRoyal Tunbridge Wells.

According toRAJAR,the station has a weekly audience of 142,000 listeners and a 1.7% share as of December 2023.

History

The radio station was launched in 1970 asBBC Radio Medway,originally only serving theMedway Towns.It broadcast from studios at 30 High Street inRochester,a former newspaper office which was subsequently named Media House. The station became well known in the early 1980s for its early Friday evening soul music show presented by DJ Dave Brown, becoming one of the most listened to soul shows in the UK before DJRobbie Vincentearned that achievement with the national broadcasterBBC Radio 1in 1983.

The station gained its current name on 2 July 1983 when operations expanded to cover all ofKentas part of the BBC's policy of operating countywide stations. Radio Medway was closed down by long serving staff member Rod Lucas, who was also the first voice to be heard on the new BBC Radio Kent.

In July 1986, the studios moved to the nearby Sun Pier, from where it broadcast instereofor the first time.

On 18 March 1994, BBC Radio Kent stopped broadcasting on 1035 kHzMWdue to the frequency being reallocated to a new London-wide commercial radio station and then in January 2018 774 and 1602 kHz stopped broadcasting due to cost savings.

In 2001, the station moved to The Great Hall inRoyal Tunbridge Wells,to combine with new television studios for theBBC South Eastregion covering Kent andSussex.From here, BBC Radio Kent operates a total of five studios – two for programmes, one for news bulletins, one network contributions area, and a comprehensive live performance area. Since gaining the live performance area, live music has played an increasingly important part of the station's output. The music studio is in use daily as part of the evening arts strand "The Dominic King Show".

In 2015, under the direction of a new Station Managing Editor, the station created a comprehensive Station Imaging Creative Department. Organised more along the lines of a commercial stations Creative Department, it is responsible for trails, idents and jingles. The three person department also undertook creative imaging for shared programmes originating from Tunbridge Wells, as well as providing trails for other stations in the South East cluster. Other Local BBC Radio usually has a single Station Sound producer, not a whole department.

BBC Radio Kent also operated a studio and office in The Wendy House (a building close to the original Sun Pier site inChatham), although this has since closed, and small contributions studios inDoverandCanterbury.

Technical

BBC Radio Kent broadcasts on 96.7 FM for North and West Kent from theWrotham transmitting stationon theNorth Downs,close to the village ofWrotham,97.6 FM forFolkstoneand surrounding areas from the Creteway Down transmitting station situated north east of the townand 104.2 FM from theSwingate transmitting stationlocated at the village ofSwingate,nearDovercoveringCanterbury,south and east Kent. It also broadcast onDAB.

The station also broadcasts onFreeviewTV channel 711 in theBBC South Eastregion and streams online viaBBC Sounds.

Programming

Local programming airs from the BBC'sTunbridgestudios from 6 am to 2 pm on weekdays and for sports coverage.

Off-peak programming, including the weekday late show from 10 pm to 1 am, originates fromBBC Radio SolentinSouthampton,BBC Radio ManchesterandBBC Radio London.

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

Presenters

Notable former presenters

• Dave Cash(1999–2016)
• Don Durbridge(1983–1992)
• Mo Dutta(1991–1994)
• Alex Lester(2017, now atGreatest Hits Radio)
• Jimmy Mack(1970–1983)
• Richard Spendlove(1989–2017)
• Barbara Sturgeon(1983–2004)

External links

• BBC Radio Kent