BBC Radio Leicester


BBC Radio Leicester is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The station broadcasts from studios in Leicester on 104.9 FM, on DAB, and via the BBC iPlayer.

History

BBC Radio Leicester was the first of the new wave of BBC Local Radio stations introduced in the 1960s. Radio Leicester began broadcasting at 12.45p.m. on 8 November 1967 on 95.05 VHF from a transmitter located on Gorse Hill above the city centre.
The station's former 837 kHz medium wave frequency from the Freeman's Common transmitter near the University of Leicester is now used by the BBC Asian Network, which originated in Leicester but is now a national network delivered via DAB, digital satellite, Freeview and other systems across the UK and beyond.
In 2007, the station celebrated its 40th anniversary by launching a Ruby Rainbow Appeal in aid of the Rainbows Hospice based in Loughborough, within its TSA. Special events took place throughout the year culminating in a final fund-raising appeal around the time of the anniversary in November 2007.
According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 167,000 listeners and a 6.2% share as of December 2018.

Studios

In 2005, the station moved to new premises at 9 St Nicholas Place. This new centre is adjacent to the medieval Guildhall and Cathedral and includes many aspects of Leicester's history, such as Victorian tiles and an undercroft, with remains dating to Roman times. The Centre houses the BBC 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.

Transmitters

Although the station's FM transmitter mast is only 70 m tall, it is set 235 m above sea level on top of the Jurassic limestone ridge at Copt Oak, next to the M1. This is a high point in Charnwood Forest, part of the National Forest. Since 6 December 2002, the station's DAB signal has come from the NOW Digital East Midlands Leicester 11B multiplex, which comes from Copt Oak and Houghton on the Hill. The Waltham transmitter and Houghton-on-the-Hill have a Digital One multiplex and Waltham has a BBC National DAB multiplex. The Copt Oak transmitter also broadcasts Gem 106.

Programming

Most of BBC Radio Leicester's programming is produced and broadcast from its Leicester studios between 6a.m. and 10p.m. on Sundays–Fridays and from 6a.m. to 6p.m. and 8–9p.m. on Saturdays.
During off-peak hours, BBC Radio Leicester also carries regional programming for the Midlands and East Midlands regions, produced by sister stations BBC WM and BBC Radio Nottingham. During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Leicester simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight.

Audio clips