List of BBC radio stations

Last updated March 18, 2025

This is a list of national, regional and local radio stations owned by the BBC in the United Kingdom.

List of national radio stations

All stations are available via BBC Sounds and online platforms.

Name and launch date	Format	AM kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview Freesat	Sky	Virgin Media	Former frequencies since 1967
BBC Radio 1 30 September 1967 BBC Light Programme 29 July 1945–29 September 1967	Contemporary hit music, with specialist programming at night	—	97.1–99.7	12B	700	0101	901	MW 1214 kHz (1967–1978) MW 1053 1089 kHz (1978–1994) ^{[note 1]}
BBC Radio 1Xtra 16 August 2002	Black contemporary music	—	—	12B	701	0127	907	—
BBC Radio 1 Dance 9 October 2020	Electronic dance music	—	—	(12B future)	—	—	—	—
BBC Radio 1 Anthems 8 November 2024		—	—	(12B future)	—	—	—	—
BBC Radio 2 30 September 1967 BBC Light Programme 29 July 1945–29 September 1967	Adult contemporary music	—	88.1–90.2	12B	702	0102	902	LW 200 kHz (1967–1978) MW 693 909 kHz (1978–1990) MW 990 kHz (1983–1990)^[1] (Wales only)
BBC Radio 3 30 September 1967 BBC Third Programme 29 September 1946–29 September 1967	Classical, jazz and world music, culture and drama	—	90.2–92.6	12B	703	0103	903	MW 647 kHz (1967–1978) MW 1215 kHz (1978–1992) ^{[note 2]}
BBC Radio 3 Unwind 4 November 2024	Classical and meditation music	—	—	(12B future)	—	—	—
BBC Radio 4 30 September 1967 BBC Home Service 1 September 1939–29 September 1967 BBC National Programme 9 March 1930–31 August 1939 BBC Regional Programme 9 March 1930–31 August 1939	Spoken-word programming	LW 198	92.5–96.1 103.5–104.9	12B	704	0104	904	MW 1088 1151 1457 kHz (1967–1973) MW 692 809 881 908 1052 1340 kHz (1967–1978) LW 200 kHz (1978–1988) MW 603 720 756 774 1449 1485 kHz (1978 – 15 April 2024)
BBC Radio 4 Extra 2 April 2011 BBC Radio 7 15 December 2002–2 April 2011	Archive programming	—	—	12B	708	0126	910	—
BBC Radio 5 Live 28 March 1994 BBC Radio 5 27 August 1990–27 March 1994	News, current affairs, discussion and sport	MW 693 909 990 (Wales)	—	12B	705	0105	905	—
	News, current affairs, discussion and sport	Also on BBC Local Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Ulster overnight						—
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 February 2002	Additional sports coverage	—	—	12B	706	0131	908	—
BBC Radio 6 Music 11 March 2002	Alternative music	—	—	12B	707	0120	909	—
BBC Asian Network 4 November 1996	Station for the British Asian community	MW 828 837 1449 1458	—	12B	709	0109	912	—
BBC World Service 19 December 1932 BBC Overseas Service November 1939–1 May 1965 BBC Empire Service 19 December 1932–November 1939	International radio station for news and current affairs	—	—	12B	710^[2] 711^[3]	0115^[4]	906^[5]	MW 648 kHz (1978–2011)^{[note 3]}
	International radio station for news and current affairs	Also on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Cymru overnight Available worldwide on various other platforms						MW 648 kHz (1978–2011)^{[note 3]}

List of regional radio stations

Channels numbers below are valid within the relevant region. Outside each region, channel numbers may differ, or may not be available, dependent on platform.

Scotland

Scotland
Name and launch date	Description	AM kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview Freesat	Sky	Virgin Media	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Scotland 23 November 1978	National radio station for Scotland ^{[note 4]}^[6]	MW 810	92.5–94.7	11B 11C 12D	719 712	0116	930	MW 585 kHz (1978–2020)
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal 1 October 1985	Scottish Gaelic language radio station	—	103.5–105	11B 11C 11D	720 713	0129	934	MW 990 kHz (1981–2015)^[7]
BBC Radio Orkney 9 May 1977	Part-time radio station for Orkney which opts out of Radio Scotland	—	92.7	—	—	—	—	—
BBC Radio Shetland 9 May 1977	Part-time radio station for Shetland which opts out of Radio Scotland	—	93.7	—	—	—	—	—

Wales

Wales
Name and launch date	Description	AM kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview Freesat	Sky	Virgin Media	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Wales 13 November 1978	National radio station for Wales ^{[note 5]}^[8]	MW 882	90.2–92.3 93.9–96.1 103.9	10D 12A 12D	719 714	0117	931	MW 657 kHz (1978–2020) MW 1125 kHz (1985–2020)
BBC Radio Cymru 3 January 1977	Welsh language radio station	—	92.4–96.8 103.5–104.9	10D 12A 12D	720 715	0135	936	—
BBC Radio Cymru 2 29 January 2018	Part-time Welsh language radio station which opts out from Radio Cymru	—	—	10D 12A 12D	721 735	0136	913	—

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland
Logo	Name and launch date	Description	AM kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview Freesat	Sky	Virgin Media	Former frequencies
	BBC Radio Ulster 1 January 1975	National radio station for Northern Ireland	—	92–95	12D	719 716	0118	932	MW 873 kHz (1982–2021)^[9] MW 1341 kHz (1975–2021)
	BBC Radio Foyle 11 September 1979	Part-time radio station for County Londonderry which opts out of Radio Ulster	—	93.1	12D	720 717	0135	933	MW 792 kHz (1978–2021)

List of BBC Local Radio stations in England

East

East
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire 1 May 1982	Cambridgeshire	Cambridge	—	95.7 96.0	11C 12D	722	MW 1026 kHz (1982–9 May 2021) MW 1449 kHz (1982–1996)^{[note 6]}
BBC Essex 5 November 1986	Essex	Chelmsford	—	95.3 103.5	12D	734	MW 729 kHz (1986–19 May 2021) MW 765 kHz (1982–19 May 2021) MW 1530 kHz (1982–19 May 2018)
BBC Radio Norfolk 11 September 1980	Norfolk	Norwich	873	95.1 95.6 104.4	10B	719	MW 855 kHz (1980–8 Apr 2020) MW 1602 kHz (1980–1982)^{[note 7]}
BBC Radio Northampton 16 June 1982	Northamptonshire	Northampton	—	104.2 103.6	10C	734	MW 1107 kHz (1982–17 April 1992)
BBC Radio Suffolk 12 April 1990	Suffolk	Ipswich	—	95.9 103.9 104.6 95.5	10C	720	—
BBC Three Counties Radio 24 June 1985 (as BBC Radio Bedfordshire) 5 April 1993 (as BBC BBC Three Counties Radio) BBC Radio Bedfordshire •1985–1993	Bedfordshire Hertfordshire Buckinghamshire	Dunstable	—	90.4 92.1 94.7 95.5 98.0 103.8 104.5	10D	720	MW 630 kHz (1985–5 Apr 2020)

East Midlands

East Midlands
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Derby 29 April 1971	Derbyshire East Staffordshire	Derby	1116	104.5 95.3 96.0	10B	735	—
BBC Radio Leicester 8 November 1967	Leicestershire Rutland	Leicester	—	104.9	11B	721	MW 837 kHz (1976–1996)^{[note 6]}
BBC Radio Nottingham 31 January 1968	Nottinghamshire	Nottingham	—	103.8 95.5 95.1	12C	720	MW 1584 kHz (1984–10 Jan 2018)

London

London
Logo	Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview Freesat	Sky	Virgin Media	Former frequencies
	BBC Radio London 6 October 1970 BBC London 94.9 •2001–2015 BBC London Live 94.9 •2000–2001 BBC GLR •1988–2000	Greater London	London	—	94.9	12A	721 718	0135	937	FM 95.3 MHz MW 1458 kHz (1972–1 Jul 1993)^{[note 8]}

North East & Cumbria

North East & Cumbria
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Cumbria 24 November 1973 (as BBC Radio Carlisle) Radio Carlisle •1973–1982	Cumbria	Carlisle	756 837	95.6 96.1 95.2 104.1 104.2	11B	721	MW 1458 kHz (1973–7 Apr 2020)
BBC Radio Newcastle 2 January 1971	Tyne and Wear Northumberland Northern County Durham	Newcastle upon Tyne	—	95.4 96.0 103.7 104.4	11C	719	MW 1458 kHz (1972–6 Apr 2020)
BBC Radio Tees 31 December 1970 (as BBC Radio Teesside) BBC Radio Cleveland •1974–2007 BBC Radio Teesside •1970–1974	Northern North Yorkshire Southern County Durham	Middlesbrough	—	95.0 95.8	11B	722	FM 96.6 MHz MW 1548 kHz (1972–17 Apr 1992)^[10]

North West

North West
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Lancashire 26 January 1971 (as BBC Radio Blackburn) BBC Radio Blackburn •1971–1981	Lancashire	Blackburn	—	95.5 103.9 104.5	12A	720	MW 855 kHz (1972–17 May 2021) MW 1557 kHz (1984–15 Jan 2018)
BBC Radio Manchester 10 September 1970 BBC GMR •1988–2006	Greater Manchester Northeastern Cheshire Northwestern Derbyshire	Salford	—	95.1 104.6	12C	719	MW 1296 kHz MW 1458 kHz (1976–1992)^{[note 9]}
BBC Radio Merseyside 22 November 1967	Merseyside Northwestern Cheshire West Lancashire	Liverpool	—	95.8	10C	722	MW 1485 kHz (1973–8 Apr 2020)

South

South
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Berkshire 21 January 1992 BBC Thames Valley FM •1996–2000	Berkshire Northern Hampshire Parts of Buckinghamshire Parts of southern Oxfordshire	Reading	—	104.1 104.4 95.4 94.6	12D	719	—
BBC Radio Oxford 29 October 1970 BBC Thames Valley FM •1996–2000	Oxfordshire	Oxford	—	95.2	10B	722	MW 1485 kHz (1972–17 Apr 1992)
BBC Radio Solent 31 December 1970	Hampshire Isle of Wight Eastern Dorset	Southampton	—	96.1	11C	722	MW 999 kHz (1972–7 Apr 2020) MW 1359 kHz (1973–7 Apr 2020)
BBC Radio Solent 31 December 1970	Central and western Dorset (opt-out)	Dorchester	—	103.8	11B	726	MW 999 kHz (1972–7 Apr 2020) MW 1359 kHz (1973–7 Apr 2020)

South East

South East
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Kent 18 December 1970 (as BBC Radio Medway) BBC Radio Medway •1970–1983	Kent	Royal Tunbridge Wells	—	96.7 97.6 104.2	11C	719	MW 774 kHz (1984 - 30 Jan 2018) MW 1035 kHz (1972 - 18 Mar 1994) MW 1602 kHz (1983 - 30 Jan 2018)
BBC Radio Surrey 14 November 1991 BBC Southern Counties Radio •1994–2009	Surrey Northeastern Hampshire Northern West Sussex	Guildford	—	104.0 104.6	10C	722	MW 1368 kHz (1984–3 Jan 2018)
BBC Radio Sussex 14 February 1968 (as BBC Radio Brighton) BBC Southern Counties Radio •1994–2009 BBC Radio Brighton •1968–1983	East Sussex West Sussex	Brighton	—	95.0 95.1 95.3 104.5 104.8	10B	720	MW 1161 kHz (1983–3 Jan 2018) MW 1485 kHz (1972–3 Jan 2018)

South West

South West
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Cornwall 17 January 1983	Cornwall	Truro	—	95.2 96.0 103.9	11B	721	MW 630 kHz (1983–6 Apr 2020) MW 657 kHz (1983–6 Apr 2020)
BBC Radio Devon 17 January 1983	Devon	Plymouth	—	103.4 94.8 95.7 95.8 96.0 104.3	11C 10C 12D	720	MW 801 kHz (1983–2 Aug 2021) MW 855 kHz (1983–1 Apr 2007) MW 990 kHz (1983–2 Aug 2021) MW 1458 kHz (1983–9 Jan 2018)
BBC Radio Guernsey 16 March 1982	Bailiwick of Guernsey	St Sampson St Peter Port	1116	93.2 99.0	12A(+)	721	—
BBC Radio Jersey 15 March 1982	Jersey	Saint Helier	1026	88.8	12A(+)	719	—
BBC Radio Somerset 11 April 1988 (as BBC Somerset Sound) BBC Somerset Sound •1988–2007	Somerset	Taunton	1566	95.5	10B	722	MW 1323 kHz (1988–Aug 2002)^{[note 10]}

West

West
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Bristol 4 September 1970	Bath Bristol South Gloucestershire North Somerset North East Somerset	Bath Bristol	—	94.9 104.6 103.6	11B	719	MW 1323 kHz (1981–1988)^{[note 11]} MW 1548 kHz (1973–19 Feb 2016) FM 95.5 MHz (until 3 Dec 2007)
BBC Radio Gloucestershire 3 October 1988	Gloucestershire	Gloucester	1413	104.7 95.0 95.8	10C	735	MW 603 kHz (1988–31 Jan 1992)^[11]
BBC Radio Wiltshire 4 April 1989 (as BBC Wiltshire Sound) BBC Wiltshire Sound •1989–2002	Wiltshire	Swindon	—	103.6 103.5 104.3 104.9	10D 11C	721	—

West Midlands

West Midlands
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC CWR 17 January 1990 (original) 3 September 2005 (relaunch) BBC Coventry and Warwickshire •2005–2020	Coventry Warwickshire	Coventry	—	94.8 103.7 104.0	12D	719	—
BBC Hereford & Worcester 14 February 1989	Herefordshire Kings Norton Worcestershire	Worcester	—	94.7 104.0 104.4 104.6	12A	720	MW 738 kHz (1989–13 May 2021) MW 819 kHz (1989–31 Dec 1991) MW 1584 kHz (2003–13 May 2021)
BBC Radio Shropshire 23 April 1985	Shropshire	Shrewsbury	—	96.0 95.0 90.0 104.1	11B	721	MW 756 kHz (1985–15 Aug 1992) MW 1584 kHz (1985–2003)^{[note 12]}
BBC Radio Stoke 14 March 1968 (as BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent)	Northern and mid-Staffordshire Southern Cheshire	Stoke-on-Trent	—	94.6 104.1	12D	726	MW 1503 kHz (1974–23 May 2021^[12])
BBC Radio WM 9 November 1970 (as BBC Radio Birmingham) BBC Radio Birmingham •1970–1981	Birmingham The Black Country Solihull Southern Staffordshire	Birmingham	—	95.6	11B 11C	722	MW 828 kHz (1981–1996)^{[note 6]} MW 1458 kHz (1972–1996)^{[note 6]}^{[note 13]}

Yorkshire

Yorkshire
Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
BBC Radio Leeds 24 June 1968	West Yorkshire	Leeds	—	92.4 95.3 102.7 103.9	12D 11B	719	FM 94.6 MHz MW 774 kHz (1972–1 Jun 2021)
BBC Radio Sheffield 15 November 1967	South Yorkshire Northern Derbyshire	Sheffield	—	104.1 88.6 94.7	11C	734	FM 95.0 MHz MW 1035 kHz (1972–27 May 2021)
BBC Radio York 4 July 1983	North Yorkshire	York	—	95.5 103.7 104.3	10C	720	MW 666 kHz (1983–24 Feb 2020) MW 1260 kHz (1983–24 Feb 2020)

Yorkshire & Lincolnshire

Yorkshire & Lincolnshire
Logo	Name and launch date	Broadcast area	Studios	MW kHz	FM MHz	DAB	Freeview	Former frequencies
	BBC Radio Humberside 25 February 1971	East Riding of Yorkshire Northern Lincolnshire	Hull	—	95.9	10D	721	FM 96.9 MHz MW 1485 kHz (1972–11 Jan 2018)
	BBC Radio Lincolnshire 11 November 1980	Lincolnshire	Lincoln	—	94.9 104.7	12A	722	MW 1368 kHz (1981–4 Jan 2018)

Notes

↑ Transmitted INR3 – Talk Radio UK from 14 February 1995 to 17 January 2000 and Talksport from 17 January 2000.
↑ Transmitted INR2 – Virgin Radio from 30 April 1993 to 29 September 2008 and Absolute Radio from 29 September 2008 to 19 January 2023.
↑ Transmitting Radio Caroline.
↑ An AM opt out station exists as BBC Radio Scotland Extra, which is also available on BBC Sounds.
↑ An AM opt out station exists as BBC Radio Wales Extra, which is also available on BBC Sounds.
1 2 3 4 This frequency stopped broadcasting and was transferred to the BBC Asian Network in 1996.
↑ Changed to 873 kHz in 1982.
↑ Transmitting Lyca Radio.
↑ Transmitted Gold until 27 April 2024.
↑ Changed to 1566 kHz in August 2002.
↑ Transferred to BBC Radio Somerset in 1988.
↑ Transmitted BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester until 13 May 2021.
↑ A short lived service called 'WM Heartlands' operated on this frequency between 1989 and 1991.

References

↑ "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
↑ "TV Guide". www.freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
↑ "Channels List and On-Demand Players | Freesat". www.freesat.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
↑ "All of the free TV channels on Sky in the UK". UK Free TV. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
↑ "Virgin TV Channel guide". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
↑ "Radio Scotland Extra - Listen Live - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
↑ "mb21 - Transmitter Information - Radio Nan Gaidheal". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
↑ "Radio Wales Extra - Listen Live - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
↑ "mb21 - Transmitter Information - Radio Ulster". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
↑ "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
↑ "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
↑ "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2024.

External links

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[1] Transmitted INR3 – Talk Radio UK from 14 February 1995 to 17 January 2000 and Talksport from 17 January 2000.

[3] Transmitted INR2 – Virgin Radio from 30 April 1993 to 29 September 2008 and Absolute Radio from 29 September 2008 to 19 January 2023.

[8] Transmitting Radio Caroline.

[9] An AM opt out station exists as BBC Radio Scotland Extra, which is also available on BBC Sounds.

[12] An AM opt out station exists as BBC Radio Wales Extra, which is also available on BBC Sounds.

[:0-15] 1 2 3 4 This frequency stopped broadcasting and was transferred to the BBC Asian Network in 1996.

[16] Changed to 873 kHz in 1982.

[17] Transmitting Lyca Radio.

[19] Transmitted Gold until 27 April 2024.

[20] Changed to 1566 kHz in August 2002.

[21] Transferred to BBC Radio Somerset in 1988.

[23] Transmitted BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester until 13 May 2021.

[25] A short lived service called 'WM Heartlands' operated on this frequency between 1989 and 1991.

[2] "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[4] "TV Guide". www.freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[5] "Channels List and On-Demand Players | Freesat". www.freesat.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[6] "All of the free TV channels on Sky in the UK". UK Free TV. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[7] "Virgin TV Channel guide". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[10] "Radio Scotland Extra - Listen Live - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

[11] "mb21 - Transmitter Information - Radio Nan Gaidheal". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2024.

[13] "Radio Wales Extra - Listen Live - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

[14] "mb21 - Transmitter Information - Radio Ulster". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2024.

[18] "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2024.

[22] "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2024.

[24] "mb21 - The Transmission Gallery". tx.mb21.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2024.

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