 | |
| Broadcast area | Somerset |
|---|---|
| Frequency | FM: 95.5 MHz (Mendip) AM: 1566 kHz DAB: 10B Freeview: 714 |
| RDS | BBC SOMS |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Local news, talk and music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC Local Radio, BBC South West, BBC West |
| History | |
First air date | 11 April 1988 |
Former names | BBC Somerset Sound (1988–2007) BBC Somerset (2007–2020) |
Former frequencies | 1323 MW |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | Ofcom |
| Links | |
| Website | BBC Radio Somerset |
BBC Radio Somerset is theBBC's local radio station serving the county ofSomerset, England.
It broadcasts onFM,AM,DAB, digital TV and viaBBC Sounds from studios in the Blackbrook area ofTaunton.
According toRAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 55,000 listeners and a 7.2% share as of December 2023.[1]
The first BBC service for the county ofSomerset was established in 1978, as an emergency measure following storms in the county.[2]
The station proper was launched as BBC Somerset Sound on 11 April 1988, broadcasting onBBC Radio Bristol's former frequency of 1323medium wave. It was based in studios above a café on Paul St,Taunton, run by producer-in-charge, Clinton Rogers and news producer Anne Ashworth, with a smaller satellite studio inYeovil run by district producer, Steve Haigh. The signal on 1323 MW was for many years interfered with by a radio station in Russia.[3]
In August 2002, BBC Somerset Sound moved to new premises in Park Street, Taunton, and acquired a more robust frequency of 1566 MW.
In 2007, the station relaunched as BBC Somerset, with the launch of the BBC Somerset bus in May. On 3 December of that year, the station was given BBC Radio Bristol's former frequency of 95.5FM, and broadcasts to the whole county of Somerset (including the unitary districts of North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset) and beyond. Listeners from as far afield as Finland have reported hearing the station clearly. BBC Somerset sometimes uses itsAM frequency for cricket commentary while regular programming continues on FM. BBC Somerset began broadcasting onDAB in September 2014.
BBC Somerset was for many years an 'opt-out' from BBC Radio Bristol, but in May 2012, the BBC established it as a station in its own right. The BBC's Annual Report and Accounts for 2005/2006 stated:[4] "The BBC is committed to extending its network of local radio stations to a limited number of under served areas, and BBC management is carrying out preparatory work for new stations in Somerset,Dorset andCheshire".
On 6 October 2011, the BBC announced that it intended to close BBC Somerset's 1566 MW frequency as part of itsDelivering Quality First (DQF)[5] programme of cutbacks. No decision on the timing of the medium wave switch-off has yet been made.
In November 2017, BBC Somerset moved from the Park Street premises to a new building on the edge of Taunton in Blackbrook.
The current editor of BBC Radio Somerset is Dean Poolman, with Andrew Enever as news editor.
On 27 April 2020, the station changed its name to BBC Radio Somerset in order to fit the station name into the new jingle package.
On 5 July 2020, the station switched from theBBC West feed to joinBBC South West.
In September 2023, the station joined again with BBC Radio Bristol sharing some programmes.
Local weekday programmes are produced and broadcast from the BBC's Taunton studios from 6 am to 2 pm. The weekday afternoon programme is shared with BBC Radio Bristol. Evening weekday programmes are shared across theBBC West region. The 10 pm to 1 am Late Show is a programme broadcast across England and the Channel Islands from either London or Manchester.[6]
Weekend 6 am to 2 pm programmes are broadcast across theBBC West region. Saturday sport (2 pm to 6 pm) is a shared programme with BBC Radio Bristol with the option to broadcast local commentaries. Saturday evenings are region wide shared programmes,
Sunday afternoons are shared with BBC Radio Bristol. After 6pm all programmes are national.
Overnight, BBC Radio Somerset simulcastsBBC Radio 5 Live between 1 am and 6 am.
The service is broadcast acrossSomerset on 95.5 FM from theMendip transmitting station located on the summit ofPen Hill, part of theMendip Hills. The station also broadcasts on 1566 kHz medium wave.
BBC Radio Somerset broadcastsDAB from different transmitters, includingMendip, Taunton, Coker Hill, and Hutton.[7]
The station also broadcasts onFreeview TV channel 714 in theBBC South West andBBC West regions and streams online viaBBC Sounds.
In 2007, BBC Somerset took part in an initiative to create the firstcarbon-zero radio station in the UK known as The Challenge.[8]
Carbon auditorsCO2balance analysed every aspect of the operation – from the mileage of the transport fleet down to what happens to the office tea bags.[9]
At the time of the audit, the station generated more than 64 tonnes of CO2 each year. On hearing the results the staff voluntarily dipped into their pockets to fund the three main accredited methods ofcarbon offsetting – tree planting, sustainable projects andcarbon trading. On average the cost to each member of staff was between £25 and £50, depending on their salary. Staff also looked at all areas where pollution is generated to reduce the station'scarbon footprint and make it more environmentally friendly. These included:
| Year | Association | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Diversity in Media Awards | Radio Programme / Station of the Year | BBC Somerset | Nominated |
51°00′50″N3°06′25″W / 51.0140°N 3.1069°W /51.0140; -3.1069 (BBC Somerset studios)
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