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 Logo used since 2022 | |
| Broadcast area | Northern Ireland[a] |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | FM: 92–95MHz DAB: 12D Freeview: 711 (NI only) Freesat: 716 Sky (UK only): 0118 Virgin Media: 932 Virgin Media Ireland: 906 Online:[1] |
| RDS | BBC Ulst |
| Programming | |
| Format | News, talk, sport and music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC |
| Operator | BBC Northern Ireland |
| History | |
First air date | 1 January 1975; 50 years ago (1975-01-01) |
Former frequencies | 873MW 1341 MW |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | Ofcom |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
BBC Radio Ulster is aNorthern Irish national radio station owned and operated byBBC Northern Ireland, a division of theBBC. It was established on New Year's Day 1975, replacing what had been an opt-out ofBBC Radio 4.
According toRAJAR, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 462,000 with a listening share of 16.2% as of March 2024.[1]
It is the most widely listened to radio station in Northern Ireland,[2] with a diverse range of programmes, including news, talk, features, music and sport. In the Q3 2021 RAJAR survey, the station had 517,000 weekly listeners, with total weekly listening hours of 5.5 million, beating its main local rivals (Cool FM, Downtown Radio, Downtown Country, U105, and Q Radio) on both of these metrics and, logically therefore, average weekly hours per listener (10.64). When taken together, the Bauer-owned stations (both Downtown stations and Cool FM) had higher total audience and listening hours per week, but lower average weekly hours per listener. The station had 135,000 more weekly listeners than its equivalent in Wales, BBC Radio Wales, despite serving a RAJAR population 1.1 million smaller. The station had the highest percentage reach and listening share, per corresponding survey area, of any BBC local, nations or national radio station, at 34% and 19.9% respectively.
It is broadcast from BBC Northern Ireland'sBroadcasting House inBelfast. News bulletins are broadcast usually on the hour seven days a week from 6:30 am until midnight (on weekdays), from 6:45 am until midnight (on Saturdays) and from 7:00 am to midnight (on weekends, Christmas holidays, and Bank Holidays). It is available on 92-95 FM,DAB andFreeview in Northern Ireland and across the UK onBBC Sounds and satellite/cable television. It is also available inIreland via BBC Sounds,Virgin Media, on smart speakers or on FM in counties bordering Northern Ireland. The station was available on medium wave on 1341 kHz and 873 kHz until 6 May 2021.[3]
An opt-out of the station exists inDerry,BBC Radio Foyle, carrying alternative programming and news between 8:00am and 4:00pm weekdays. The station is also broadcast on DAB Digital Radio, digital television and on the Internet. During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Ulster simulcastsBBC Radio 5 Live programming.
The BBC reported in the Annual Report for 2017/18 that Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle operated on a budget of £17.6 million with a 38% reach of the population and that the cost per hour of output was 5.8p.[4]
Thought for the Day[5]
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