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BBC Radio Leeds
City of license	Leeds
Broadcast area	West Yorkshire
Frequency	92.4, 95.3, 102.7, 103.9 MHz, 774 kHz & DAB Digital radio
First air date	24 June 1968
Format	Mainly local news and talk
Language	English
Audience share	6.5% (September 2009, [1])
Owner	BBC Local Radio, BBC Yorkshire
Website	BBC Radio Leeds

BBC Radio Leeds is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of West Yorkshire.

Frequencies

It broadcasts from its studios at St. Peters Square in Leeds on 92.4 (Holme Moss), 95.3 (Luddenden, two miles west of Halifax & Wharfedale, two miles north of Otley), 102.7 (Keighley, on Rombalds Moor near Riddlesden) 103.9 (Beecroft Hill, in Bramley near Leeds) FM, 774 (New Farnley, near the A58) AM and DAB.

Transmitters

Initially Radio Leeds had a low powered transmitter in Meanwood Park, on 96.4 MHz.^[1] This was at a time when VHF receivers were not widespread. At this time the station covered Leeds exclusively (and was funded by Leeds City Council, rather than the Licence Fee) rather than the whole of West Yorkshire.

The main VHF/FM transmitter moved Holme Moss on 92.4 MHz, covering most of the county of West Yorkshire. Unusually this transmitter also transmits neighbouring services Radio Manchester and Radio Sheffield from separate directional aerials on the mast.

Radio Leeds is also carried on the Wharfedale and Luddenden transmitters on 95.3 MHz, from Keighley on 102.7 and from Beecroft Hill (West Leeds) on 103.9 MHz to fill in areas which are screened from Holme Moss by the topology of the area.

The medium wave service on 774 kHz is transmitted from Farnley (also known as Leeds MF). BBC Asian Network is carried on this frequency during the week between 7pm and 1am. The MW service was added when Radio Leeds service area increased to cover the whole of the county of West Yorkshire.

Since 2001 Radio Leeds has been carried on the Bauer Leeds DAB multiplex, and since October 2002 on the UTV EMAP Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax Multiplex.

Live streaming is available from the station's website.

Studios

BBC Yorkshire studios on St Peters Square in Leeds. BBC Radio Leeds is broadcast from here.

The National Media Museum, Bradford, from where some shows are broadcast

Along with BBC Yorkshire's television output, the station moved in 2004 from the old studios on Woodhouse Lane to a new broadcasting centre in St Peter's Square, near the West Yorkshire Playhouse. It also has offices and studios at the National Media Museum in Bradford, most shows however are still at the dedicated television and radio studios in Leeds. It is possible for the public to see broadcasts being made from the studios at the National Media Museum, except on Tuesday when the museum is not open to the public.

Programmes

In 2004, BBC Radio Leeds became the second BBC local radio station in England, after BBC London 94.9, to broadcast 24 hours a day. However, the station has recently reverted back to carrying BBC Radio 5 Live's Up All Night overnight. Five Live's early morning news programme Morning Reports is also simulcast on Saturday.

Former Networked Programmes

One of the station's most successful shows was the Alex Hall Late Night Phone-In, networked on all of the BBC stations in the former BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire region from 10:00 pm – 1:00 am. from Sunday to Thursday nights. Listeners from would call in with their observations or problems (sometimes of a bizarre nature). Hall later moved to BBC Tees and her programme was filled by Russell Walker on BBC Radio Leeds, while the other BBC stations concentrated on their own programming. Walker was axed in favour of Shourjo Sarkar, this programme is shared with BBC Radio Humberside, York and Sheffield once again.

Another popular presenter, Martin Kelner, presented a regular Friday & Saturday late show for the BBC Night Network. He recently left the station, reportedly after the station's programme controller made it known that he wanted a more female friendly presenter to take his place. Kelner now broadcasts on commercial station Real Radio Yorkshire.

Sport

A BBC Radio Leeds vehicle as seen at Headingley Stadium during a one day cricket match in 2009

BBC Radio Leeds broadcasts commentaries on many football and rugby league games involving Leeds United, Bradford City, Huddersfield Town, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Castleford Tigers. Leeds United home games can no longer be broadcast as Yorkshire Radio won the exclusive rights to these.^[2]

Presenters

Former presenters

References

External links

• BBC Radio Leeds
• The history of BBC Radio Leeds
• History of local radio in Yorkshire
• Ainley Top (Digital)
• Beecroft Hill transmitter (also digital)
• Farnley MW transmitter
• Holme Moss transmitter (coverage map)
• David's Transmitter World