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BBC Radio 5 (former)
Encyclopedia
BBC Radio 5 was a BBC radio
network that carried sport, children's and educational programmes.
It was transmitted via analogue radio on 693 and 909 kHz, and lasted for three years and eight months. The success of BBC Radio 4
's coverage of the Gulf War, on a service known as Scud FM, demonstrated the popularity of a 24-hour radio news service. Shortly after, Radio 5 was replaced by a rolling news and sport station, named BBC Radio 5 Live
, in March 1994.
from 23 November 1978 to 26 August 1990. It owed its existence to the broadcasting policy of the Conservative
government of the time, who wished the BBC to end its longstanding practice of simulcast
ing its services on both AM
and FM
frequencies. A number of programmes, which were previously broadcast as opt-outs on one frequency only, would otherwise have been left without a home.
The station officially launched at 9 am on 27 August 1990, with a five year old boy, Andrew Kelly, uttering the words "Good morning and welcome to Radio 5". Prior to this, but uncredited in the Radio Times
, the new station's frequencies had broadcast a brief pre-recorded skit from comedians Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson
(consisting of the two larking about in the studio amid the strains of "Sailing By
", and Trevor suddenly being cut off while he was reading his so-called "Ode
to Radio 5"). The official first programme was Take Five, a pre-recorded programme by Bruno Brookes
(who was doing his live breakfast show on Radio 1
at launch time.)
Broadcasting for about 18 hours per day (6am until just after midnight), many saw the station as broadcasting programming the other four main BBC stations didn't want, reflected in a speech by Jenny Abramsky
, News International Visiting Professor of Broadcast Media 2002 at Exeter College
, Oxford University:
In 1991, Operation Desert Storm was launched, the multinational response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. From 16 January, Radio 4's FM frequencies were used to provide an all-news
network for the coverage of the war, dubbed 'Radio 4 News FM', or more popularly in the media as 'Scud FM' . Despite protests from BBC Radio 4
listeners, the BBC mainly received praise for the quality of the service and the speed with which it was set up. Following the end of the conflict, Radio 4 resumed its normal schedule but the positive response to 'Scud FM' made the BBC commence a review into the possibility of providing a full-time news station, leading to the broadcast of a similar service on long wave during the 1992 UK general election campaign. Due to the resistance to any use of Radio 4 FM or LW frequencies, it was decided that Radio 5, criticised by John Birt as "improvised and disjointed", would relaunch as a combined news and sport channel.
began its 24-hour service at 5 am on Monday 28 March 1994.
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
network that carried sport, children's and educational programmes.
It was transmitted via analogue radio on 693 and 909 kHz, and lasted for three years and eight months. The success of BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's coverage of the Gulf War, on a service known as Scud FM, demonstrated the popularity of a 24-hour radio news service. Shortly after, Radio 5 was replaced by a rolling news and sport station, named BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
, in March 1994.
History
BBC Radio 5 used the medium wave frequencies previously used to transmit BBC Radio 2BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
from 23 November 1978 to 26 August 1990. It owed its existence to the broadcasting policy of the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government of the time, who wished the BBC to end its longstanding practice of simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
ing its services on both AM
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
and FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
frequencies. A number of programmes, which were previously broadcast as opt-outs on one frequency only, would otherwise have been left without a home.
The station officially launched at 9 am on 27 August 1990, with a five year old boy, Andrew Kelly, uttering the words "Good morning and welcome to Radio 5". Prior to this, but uncredited in the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
, the new station's frequencies had broadcast a brief pre-recorded skit from comedians Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson
Trevor and Simon
Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson are a British comedy duo, best known for their contributions to the BBC1 children's television series Going Live! and Live & Kicking during the late 1980s and throughout much of the 1990s...
(consisting of the two larking about in the studio amid the strains of "Sailing By
Sailing By
Sailing By is a short piece of light music composed by Ronald Binge in 1963, which is used before the late Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4...
", and Trevor suddenly being cut off while he was reading his so-called "Ode
Ode
Ode is a type of lyrical verse. A classic ode is structured in three major parts: the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode. Different forms such as the homostrophic ode and the irregular ode also exist...
to Radio 5"). The official first programme was Take Five, a pre-recorded programme by Bruno Brookes
Bruno Brookes
Bruno Brookes is a British radio presenter who became prominent in the 1980s.-Early life and career:...
(who was doing his live breakfast show on Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
at launch time.)
Broadcasting for about 18 hours per day (6am until just after midnight), many saw the station as broadcasting programming the other four main BBC stations didn't want, reflected in a speech by Jenny Abramsky
Jenny Abramsky
Dame Jennifer Gita Abramsky, DBE is chairman of the UK's National Heritage Memorial Fund . The NHMF makes grants to preserve heritage of outstanding national importance. Until her retirement from the BBC Jenny Abramsky was its most senior woman employee; she was Director of Audio and Music...
, News International Visiting Professor of Broadcast Media 2002 at Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, Oxford University:
"The sports output from Radio 2 Medium Wave, all the Schools and Continuing Education programmes from Radio 4 FM, the Open University programmes from Radios 3 and 4 FM and programmes for children and young people from Radio 4 and some World Service output. This was a network with no audience focus, born out of expediency."
In 1991, Operation Desert Storm was launched, the multinational response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. From 16 January, Radio 4's FM frequencies were used to provide an all-news
All-news radio
All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcast of news.All-news radio is available in both local and syndicated forms, and is carried in some form on both major US satellite radio networks...
network for the coverage of the war, dubbed 'Radio 4 News FM', or more popularly in the media as 'Scud FM' . Despite protests from BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
listeners, the BBC mainly received praise for the quality of the service and the speed with which it was set up. Following the end of the conflict, Radio 4 resumed its normal schedule but the positive response to 'Scud FM' made the BBC commence a review into the possibility of providing a full-time news station, leading to the broadcast of a similar service on long wave during the 1992 UK general election campaign. Due to the resistance to any use of Radio 4 FM or LW frequencies, it was decided that Radio 5, criticised by John Birt as "improvised and disjointed", would relaunch as a combined news and sport channel.
Closure
The "old" Radio 5 signed off at midnight on Sunday 27 March 1994 with a pre-recorded sketch at the end of a special programme. Ten minutes later, the frequencies closed down for the night following a generic BBC Radio News and Sport bulletin and the new Radio Five LiveBBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
began its 24-hour service at 5 am on Monday 28 March 1994.
Programmes
- Morning Edition and 606 with Danny BakerDanny BakerDanny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
- Sunday Edition with Barry JohnstonBarry Johnston (writer)Charles Barry Johnston , also known as Barry Alexander, is a British writer, audiobook producer, radio presenter and songwriter. He is the eldest son of the BBC cricket commentator Brian Johnston...
- Hit The North with Mark RadcliffeMark RadcliffeMark Radcliffe is an English broadcaster who has worked in various roles for the BBC since the 1980s and remains one of Britain's most recognised DJs. He is currently a presenter on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music, where he hosts an afternoon show five times a week alongside Stuart Maconie, called...
featured the first ever radio session from OasisOasis (band)Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher... - Fantasy Football LeagueFantasy Football LeagueFantasy Football League is a British television programme hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel. The Programme began on BBC Radio 5 and was hosted by Dominik Diamond before transferring to BBC 2, with three series being broadcast from January 1994 to May 1996...
- Room 101Room 101 (Radio series)Room 101 is a radio comedy series that ran from 1992 to 1994 on BBC Radio 5, before transferring to BBC television. Hosted by Nick Hancock, it was an alternative to the more established and formal Desert Island Discs...
, a later transfer to television - 6-0-66-0-66-0-6 is a football phone-in, broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live throughout the football season; when the programme started, it typically went on air at 6:06pm on a matchday . It covers topics relating to the current affairs of football in the United Kingdom. It currently airs on Saturdays and...
- Formula FiveFormula FiveFormula Five was a British science magazine programme on BBC Radio 5 aimed at listeners in their late teens. It ran from 1990 to 1994, when the network closed....
- They Think It's All OverThey think it's all overThey think it's all over is a well known quotation and football chant popular in England. It is taken from Kenneth Wolstenholme's BBC TV commentary in the closing moments of the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, where England beat West Germany 4–2 after extra time to win the FIFA World Cup.Soon after the...
with Des LynamDes LynamDesmond Michael "Des" Lynam, OBE is an Irish television and radio presenter based in the UK.He has hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years...
, another transfer to TV - Cult Radio with Marc RileyMarc RileyMarc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
- Le Top, a translated version of the chart show on Europe 1Europe 1Europe 1, formerly known as Europe n° 1, is a privately owned radio network created in 1955. It is one of the leading French radio broadcasters and heard throughout France...
. - Across The Line
- The Mark Steel SolutionThe Mark Steel SolutionThe Mark Steel Solution was initially broadcast on BBC Radio 5 for a series, before three series were broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The show's original slogan was "Give me thirty minutes and I’ll convince you of anything!"...
(first series only) - Rave with Rob BrydonRob BrydonRob Brydon is a BAFTA-nominated Welsh actor, comedian, radio and television presenter, singer and impressionist...