Birdsong (digital radio channel)
Encyclopedia
Birdsong was a temporary radio channel which used to broadcast on national digital radio
in the United Kingdom
. The transmission consisted of a continuously looping recording of bird song. It was available via the Digital One
DAB
network. The recording is also available via the Digital One
website until Autumn 2009 and the RadioBirdsong website http://www.radiobirdsong.com. Originally starting out as a test signal on analogue radio back in 1992 and then later broadcast on digital radio from 2003 to 2005, the channel gained regular listeners, who complained when it was taken off-air. In 2008-2009, the broadcast again existed as a 'filler' transmission until a commercially operated radio station, Amazing Radio
, replaced it on June 1, 2009.
When the magazine-format digital radio station Oneword
ceased in January 2008, the birdsong audio once again returned to the multiplex on the Oneword channel and the service name of the DAB channel changed to "Birdsong".
in the Wiltshire
garden of Quentin Howard, the chairman of Digital One. The tape was originally made for an amateur dramatics production of When the Wind Blows
by Raymond Briggs, which was in need of countryside sound effects, and was first heard on-air during test transmissions between July and September 1992 prior to the launch of Classic FM
. It has featured in a number of TV and radio reports including BBC Countryfile in 2008 and on BBC Breakfast TV. http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7330000/newsid_7335900/7335977.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1
Listeners complained when transmission ceased in 2005. In 2008, the transmission was reported in the press as gaining more attention than the spoken-word programming of Oneword, and even of attracting half a million listeners.
Quentin Howard was quoted in several newspaper articles, including The Guardian, that he did not know why "the birds have been killed", but he suspected it might be to create publicity for the new channel." http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/02/birdsong-radio-channel. Also quoted in the Daily Mail, "It's always difficult to know exactly how popular, but judging by the emails and letters from people, it really caught the imagination, like many quirky things the British public like" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190348/Uproar-soothing-birdsong-radio-station-axed-favour-rock-pop.html. This article also says that Discworld
author Sir Terry Pratchett
is a keen listener to Radio Birdsong.
Birdsong was removed from the Digital One multiplex at 23:59:59 on Sunday May 31, 2009 to allow for the launch of Amazing Radio
.
The original birdsong recording used by Classic FM and Digital One will continue to be available on-line via the Digital One website and from the official Radio Birdsong website http://www.radiobirdsong.com
Digital radio in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the roll-out of digital radio is proceeding since test transmissions were started by the BBC in 1990. The UK currently has the world's biggest digital radio network, with 103 transmitters, two national DAB ensembles and 48 local and regional DAB ensembles...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The transmission consisted of a continuously looping recording of bird song. It was available via the Digital One
Digital One
Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. , the multiplex covers more than 90% of the populationfrom a total of 137 transmitters...
DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
network. The recording is also available via the Digital One
Digital One
Digital One is a national commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, owned by Arqiva. , the multiplex covers more than 90% of the populationfrom a total of 137 transmitters...
website until Autumn 2009 and the RadioBirdsong website http://www.radiobirdsong.com. Originally starting out as a test signal on analogue radio back in 1992 and then later broadcast on digital radio from 2003 to 2005, the channel gained regular listeners, who complained when it was taken off-air. In 2008-2009, the broadcast again existed as a 'filler' transmission until a commercially operated radio station, Amazing Radio
Amazing Radio
Amazing Radio is a national radio station broadcasting on digital radio in the United Kingdom. The station plays new music from a number of music genres including pop, rock, indie, hip hop, electronica and jazz...
, replaced it on June 1, 2009.
Overview
When financial news station Bloomberg, and rolling news station ITN News Radio ceased to broadcast within several months of one another in 2003, replacement audio services were never found due to a commitment in Digital One's broadcasting licence to provide a news station. This resulted in a station playing a 36-minute, 56-second loop of birdsong and ambient sounds, entitled D1 Temp which broadcast for almost two years. In June 2005, the capacity formerly used by the speech services, and later by the birdsong, was given over to a test transmission of video to mobile phones known as BT Movio.When the magazine-format digital radio station Oneword
Oneword
Oneword Radio was a British commercial digital radio station featuring books, drama, comedy, children's programming, and discussion. The station was available in the UK via digital radio and digital television and was streamed on the internet 24 hours a day worldwide...
ceased in January 2008, the birdsong audio once again returned to the multiplex on the Oneword channel and the service name of the DAB channel changed to "Birdsong".
The recording
The dawn birdsong was recorded in autumn of 1991, on the edge of Salisbury PlainSalisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
in the Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
garden of Quentin Howard, the chairman of Digital One. The tape was originally made for an amateur dramatics production of When the Wind Blows
When the Wind Blows
When the Wind Blows is a 1982 graphic novel, by British artist Raymond Briggs, that shows a nuclear attack on Britain by the Soviet Union from the viewpoint of a retired couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs. The book was later made into an animated film.-Plot:...
by Raymond Briggs, which was in need of countryside sound effects, and was first heard on-air during test transmissions between July and September 1992 prior to the launch of Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
. It has featured in a number of TV and radio reports including BBC Countryfile in 2008 and on BBC Breakfast TV. http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7330000/newsid_7335900/7335977.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1
Reception
Some listeners have found the recording a relaxing alternative to other stations. Other listeners have been annoyed by the sounds of crows crowing and gunshot-like sounds of wood cracking, as it expands in the morning sun. Several myths have appeared about some of the sounds heard in the recording which are explained in the Radio Birdsong website. One listener was able to identify at least twelve distinct species of bird in the recording.Listeners complained when transmission ceased in 2005. In 2008, the transmission was reported in the press as gaining more attention than the spoken-word programming of Oneword, and even of attracting half a million listeners.
Closure
In 2009, Glyn Jones, acting chief executive of Digital One stated that “Birdsong has been more popular with journalists than real listeners”, pointing out that there was never any real evidence for the figure of half a million listeners. Nevertheless he undertook to keep it on air until a permanent commercial channel was established on the frequency.Quentin Howard was quoted in several newspaper articles, including The Guardian, that he did not know why "the birds have been killed", but he suspected it might be to create publicity for the new channel." http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/02/birdsong-radio-channel. Also quoted in the Daily Mail, "It's always difficult to know exactly how popular, but judging by the emails and letters from people, it really caught the imagination, like many quirky things the British public like" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190348/Uproar-soothing-birdsong-radio-station-axed-favour-rock-pop.html. This article also says that Discworld
Discworld
Discworld is a comic fantasy book series by English author Sir Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. The books frequently parody, or at least take inspiration from, J. R. R....
author Sir Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
is a keen listener to Radio Birdsong.
Birdsong was removed from the Digital One multiplex at 23:59:59 on Sunday May 31, 2009 to allow for the launch of Amazing Radio
Amazing Radio
Amazing Radio is a national radio station broadcasting on digital radio in the United Kingdom. The station plays new music from a number of music genres including pop, rock, indie, hip hop, electronica and jazz...
.
The original birdsong recording used by Classic FM and Digital One will continue to be available on-line via the Digital One website and from the official Radio Birdsong website http://www.radiobirdsong.com
External links
- Birdsong is Back on Digital One (listen online)
- Birdsong Radio an unofficial imitation version of the station.