BBC Somerset
 |
|
| City | Taunton |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Somerset |
| Frequency |
FM: 95.5 MHz MW: 1566 kHz DAB: 10B Freeview channel 722 |
| First air date | 11 April 1988 |
| Format | Local news, talk and music |
| Language(s) | English |
| Audience share | 6.5% (March 2011, [1]) |
| Owner |
BBC Local Radio, BBC West |
| Website | BBC Somerset |
BBC Somerset, formerly BBC Somerset Sound, is the BBC Local Radio service for the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. The northern parts of Somerset – Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset - are also served by BBC Radio Bristol.
The first BBC service for the county of Somerset was established in 1978, as an emergency measure following storms in the county. The station proper was launched as BBC Somerset Sound on 11 April 1988, broadcasting on BBC Radio Bristol's former frequency of 1323AM. It was based in studios above a cafe on Paul St, Taunton, with a smaller satellite studio in Yeovil. The signal on 1323AM was for many years interfered with by a Russian radio station.
In August 2002, BBC Somerset moved to new premises in Park Street, Taunton, and acquired a more robust frequency of 1566AM. On 3 December 2007, it was also given BBC Radio Bristol's former FM frequency of 95.5FM. It currently broadcasts on both of these, to the whole of the historic county of Somerset and beyond. Listeners from as far afield as Finland have reported hearing the station clearly. BBC Somerset sometimes uses its AM frequency for cricket commentary while regular programming continues on FM. BBC Somerset began broadcasting in DAB in September 2014.
BBC Somerset was for many years an 'opt-out' from 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: "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 and Cheshire.".
On 6 October 2011, the BBC announced that it intended to close BBC Somerset's 1566MW frequency as part of its Delivering Quality First (DQF) program of cutbacks. No decision on the timing of the medium wave switch-off has yet been made.
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