BBC Radio Bristol
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BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC Local Radio service for the English city of Bristol and surrounding area. Launched in September 1970, it broadcasts from its studios in Bristol on 94.9 (Ilchester Crescent, Bedminster), 95.5 (Mendip), 104.6 (Bath) FM, 1548 (Mangotsfield) AM and DAB.
The strongest FM signal on 95.5 MHz, comes from the Mendip transmitter, near Glastonbury, which covers Bristol and north Somerset (but not southern-most Somerset), as well as quite a bit of Wiltshire and south-east Wales (even as far as Bridgend). Somerset Sound and BBC Bristol do share many programmes. Due to the hilly nature of the area, the Ilchester Crescent transmitter on 94.9 MHz fills in much-needed gaps in reception over central Bristol. It also carries Bristol's national radio FM frequencies.
Radio Bristol's main competitor is GWR on 96.3FM. GWR bought up many national independent local radio stations in the 1990s. There are also Vibe 101 (formerly Galaxy 101) and Star 107.2. The Bath transmitter also broadcasts GWR on 103FM and Bath FM on 107.9FM. Mendip also broadcasts Orchard FM on 102.6FM, and Vibe 101 (which has a much more powerful signal than Radio Bristol) as well as the area's TV.
In the evenings from 7pm (6pm on Saturdays), the output from Bristol is shared with all BBC local radio stations in the BBC West TV region. An excellent programme on Sunday from 7 - 8pm is Philip Hunt's Sounds of Brass, also heard in all the Points West and Spotlight TV news areas.
The local BBC TV news is BBC Points West, from Bristol.
Kate Adie produced programmes for BBC Radio Bristol in the 1970s. Chris Morris also succeeded in pushing his luck as a presenter here. Other past presenters include Roger Bennett and Susan Osman.