ContactBBC Radio London, GLR
"Greater London Radio..."
BBC Radio London, GLR
BBC Radio London, GLR, London Live, BBC London
BBC Radio London started on October 6th 1970, three years before the first commercial radio activity in the capital. Initially, it broadcast on 95.3, and then, just prior to the commercial stations launching, a medium wave transmitter was used on 206m (1457kHz) from 1973.
FM stereo transmissions began in 1981 with a continuous music programme called 'Music On The Move' - the first stereo programme which came a few days prior to the Stereo launch on February 11th. The VHF transmitter was relocated to Crystal Palace about a year later due to poor coverage from the Central/West London site of Wrotham. A later move of FM frequency, due to what was then up and coming new broadcaster, Capital Radio, took it to 94.9 where its successor remains today.
BBC Radio London started broadcasting from studios in Hanover Square, near Oxford Circus - with consoles including rotary faders. Later, the station moved to new studios in Marylebone High Street, premises without any windows at the back of a BBC Publications building, formerly the warehouse for the Radio Times.
In 1980, the station celebrated its 10th birthday with a large piece in the Radio Times. This was in the days when Local Radio stations had a whole page. A special photo of everyone who could be found in the newsroom was taken to use in the piece. Laurie Meyer put together a tribute to the mistakes, or bloopers, of those first ten years.
A relaunch in 1981 saw the station take on a softer 'Radio 2' type sound, a move which didn't totally convince the staff. However, it did lead to an increase in audience figures and a string of awards and accolades.
All good things come to an end: The final Radio London programme, just before the station's 18th birthday, was presented by Mike Sparrow and Susie Barnes. BBC Radio London closed at 7pm, Friday 7th October 1988 - output was replaced by test transmissions for its successor GLR.
The new BBC local service for London launched on the 25th October 1988 broadcasting on 94.9FM with Johnnie Walker at the controls. At launch, the pretense was to be in no way similar to what went before - to demonstrate this, the presenter line up was completely different. It is an Adult-oriented station portraying "London life," featuring interviews, phone-ins and news during the day and specialist minority programmes by night. There is also a lively week-day lunchtime phone-in show and good sports coverage on Saturday afternoons
It was named BBC GLR - Greater London Radio - until 25 March 2000 when the BBC renamed it, despite much protest, and possibly because of poor RAJAR figures, to BBC London Live. 1st October 2001 saw a further name change, but only slightly to BBC London, merging with web site and TV services ("On TV On Radio On Line").
The name will, from historical precedent, change again in a few days.
Information amended from the excellent Aircheck UK webpage
BBC Radio London Jingles
- BBC Radio London - jingles coming soon