The Bee (radio station)
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| Broadcast area | Blackburn, East Lancashire, Preston, Leyland and Chorley |
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| Slogan | Lancashire's more music station |
| Frequency | 96.3, 106.5 and 107.0 MHz |
| First air date | 1 October 2005 |
| Format | Hot AC |
| Audience share | 4.30% |
| Owner | UKRD |
| Sister stations | 2BR |
| Website | www.thebee.co.uk |
The Bee is a local radio station serving southern and eastern parts of Lancashire. It is owned and operated by UKRD and broadcasts from studios at Clayton-le-Moors in Accrington, sharing facilities with sister station 2BR.
The station is due to merge with 2BR in June 2016.[1]
History
The Bee initially broadcast to the Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington areas under RSL licences in 2001 and 2002, before winning a permanent licence in December 2004. The station, founded by Roy Martin, launched full-time on 1 October 2005. Its investors included neighbouring station 2BR, The Radio Business and local shareholders. Initially based at Dalton Court in Darwen, the station moved to Petre Court in Clayton-le-Moors in August 2010, co-locating with 2BR.
At 7pm on 17 June 2011, the station began broadcasting to the Preston, Leyland and Chorley areas on 106.5 FM, following the sale and subsequent closure of 106.5 Central Radio. A further relay (96.3FM) for the Chorley area went on air in 2012.[2] The two frequencies carry their own advertising and local news bulletins.
On 4 April 2016, UKRD announced The Bee would be closed and merged with its sister East Lancashire station 2BR in June as part of an expansion onto DAB. All programming and 2BR branding will be shared between the two stations with opt-outs for local news, traffic and advertising for the Burnley, Blackburn and Preston & Chorley areas.[3]
Frequencies
Programming
All of The Bee's programming is produced and broadcast from its Clayton-le-Moors studios. Live programming airs from 6am-2pm and 3-7pm on weekdays and from 8am-4pm at weekends. All other output is automated.[5]
News
The Bee broadcasts hourly local news bulletins from 6am-7pm on weekdays and 8am-2pm at weekends, with headlines on the half-hour during weekday shows. National bulletins from Sky News Radio are carried every hour at all other times.[6]
The Bee's news team, shared with sister station 2BR, includes head of news Sarah Collins and broadcast journalists Victoria Glover and Laura Pratt.
References
- ↑ 2BR to merge with The Bee and expand on DAB, Radio Today, 4 April 2016
- ↑ "The Bee grows bigger with 3rd frequency". Radio Today. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ↑ 2BR to merge with The Bee and expand on DAB, Radio Today, 4 April 2016
- ↑ "The Bee grows bigger with 3rd frequency". Radio Today. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ↑ The Bee public file
- ↑ The Bee public file
External links
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Coordinates: 53°46′12″N 2°23′23″W / 53.7699°N 2.3897°W