BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station which broadcasts a wide variety of chiefly spoken-word programmes including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It is broadcast on 92 - 95 MHz FM (95.80 MHz in central Scotland, and 103-104.5 MHz in parts of Wales) and 198 kHz longwave; and via DAB, satellite (FM is broadcast on Sky channel 854 and LW is broadcast on Sky channel 893), selected Cable television providers, Freeview channel 74 and the Internet.

Programming and schedules

The Radio 4 Website Schedule Page shows the running order for the current day. Radio 4 splits from the World Service at 0529, with a brief introduction from the early shift continuity announcer, before the 5-minute "Radio 4 UK Theme" (composed by Fritz Spiegl). This is followed at 0535 by the shipping forecast, weather reports from coastal stations for 0400GMT and inshore waters forecasts. On weekdays, the Today Programme runs from 0600 to 0900. On, or after the hour, with few exceptions, a news bulletin is broadcast - this is sometimes a 2-minute summary, a longer piece as part of a current affairs programme, or at 6pm or midnight a 30-minute broadcast (15-minute weekends). At 1200, FM has a 4-minute bulletin whilst Longwave has the headlines and then the Shipping Forecast; for the same reason, longwave leaves the PM Programme on weekdays at 1754. Programmes continue late into the night, with the Midnight News at 0000, followed by (on weekdays) a repeat of Book of the Week, after which there is the Late Shipping Forecast. This brings to the end the day on Radio 4 with God Save The Queen being played, then the World Service taking over the airwaves until 0529.

Related Topics:
Fritz Spiegl - Shipping forecast - Today Programme - PM Programme - Book of the Week - God Save The Queen - World Service

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Many Radio 4 programmes are pre-recorded, whilst others are live. Continuity is managed from Broadcasting House whilst news bulletins (including the hourly summaries and longer programmes such as the "Six O' Clock News" and "Midnight News") and news programmes (such as Today, The World at One, PM etc.) are based at Television Centre, White City. They were moved there in 1998 when the BBC's News Centre was opened to house both radio and TV news. News is due to return to Broadcasting House in 2008.

Related Topics:
Broadcasting House - Television Centre - 1998

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