BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live
Logo used since 2022
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom and internationally via BBC Sounds
FrequenciesMW: 693 kHz, 909 kHz, 990 kHz and on BBC Local Radio stations' frequencies overnight.
DAB: 12B
Freeview: 705
Freesat: 705
Sky (UK only): 0105
Virgin Media: 905
Virgin Media Ireland: 911
Astra 2E (28.2°E) satellite
Intelsat 901 (18°W) satellite
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatNews and sport
Ownership
OwnerBBC
OperatorBBC North
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
History
First air date
28 March 1994; 30 years ago (1994-03-28)
Former call signs
BBC Radio 5
Technical information
Licensing authority
Ofcom
Links
WebsiteBBC Radio 5 Live via BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 5 Live is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It broadcasts mainly news, sport, discussion, interviews and phone-ins. It is the principal BBC radio station covering sport in the United Kingdom, broadcasting virtually all major sports events staged in the UK or involving British competitors.

Radio 5 Live was launched in March 1994 as a repositioning of the original Radio 5, which was launched on 27 August 1990.[1] It is transmitted via analogue radio in AM on medium wave 693 and 909 kHz and digitally via digital radio, television and on the BBC Sounds service. Due to rights restrictions, coverage of some events, particularly live sport, is not available online or is restricted to UK addresses.

The station broadcasts from MediaCityUK in Salford in Greater Manchester[2] and is a department of the BBC North division.

According to RAJAR, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 4.8 million with a listening share of 2.9% as of March 2024.[3]

  1. ^ "Radio launches 2". Radiomusications. Transdiffusion. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  2. ^ Radio 5 Live move to Salford delayed guardian.co.uk, 19 March 2010
  3. ^ "RAJAR".