BBC Dorset FM was a

BBC Local Radio BBC Local Radio (also referred to as Local BBC Radio) is the BBC's local and regional radio division for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of forty stations. History The popularity of pirate radio was to challenge a change within ...

station based in Dorchester, covering the county of

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

which broadcast from 1993 to 1996. It was the last BBC Local Radio station to launch which covered a previously unserved area. It operated as an opt-out station from

BBC Radio Devon BBC Radio Devon is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Devon. It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios in the Mannamead area of Plymouth. According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 1 ...

for around 23 hours a week.

History

BBC Dorset FM emerged after plans for a full-time station for

were cancelled in 1990, as part of a series of measures designed to save £3 million. Dorset FM opened on 26 April 1993, broadcasting to central and

West Dorset West Dorset was a local government district in Dorset, England. Its council was based in Dorchester. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was a merger of the boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester and ...

on 103.8 FM from its transmitter on Bincombe Hill. The station produced three-and-a-half hours of its own programming each weekday - ''Good Morning Dorset'' from 6:30 am to 9 am, and ''Dorset Newshour'' from 12 pm to 1 pm. In addition there were three hours of programmes on Saturday and two hours on Sunday. The remainder of the station's output was relayed from

. In early 1996, BBC Dorset FM closed, and was replaced on 103.8 FM by a relay of

BBC Radio Solent BBC Radio Solent is the BBC's local radio station serving Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds from studios on Havelock Road in Southampton. According to RAJAR, the station has a ...

, albeit with a news and information service tailored to rural Dorset. The Dorchester studio became a district office of Radio Solent.

Planned relaunch

By 2004, the BBC were proposing a series of new

BBC local radio BBC Local Radio (also referred to as Local BBC Radio) is the BBC's local and regional radio division for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of forty stations. History The popularity of pirate radio was to challenge a change within ...

stations, including one for

. However, as a part of a series of cutbacks announced in October 2007, plans for the station were abandoned. Th
Dorset Broadcasting Action Group
continues to campaign for the introduction of a separate station for Dorset. Thanks to continued pressure on the BBC by the Dorset Broadcasting Action Group (DorBAG), the BBC finally launched a new dedicated Dorset Breakfast programme on 8 July 2013. This is now an opt-out from

on 103.8 FM using the transmitter at Bincombe Hill and, more recently on several DAB transmitters but neither FM nor DAB reach most of

due to coverage of the Bincombe Hill / DAB transmitters which effectively only reach mid / south Dorset, leaving much of the county still uncovered. The BBC has agreed with DorBAG that the ultimate aim is to extend the programme to cover the whole county. This may require additional transmitters which is under discussion between the BBC and DorBAG. It transmits from 6:30 am to 9 am weekdays. However, it is also available online and on

Freeview Freeview may refer to: * Freeview (Australia), the marketing name for the digital terrestrial television platform in Australia * Freeview (New Zealand), a digital satellite and digital terrestrial television platform in New Zealand *Freeview (UK), ...

channel 734. The reporting / editorial team based in the Dorchester studio create and run the programme. The remainder of the broadcasts each day are of BBC Radio Solent.

References

External links

Dorset Broadcasting Action GroupBincombe Hill transmitter
{{BBC Local Radio Defunct BBC Local Radio stations Radio stations established in 1993 Radio stations in Dorset 1993 establishments in England