'BBC Radio Scotland' is
BBC Scotland's national
radio network, broadcasting since
1976 on 92-95
FM and 810
medium wave. It now also broadcasts on
DAB Digital Radio,
digital television and the internet, through
RealNetworks'
RealPlayer and
Windows Media Player. In common with many other BBC radio stations, the overwhelming majority of programmes are now available on demand through the listen again feature
[1].
History
:''See the main article
BBC Home Service''
Radio Scotland was founded in 1978. It replaced the old "Radio 4 Scotland" (previously the Scottish Home Service) when
Radio 4 became a fully national network and moved from medium wave to long wave. Opt-out stations had previously been established in 1975 in
Inverness and
Aberdeen, and these continued while others were developed in
Dumfries,
Selkirk,
Orkney and
Shetland. Today, news bulletin opt-outs continue from the first four, while Orkney and Shetland provide more extensive programming as community opt-outs from Radio Scotland. The most famous — and controversial — head of Radio Scotland in recent years was
James Boyle.
Programmes
The station broadcasts a wide range of shows including
news,
debate,
music and
sport commentaries.
News
Along with regular, mostly hourly, bulletins, Radio Scotland broadcasts a wide range of news and current affairs programming.
The one constant in the schedule is that weekdays begin with ''Good Morning Scotland'' from 0600 to 0850, providing regular news bulletins, serious political interviews and in-depth reports in a manner similar to Radio 4's
''Today'' programme, but from a Scottish perspective, and including travel news every 15 minutes. There is also lunchtime news programme ''Scotland Live'' between 12 noon and 13.15 every weekday.
Sport
As with
Radio Five Live nationally, Radio Scotland carries most, if not all, of the major sporting events linked to its coverage area. It holds exclusive rights to the
Scottish Premier League and operates its
Sportsound programme on a multitude of frequencies on Saturdays when games are being played. Other sporting events that can be heard on Radio Scotland include both of Scotland's domestic football cup competitions, Scotland football internationals and European games affecting Scottish teams and the rugby union
Six Nations championships. Alongside the live action sports programmes, Radio Scotland also produces popular sporting shows such as football fanzine
Off the Ball, phone-in forum ''Your Call with Jim Traynor'' and the multi-sports programme ''Sports Weekly'', presented by former Scotland rugby player, John Beattie.
Presenters
Radio Scotland presenters include:
★ Iain Anderson
★ Derek Bateman
★
John Beattie - Sports Weekly on Saturdays & Rugby programming
★ Bryan Burnett
★
Colin McAllister &
Justin Ryan
★
Stuart Cosgrove
★
Tam Cowan
★ Stephen Duffy
★ Claire English
★
Archie Fisher
★ Janice Forsyth
★ Isabel Fraser - Good Morning Scotland
★
Vic Galloway
★
Richard Gordon
★ Mary-Ann Kennedy
★ Juliet Lawrence-Wilson
★
Fred MacAulay
★ Colin MacKay
★ Jamie McDougall
★ Freida Morrison
★
Tom Morton
★
Shereen Nanjiani
★
Lesley Riddoch
★ Gary Robertson - Good Morning Scotland
★
Robbie Shepherd
★ Edi Stark
★ Mark Stephen
★ Mhari Stuart
★
Jim Traynor - Host of ''Your Call'' and regular ''Sportsound'' pundit
★ Colin West
Former presenters have included:
★
Ken Bruce
★
Jimmy Mack
★ Kenneth Roy
★
Ken Sykora
Opt-outs
There are also several opt-out services on BBC Radio Scotland.
BBC Radio Shetland and
BBC Radio Orkney both provide local news as well as music and entertainment for
Shetland and
Orkney.
There are local news bulletins during weekdays at 0654, 0750, 1254 and 1654 for the Highlands and Islands, the North East, the South West, and the Scottish Borders.
External links
★
BBC Radio Scotland at
bbc.co.uk
★
Media UK - BBC Radio Scotland