SUTTON COLDFIELD TRANSMITTING STATION

The 'Sutton Coldfield transmitting station' is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located just north of Sutton Coldfield, in Birmingham, England. On December 17 1949, it became the first television transmitter to broadcast outside London and the Home Counties, bringing BBC Television to viewers outside of the south-east of England for the first time.
A new mast was built around 1983 to replace the existing structure, primarily to support new mixed-polarisation FM antennas. With a mast height of 243 metres (797 ft), it is one of the most powerful transmitters in England, powered at 1000 kilowatts ERP for analogue television and 250 kW for FM radio. The coverage extends as far south as Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and as far north as Stoke-on-Trent. However, there are many relay transmitters around the Midlands that extend the coverage even further.
The transmitter broadcasts UHF analogue and six digital television multiplexes, as well as VHF or FM transmitters for the four BBC national stations, independent national station Classic FM, four local commercial radio stations (BRMB, Kerrang Radio, Smooth Radio and Galaxy Birmingham), the BBC's local service WM and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting – i.e. Digital Radio). Although many people think it broadcasts Five that programme (on UHF channel 37) is actually transmitted from Lichfield which is 4 miles NE.
In July 2007 it was confirmed by Ofcom that Sutton Coldfield would be remaining a B group transmitter after DSO (Digital Switchover).
An MF transmitter for Radio Birmingham (now Radio WM) used to be installed at this site, but could only be operated at 5 kW instead of the planned 10 kW because of interference to video equipment on the site. It was eventually replaced with a transmitter at the nearby Langley Mill MF site owned by Arqiva. This transmitter is currently used for the BBC Asian Network.
The station is now owned by National Grid Wireless, a subsidiary of National Grid plc, based in Warwick.

Contents

See also

Further reading

External links

See also

★ List of masts

★ List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain

★ List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

Further reading

★ Pawley, Edward (1972), ''BBC Engineering 1922 - 1972'', London, BBC. pp 355, 368-70. ISBN 0-563-12127-0

★ Cooper, Ray (2006), ''Tales from a Cold Field''.

External links

★ Transmission Gallery, Sutton Coldfield entry

★ Info and pictures of Sutton Coldfield transmitter (including co-receivable transmitters)