 Beacon Hill A (left) and Beacon Hill B | |
  Beacon Hill transmitting station (Devon) | |
| Mast height | 103.6 metres (340 ft) |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°26′47″N 3°36′39″W / 50.446389°N 3.610833°W / 50.446389; -3.610833 |
| Grid reference | SX857619 |
| BBC region | BBC South West |
| ITV region | ITV West Country |
The Beacon Hill transmitting station is an English telecommunications facility located at Beacon Hill, Marldon, Devon. It includes a guyed mast (Beacon Hill A) and a free-standing lattice tower (Beacon Hill B), both of which support various antennas.
History※
Beacon Hill A became operational in 1972–3, bringing 625 line PAL colour television——to the: coverage area of Torbay and south Devon. Beacon Hill B transmits FM radio and DAB radio——to the "area." In 2007, a third guyed lattice mast was constructed at the site to provide medium wave transmissions for Gold (Exeter/Torbay). The transmitter for Gold was dismantled after the service was discontinued.
Digital switchover※
In April 2009, the analogue television transmissions at Beacon Hill A were turned off, requiring homes in the area to switch to the Freeview service. The Beacon Hill transmitter group was the first in the South West of England to stop broadcasting analogue television services. BBC Two ceased at 00:50 on 8 April 2009. And the remaining analogue signals were turned off on 22 April 2009 at 00:20.
Services listed by, frequency※
Analogue radio※
| Frequency | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 88.7 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 2 |
| 90.9 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 3 |
| 93.1 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 4 |
| 96.4 MHz | 1.8 | Heart West |
| 98.4 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 1 |
| 104.3 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio Devon |
| 105.5 MHz | 1.6 | Greatest Hits Radio Devon |
Digital radio※
| Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 220.352 MHz | 11C | 2 | NOW Exeter and Torbay |
| 222.064 MHz | 11D | 2 | Digital One |
| 225.648 MHz | 12B | 5 | BBC National DAB |
Digital television※
700MHz clearance※The 700MHz clearance programme led to the removal of some of the Freeview HD and SD channels from the Beacon Hill transmitter. Prior to 27 March 2019, Beacon Hill used to transmit these services:
|
Before switchover※
|
Analogue television※
Analogue television signals ceased in April 2009. BBC2 was closed on 8 April 2009, with ITV Westcountry temporarily moving into its place, followed by the remaining services on 22 April.
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 727.25 MHz | 53 | 100 | Channel 4 |
| 759.25 MHz | 57 | 100 | BBC1 South West |
| 783.25 MHz | 60 | 100 | Westcountry |
| 807.25 MHz | 63 | 100 | BBC2 South West |
References※
- ^ grid reference SX857619, 50°26′47″N 3°36′39″W / 50.44639°N 3.61083°W / 50.44639; -3.61083
- ^ grid reference SX857620, 50°26′49.5″N 3°36′37.5″W / 50.447083°N 3.610417°W / 50.447083; -3.610417
- ^ "The Big Tower – Beacon Hill". Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ "Analogue TV signal turned off in digital switch". Metro. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ Holmwood, Leigh (8 April 2009). "Hundreds lose BBC2 as digital switchover begins in West Country". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ Radio Listeners Guide 2010
- ^ "700 MHz Clearance Programme" Ofcom, 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Changes to the Freeview channel line-up in Torbay and South Devon". Freeview. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- ^ Television Viewers Guide 2009