BBC Three Counties Radio

BBC Three Counties Radio (3CR) is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire (referred to as Beds, Herts and Bucks), broadcasting from studios at Grove Park in Dunstable.

BBC Three Counties Radio
CityDunstable
Broadcast areaBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Frequency90.4FM, 92.1FM, 94.7FM, 95.5FM, 98.0FM, 103.8FM, 104.5FM
SloganThe sound of Beds, Herts and Bucks, and all the music you love
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatLocal news, talk and music
Ownership
OwnerBBC Local Radio, BBC East
History
First air date
24 June 1985 (1985-06-24)
Links
WebsiteBBC Three Counties Radio

According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 137,000 listeners and a 4.6% share as of December 2018.[1]

History

BBC Radio Bedfordshire (1985–1993)
Radio Bedfordshire logo

The station launched as "Radio Bedfordshire" on 24 June 1985, serving the whole of Bedfordshire plus (despite the name) North Bucks and the northern parts of Hertfordshire. Therefore, as well as Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Milton Keynes, Knebworth, Berkhamsted, Tring, Harpenden, Leighton Buzzard, Aylesbury, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Hitchin were served by the new station. In 1992 the station became known as "BBC Radio Bedfordshire with Herts and Bucks".

BBC Three Counties Radio (1993–present)

The station changed to its present name on 5 April 1993. The new name was intended to reflect the wider reach across the three counties and to give equal service to all. The editorial area was not, at that point, expanded but enhanced studio facilities and staff were devoted to Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

The radio station changed to a new freephone number in March 2018 – the new number is 08081 008800

New transmitters at Epping Green and Bedmond extended the coverage to Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and west Hertfordshire in late 2005.

BBC Three Counties Radio became available on DAB radio on 14 February 2013.[2]

BBC Three Counties Radio moved to brand new studios in Dunstable in June 2015.

Transmitters

BBC Three Counties Radio broadcasts on DAB Digital radio on the Herts, Beds and Bucks digital radio multiplex, transmitted from Sandy Heath, Aylesbury TE, Epping Green, Hemel Hempstead, Chepping Wycombe, Letchworth, Zouches Farm and Bow Brickhill.

On FM it broadcasts on 90.4FM (Epping Green, near Hertford), 92.1FM (Bedmond, near Hemel Hempstead), 94.7FM (Quainton Hill, near Aylesbury), 95.5FM (Sandy Heath), 98.0FM (High Wycombe), 103.8FM (Zouches Farm, near Luton), 104.5FM (Bow Brickhill, near Milton Keynes).

It also can be found on BBC Sounds app, Freeview and the BBC website.

Programming

Most of BBC Three Counties Radio's programming is produced and broadcast from its Dunstable studios.

During off-peak hours, BBC Three Counties Radio also carries regional programming for the East, produced from sister stations BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Essex, BBC Radio Suffolk and BBC Radio Northampton. During the station's downtime, BBC Three Counties Radio simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight.

BBC Three Counties Radio uses the 2020 Reelworld Europe package produced for BBC Local Radio.

Notable presenters

Andy Collins

Notable past presenters

References
  1. "RAJAR". RAJAR. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. Radio Today. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.

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