Radio World
By Doug Irwin, CPBE AMD DRB
January 18, 2018
The Beeb has “trialled” the switch-off of a number of medium-wave transmitters over a few years
Seven BBC local radio stations had their AM transmitters shut down on Jan. 15.
BBC Surrey, Sussex, Humberside, Kent, Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Wiltshire went silent, in addition to partial shutdowns of AM service for BBC Radio Devon, Essex and Humberside, according to radiotoday.co.uk.
“We conducted detailed assessments of the coverage of each BBC local radio station on FM, MW and DAB. Following this process, we trialled the switch-off of a number of medium-wave transmitters and asked for audience feedback. Taken together, the audience feedback and the coverage data have informed which medium wave transmitters are unlikely to represent value for money in the longer term,” BBC Director of Distribution & Business Development Kieran Cliftonsaid in the same article.
In other words, transmitters were turned off and no one said anything. In fact, the BBC has “trialled” the switch-off of a number of medium-wave transmitters over a few years and subsequently made the decision to turn off 13 transmitters, following audience feedback (or lack thereof).