Flint TV relay
Encyclopedia
The Flint TV relay was an analogue television transmitter
housed on a residential tower block called Bolingbroke Heights at the centre of the Town of Flint
in North Wales
. Flint is situated on the estuary of the River Dee
which forms part the Wales
border with England
.
Between 1996 and 2009, the mast provided BBC One Wales and S4C
to most of the town's residents. Its transmissions utilised spare UHF capacity in which to relay transmissions from the Moel-y-Parc transmitter on low power (via another similar relay in nearby Bagillt
). Due to limited capacity, it was not possible for the site to carry BBC Two Wales
or ITV Wales
. Owing to the constraints of local geography and location of the main Moel-y-Parc TV Transmitter, residents in the town and some surrounding areas had previously been unable to fully access Welsh
television output (provided in both the Welsh and English languages). Reception of the Welsh
TV stations varied from poor to un-viewable and as a consequence programming was supplied almost exclusively by the North West of England based TV stations such as Granada Television
, easily receivable with a set top aerial. As Flint
falls outside the normal coverage area of these TV stations, reference in local programming was rarely ever made to the area. The relay was only installed following a campaign spearheaded by the Welsh-language group Teledu I Pawb (Television For All). The group considered the bias toward North West of England regional TV programming across many parts of the North Wales coastal strip unacceptable and detrimental to the preservation and promotion of the Welsh Language
, culture and national identity. Similar relays were installed at the same time in the nearby Village of Bagillt
and the Town of Holywell
. The latter also transmits BBC Radio Cymru. It is estimated that the three relays have made available Welsh
regional TV programming to some 24,000 to 30,000 residents. A number of nearby localities remained without any terrestrial access to Welsh
TV and radio output including Mostyn
and Fynnongroyw. Viewers (and listeners) in these areas (and indeed across the UK) were however able to pick-up all the Welsh TV and radio output via Sky Digital
satellite.
Welsh channels were instead transmitted from the Storeton transmitting station
on the Wirral Peninsula
.
Television transmitter
A television transmitter is a device which broadcasts an electromagnetic signal to the television receivers. Television transmitters may be analog or digital.- Types of transmitters :There are many types of transmitters depending on* The system standard...
housed on a residential tower block called Bolingbroke Heights at the centre of the Town of Flint
Flint, Flintshire
Flint is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Dee. It was the county town of the historic county of Flintshire and today is the third largest town in Flintshire. According to the 2001 Census the population of the community of Flint was 12,804...
in North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Flint is situated on the estuary of the River Dee
River Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
which forms part the Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
border with England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Between 1996 and 2009, the mast provided BBC One Wales and S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
to most of the town's residents. Its transmissions utilised spare UHF capacity in which to relay transmissions from the Moel-y-Parc transmitter on low power (via another similar relay in nearby Bagillt
Bagillt
Bagillt is a small town near Holywell in Flintshire, North Wales. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 3,918.-History:http://stmarysbagillt.co.uk/...
). Due to limited capacity, it was not possible for the site to carry BBC Two Wales
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
or ITV Wales
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
. Owing to the constraints of local geography and location of the main Moel-y-Parc TV Transmitter, residents in the town and some surrounding areas had previously been unable to fully access Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
television output (provided in both the Welsh and English languages). Reception of the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
TV stations varied from poor to un-viewable and as a consequence programming was supplied almost exclusively by the North West of England based TV stations such as Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, easily receivable with a set top aerial. As Flint
Flint, Flintshire
Flint is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Dee. It was the county town of the historic county of Flintshire and today is the third largest town in Flintshire. According to the 2001 Census the population of the community of Flint was 12,804...
falls outside the normal coverage area of these TV stations, reference in local programming was rarely ever made to the area. The relay was only installed following a campaign spearheaded by the Welsh-language group Teledu I Pawb (Television For All). The group considered the bias toward North West of England regional TV programming across many parts of the North Wales coastal strip unacceptable and detrimental to the preservation and promotion of the Welsh Language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, culture and national identity. Similar relays were installed at the same time in the nearby Village of Bagillt
Bagillt
Bagillt is a small town near Holywell in Flintshire, North Wales. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 3,918.-History:http://stmarysbagillt.co.uk/...
and the Town of Holywell
Holywell
Holywell is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.-History:The market town of Holywell takes its name from the St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel...
. The latter also transmits BBC Radio Cymru. It is estimated that the three relays have made available Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
regional TV programming to some 24,000 to 30,000 residents. A number of nearby localities remained without any terrestrial access to Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
TV and radio output including Mostyn
Mostyn
Mostyn is a small village in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Dee, and located near the town of Holywell.Mostyn once served as a port from which ferries used to sail to Dublin on the Liverpool-Dublin route...
and Fynnongroyw. Viewers (and listeners) in these areas (and indeed across the UK) were however able to pick-up all the Welsh TV and radio output via Sky Digital
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
satellite.
Situation at cessation of broadcasting
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 671.25 MHz | 46 | 0.025 | BBC One Wales |
| 727.25 MHz | 53 | 0.025 | S4C S4C S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on... |
Cessation of broadcasting
After digital switchover, the mast ceased to relay television channels. http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker/main/trade/CH6+5LG/NA/0Welsh channels were instead transmitted from the Storeton transmitting station
Storeton transmitting station
Storeton transmitting station is a television relay and radio transmitter and mast on Storeton Hill, Higher Bebington, Wirral, UK . It is a relay of Winter Hill and the only Winter Hill relay to carry all five analogue TV channels prior to digital switchover...
on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
.