LBC News 1152
Encyclopedia
LBC News 1152 is London's only rolling news radio station broadcasting in Greater London
on AM
, DAB
, Sky, Virgin Media
and online. The station's aim is to provide more in depth coverage of the day's news stories. It also offers the most up to date travel information for London.
The station's news partners include Sky News Radio
and Fox News Radio
.
The history of continuous news radio in London dates back to the early 1990s. In September 1993 London News Radio was awarded the FM and AM licenses previously held by LBC. They proposed a continuous news service on FM and a news/talk format on AM.
By the time the license was due to start in October 1994 London News Radio had been through several upheavals, first acquiring LBC and then itself being bought up by Reuters
.
At launch on 5 October 1994 the company was known as London Radio Services and it operated London News 97.3FM and London News Talk 1152AM.
London News initially operated on a 20-minute wheel. The first presenters on air were Michael Wilson and Clare Catford. The morning sequence was presented by LBC veteran Jonathan Staples with Nicky Broyd the afternoon presenter. Drivetime was in the hands of Christopher Terry and Brenda Ellison. John Terrett was the evening host.
By spring 1995 the rolling news format gave way to a more traditional schedule of news sequences and magazine programmes.
In summer 1995 the station's name was shortened to News 97.3.
In 1996 Reuters sold London Radio Services to the newly formed London News Radio (unrelated to the previous LNR company), in which ITN, DMGT, Reuters and GWR Group held equal shares.
In summer 1996 the station reverted to a rolling news format, initially with no name (the station was branded as 97.3FM).
In autumn 1996 - following a move to ITN's headquarters - the station was relaunched as News Direct 97.3FM and Chris Mann was appointed editor.
In 2000 the station was renamed ITN News Direct 97.3FM
In late 2002 - following the sale of the station to Chrysalis Radio - the station dropped the ITN prefix and returned to its previous name until the rebrand as LBC News 1152.
During Christmas and New Year 2002/03 an LBC News-branded rolling news service was carried on both 97.3FM and 1152AM prior to the full launches of LBC 97.3
and LBC News 1152.
In Spring 2007 it was announced that the station will be replaced by Sky News Radio
. This move comes alongside Channel 4
's 4 Digital Group
second DAB
multiplex
bid.
On 18 October 2007, the station's new owners Global Radio
announced that they and Sky have scrapped a joint venture to turn LBC News 1152 into a 24 hour Sky News branded station.
In Summer 2008 the 1152 service was substantially cut back. The overnight automated service was abandoned and replaced with a simulcast of LBC 97.3
.
The daytime service became semi-automated, with much greater reliance on recorded audio from LBC's FM talk station and Sky News. LBC's five-and-a-half-year relationship with business news provider Bloomberg
was also abandoned in favour of business updates from CNBC
.
On 15 November 2010, LBC News 1152 was added to the Sky and Virgin Media EPGs, with the station using channel slots formerly occupied by Galaxy Yorkshire
. This came six weeks ahead of Galaxy's rebranding to Capital FM.
There are news headlines every 15 minutes, sport and business updates every 30 minutes, with travel and weather every 10 minutes.
Portions of the daytime service are automated.
Other than during the breakfast sequence, the short news bulletins every 30 minutes are simulcast
with LBC 97.3.
The evening and overnight service is a simulcast of sister station LBC 97.3
.
In terms of competitors, it falls short of sister station LBC 97.3, which achieves 928,000 listeners (who listen for 11.7 hours a week), and BBC London, which achieves 560,000 listeners (who listen for 5.5 hours a week).
(Source: RAJAR Q3 2010; Media UK)
Current sport presenters include Russell T Hargreaves, Phil Blacker, Phil Kitromilides, Katie Murrells and Nick Lester
Past presenters include: Luisa Baldini
, Rick Kelsey, Jamie Shepherd, Douglas Cameron, Peter Deeley
, Sandy Warr, James Hirst, Maggie Doyle, James Hartigan, Sue Mansfield, Kim Michaels, Russell Hookey
, Richard Midson, Clemancy Norris, Richard Hakier and Jonathan Savage. Former Sky News anchorman Bob Friend
was a guest presenter on the station at the time of the 2005 British general election
.
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
on AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
, DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
, Sky, Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
and online. The station's aim is to provide more in depth coverage of the day's news stories. It also offers the most up to date travel information for London.
The station's news partners include Sky News Radio
Sky News Radio
Sky News Radio is the radio arm of the Sky News division of British Sky Broadcasting. It has been operating since June 1999, providing a news bulletin service for UK commercial radio stations operators across the UK and for a number of English-speaking radio stations across the world.The Sky News...
and Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
.
History
The frequency has a complicated history of format and ownership, most recently with the swap between 1152 AM and 97.3 FM. In January 2003 the station relaunched as LBC News 1152.The history of continuous news radio in London dates back to the early 1990s. In September 1993 London News Radio was awarded the FM and AM licenses previously held by LBC. They proposed a continuous news service on FM and a news/talk format on AM.
By the time the license was due to start in October 1994 London News Radio had been through several upheavals, first acquiring LBC and then itself being bought up by Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
.
At launch on 5 October 1994 the company was known as London Radio Services and it operated London News 97.3FM and London News Talk 1152AM.
London News initially operated on a 20-minute wheel. The first presenters on air were Michael Wilson and Clare Catford. The morning sequence was presented by LBC veteran Jonathan Staples with Nicky Broyd the afternoon presenter. Drivetime was in the hands of Christopher Terry and Brenda Ellison. John Terrett was the evening host.
By spring 1995 the rolling news format gave way to a more traditional schedule of news sequences and magazine programmes.
In summer 1995 the station's name was shortened to News 97.3.
In 1996 Reuters sold London Radio Services to the newly formed London News Radio (unrelated to the previous LNR company), in which ITN, DMGT, Reuters and GWR Group held equal shares.
In summer 1996 the station reverted to a rolling news format, initially with no name (the station was branded as 97.3FM).
In autumn 1996 - following a move to ITN's headquarters - the station was relaunched as News Direct 97.3FM and Chris Mann was appointed editor.
In 2000 the station was renamed ITN News Direct 97.3FM
In late 2002 - following the sale of the station to Chrysalis Radio - the station dropped the ITN prefix and returned to its previous name until the rebrand as LBC News 1152.
During Christmas and New Year 2002/03 an LBC News-branded rolling news service was carried on both 97.3FM and 1152AM prior to the full launches of LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
and LBC News 1152.
In Spring 2007 it was announced that the station will be replaced by Sky News Radio
Sky News Radio
Sky News Radio is the radio arm of the Sky News division of British Sky Broadcasting. It has been operating since June 1999, providing a news bulletin service for UK commercial radio stations operators across the UK and for a number of English-speaking radio stations across the world.The Sky News...
. This move comes alongside Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's 4 Digital Group
4 Digital Group
4 Digital Group was a media consortium in the United Kingdom. The group won the licence to operate the second national DAB radio multiplex, as advertised by Ofcom in December 2006. The consortium, led by Channel 4 Radio, is a combination of the existing commercial radio operators and brands new to...
second DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
multiplex
DAB ensemble
DAB ensembles are groups of Digital audio broadcasting broadcasters transmitting multiple digital radio channels on a single radio transmission....
bid.
On 18 October 2007, the station's new owners Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
announced that they and Sky have scrapped a joint venture to turn LBC News 1152 into a 24 hour Sky News branded station.
In Summer 2008 the 1152 service was substantially cut back. The overnight automated service was abandoned and replaced with a simulcast of LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
.
The daytime service became semi-automated, with much greater reliance on recorded audio from LBC's FM talk station and Sky News. LBC's five-and-a-half-year relationship with business news provider Bloomberg
Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P. is an American privately held financial software, media, and data company. Bloomberg makes up one third of the $16 billion global financial data market with estimated revenue of $6.9 billion. Bloomberg L.P...
was also abandoned in favour of business updates from CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
.
On 15 November 2010, LBC News 1152 was added to the Sky and Virgin Media EPGs, with the station using channel slots formerly occupied by Galaxy Yorkshire
Galaxy Yorkshire
Capital Yorkshire is an Independent Local Radio station owned by Global Radio as part of the nine-station Capital radio network which specialises in mainstream music...
. This came six weeks ahead of Galaxy's rebranding to Capital FM.
Programming
The station broadcasts between 7am and 7pm on weekdays and from 7am to 5pm at the weekend.There are news headlines every 15 minutes, sport and business updates every 30 minutes, with travel and weather every 10 minutes.
Portions of the daytime service are automated.
Other than during the breakfast sequence, the short news bulletins every 30 minutes are simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
with LBC 97.3.
The evening and overnight service is a simulcast of sister station LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
.
Listenership
LBC NEWS 1152 has 373,000 listeners every week, who listen for around 3.4 hours a week. Since 2005, the station has shown consistent moderate growth in terms of people listening, and roughly static total hours.In terms of competitors, it falls short of sister station LBC 97.3, which achieves 928,000 listeners (who listen for 11.7 hours a week), and BBC London, which achieves 560,000 listeners (who listen for 5.5 hours a week).
(Source: RAJAR Q3 2010; Media UK)
Presenters
Weekday breakfast is presented by Jim Diamond, mid-mornings by Howard Hughes, Andy Hayes presents Drive-time. Other presenters include: Holly Ford, Dan Freedman, Declan Harvey, Alex Kirkland and Rupert Bhatia.Current sport presenters include Russell T Hargreaves, Phil Blacker, Phil Kitromilides, Katie Murrells and Nick Lester
Past presenters include: Luisa Baldini
Luisa Baldini
Luisa Baldini is Anglo-Italian news reporter and presenter, presently working for BBC News.-Biography:Born in Tanzania to an Italian father and English mother, she first came to the UK when the family moved to North London. She attended St. Helen's School and then Haileybury College, Hertford...
, Rick Kelsey, Jamie Shepherd, Douglas Cameron, Peter Deeley
Peter Deeley
Peter Deeley is a British journalist who until January 2006 was a presenter on the London phone-in radio station, LBC 97.3.-Career:Deeley has enabled interviewed Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, former British Prime Ministers Baroness Thatcher and Sir John Major, Dr. Henry Kissinger, and Tony Blair...
, Sandy Warr, James Hirst, Maggie Doyle, James Hartigan, Sue Mansfield, Kim Michaels, Russell Hookey
Russell Hookey
Russell Hookey is a radio and television journalist and broadcaster working in the United Kingdom and Channel Islands.He is currently reading news on the National UK radio station Classic FM & the London talk station LBC 97.3....
, Richard Midson, Clemancy Norris, Richard Hakier and Jonathan Savage. Former Sky News anchorman Bob Friend
Bob Friend (newscaster)
Bob Friend, MBE was one of the original news anchors for the Sky News channel from its launch in 1989 until his retirement in late 2003....
was a guest presenter on the station at the time of the 2005 British general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
.