West Kirby transmitting station
Encyclopedia
West Kirby transmitting station (also commonly known as West Kirby transmitter) is a television relay and mast serving parts of West Kirby
, Wirral
, UK (national grid reference: SJ224862). It is a relay of the Winter Hill transmitter
. The 17 metre-high (56 ft-high) mast is situated at an elevation of 64 metres (210 ft). Thus, the top of the mast has an overall height of 81 metres (265.7 ft) above sea level. As of 2009, the transmitter serves approximately 3,400 homes.
bore hole site near Column Road, West Kirby.
The relay was not an original VHF 405-line
transmitter. For 625-line
analogue services on UHF, the relay covers a geographical Winter Hill blind spot in the vicinity of West Kirby near the Dee
estuary. Prior to switchover, analogue channels BBC One
, BBC Two
, ITV1
and Channel 4
are radiated from the site.. Being a relay of Winter Hill, the transmitter is in the BBC
North West
and ITV
Granada
TV regions.
From 4 November 2009 some digital TV services started broadcasting from the transmitter.
The final digital switchover date was 2 December 2009, after which three digital multiplexes (known as Freeview Lite) were made available.
All TV transmissions from the West Kirby site are vertically polarised.
West Kirby
West Kirby is a town on the north-west corner of the coast of the Wirral Peninsula, England, at the mouth of the River Dee across from the Point of Ayr in North Wales. To the north-east of the town lies Hoylake, with the suburbs of Grange and Newton to the east, and the village of Caldy to the...
, Wirral
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...
, UK (national grid reference: SJ224862). It is a relay of the Winter Hill transmitter
Winter Hill transmitting station
The Winter Hill transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications site situated on Winter Hill, at the southern boundary of the Borough of Chorley, and above Bolton in Greater Manchester, England...
. The 17 metre-high (56 ft-high) mast is situated at an elevation of 64 metres (210 ft). Thus, the top of the mast has an overall height of 81 metres (265.7 ft) above sea level. As of 2009, the transmitter serves approximately 3,400 homes.
Details
The transmitting mast is located on a United UtilitiesUnited Utilities
United Utilities Group PLC is the UK's largest listed water business. The Group owns and manages the regulated water and waste water network in the north west England, through it subsidiary United Utilities Water PLC , which is responsible for the vast majority of the group's assets and...
bore hole site near Column Road, West Kirby.
The relay was not an original VHF 405-line
405-line
The 405-line monochrome analogue television broadcasting system was the first fully electronic television system to be used in regular broadcasting....
transmitter. For 625-line
576i
576i is a standard-definition video mode used in PAL and SECAM countries. In digital applications it is usually referred to as "576i", in analogue contexts it is often quoted as "625 lines"...
analogue services on UHF, the relay covers a geographical Winter Hill blind spot in the vicinity of West Kirby near the 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....
estuary. Prior to switchover, analogue channels BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
, BBC Two
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...
, ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
and 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...
are radiated from the site.. Being a relay of Winter Hill, the transmitter is in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
and ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
Granada
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....
TV regions.
From 4 November 2009 some digital TV services started broadcasting from the transmitter.
The final digital switchover date was 2 December 2009, after which three digital multiplexes (known as Freeview Lite) were made available.
All TV transmissions from the West Kirby site are vertically polarised.
Transmitted services
Analogue television
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 471.25 MHz | 21 | 0.013 | BBC One BBC One BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution... |
| 495.25 MHz | 24 | 0.013 | BBC Two 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... |
| 519.25 MHz | 27 | 0.013 | ITV1 ITV1 ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their... |
| 551.25 MHz | 31 | 0.013 | 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... |
Digital television
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 474.2 MHz | 21+ | 0.015 | BBC BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff... B |
| 498.0 MHz | 24 | 0.015 | Digital 3&4 Digital 3&4 Digital 3&4 is a consortium consisting of regional Channel 3 companies and Channel 4 Television Corporation, which operates a multiplex broadcasting from a number of transmitter sites in the UK, carrying television and radio channels from both ITV and Channel 4; however three per-cent of the... |
| 522.0 MHz | 27 | 0.015 | BBC A |
See also
- Flint TV relayFlint TV relayThe 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...
- Moel-y-Parc transmitting station
- Storeton transmitting stationStoreton transmitting stationStoreton 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...
- Winter Hill transmitting stationWinter Hill transmitting stationThe Winter Hill transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications site situated on Winter Hill, at the southern boundary of the Borough of Chorley, and above Bolton in Greater Manchester, England...