![]() Beacon Hill A (left) and Beacon Hill B | |
Mast height | 103.6 metres (340 ft) |
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Coordinates | 50°26′47″N 3°36′39″W / 50.446389°N 3.610833°W |
Grid reference | SX857619 |
BBC region | BBC South West |
ITV region | ITV West Country |
The Beacon Hill transmitting station is an English telecommunications facility located at Beacon Hill, Marldon, Devon. It includes a guyed mast (Beacon Hill A) [1] and a free-standing lattice tower (Beacon Hill B), [2] both of which support various antennas.
Beacon Hill A became operational in 1972–3, bringing 625 line PAL colour television to the coverage area of Torbay and south Devon. Beacon Hill B transmits FM radio and DAB radio to the area. In 2007, a third guyed lattice mast was constructed at the site to provide medium wave transmissions for Gold (Exeter/Torbay). The transmitter for Gold was dismantled after the service was discontinued. [3]
In April 2009, the analogue television transmissions at Beacon Hill A were turned off, requiring homes in the area to switch to the Freeview service. [4] The Beacon Hill transmitter group was the first in the South West of England to stop broadcasting analogue television services. BBC Two ceased at 00:50 on 8 April 2009 and the remaining analogue signals were turned off on 22 April 2009 at 00:20. [5]
Frequency | kW [6] | Service |
---|---|---|
88.7 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 2 |
90.9 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 3 |
93.1 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 4 |
96.4 MHz | 1.8 | Heart West |
98.4 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 1 |
104.3 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio Devon |
105.5 MHz | 1.6 | Greatest Hits Radio Devon |
Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
---|---|---|---|
220.352 MHz | 11C | 2 | NOW Exeter and Torbay |
222.064 MHz | 11D | 2 | Digital One |
225.648 MHz | 12B | 5 | BBC National DAB |
Digital television
700MHz clearanceThe 700MHz clearance programme led to the removal of some of the Freeview HD and SD channels from the Beacon Hill transmitter. [7] [8] Prior to 27 March 2019, Beacon Hill used to transmit these services:
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Before switchover
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Analogue television signals ceased in April 2009. BBC2 was closed on 8 April 2009, with ITV Westcountry temporarily moving into its place, followed by the remaining services on 22 April.
Frequency | UHF | kW [9] | Service |
---|---|---|---|
727.25 MHz | 53 | 100 | Channel 4 |
759.25 MHz | 57 | 100 | BBC1 South West |
783.25 MHz | 60 | 100 | Westcountry |
807.25 MHz | 63 | 100 | BBC2 South West |