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BBC Northern Ireland

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Broadcasting House, Belfast

BBC Northern Ireland (Irish: BBC Thuaisceart Éireann; sometimes called BBC NI) is a radio and television broadcaster in Northern Ireland. It is the region's main public service broadcaster.

It is one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's three national regions (along with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales). As well as radio and television, it also provides online and interactive TV content. It is based in Broadcasting House in Belfast city centre, which is not to be confused with the BBC's main radio headquarters at Broadcasting House in London.

Radio

BBC Northern Ireland operates two radio stations:

  • BBC Radio Ulster, on 92-95 FM and 1341 Medium Wave, which broadcasts throughout Northern Ireland, and
  • BBC Radio Foyle, on 93.1 FM and 792 Medium Wave, which broadcasts to the North West of Northern Ireland

BBC Northern also takes part in the 'Regionalisation' of some of the BBC's national radio output. For example, on Thursday nights, Radio 1 splits the home nations with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland broadcasting their own shows showcasing regional talent, with Zane Lowe still being heard in England. The Radio 1 Session from Northern Ireland is presented by Rory McConnell.

Television

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End of the BBC Newsline titles featuring the logo

BBC Northern Ireland operates three television stations;

BBC Northern Ireland has its own team of continuity announcers which introduce all programmes on BBC One and BBC Two in Northern Ireland.

BBC Northern Ireland makes some of its own programmes itself. However, unlike the radio stations, the television stations' content is for the most part identical to that broadcast by the BBC One and BBC Two channels in England. Some network programmes may however be time-shifted in order to make room for more local programming. Most local programmes are broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland. Also, on the digital version of BBC Two NI, there are more local programmes than on the analogue version.

Regional television

  • BBC Newsline is the regional news service. Formerly called Inside Ulster, its main presenters are Noel Thompson, Donna Traynor, and Mark Carruthers. The main bulletin is from 18:30-19:00 with shorter bulletins at 13:30 and 22:25. Summaries are also broadcast during BBC Breakfast and the early afternoon (all the BBC regions broadcast their own regional news simultaneously before all the networks reconnect to the national network for a national weather broadcast);
  • regional political programmes, notably Spotlight, Hearts And Minds and Lets Talk;
  • regional arts programmes;
  • regional weekend chat shows;
  • specialist coverage of events such a visit by the Queen or a distinguished visitor such as the US president or President of Ireland; coverage of the Orange parades on July 12, St. Patrick's Day parades on 17 March, etc.

Networked productions

As well as programmes intended purely for a regional audience, BBC Northern Ireland also produces programmes for national consumption on the BBC's channels across the UK. The main part of BBC Northern Ireland's network productions are in drama and comedy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/nidrama). Most recently, this has included producing the high-profile drama series Messiah.

BBC Northern Ireland is also involved in co-productions with other broadcasting networks, most notably the Republic of Ireland's RTÉ.

Republic of Ireland

BBC One and Two Northern Ireland are widely available in the Republic of Ireland, usually on cable or MMDS, but also directly via analogue or digital terrestrial as far south as Dublin. The two channels can also be received 'free-to-air' via satellite throughout northern Europe.

Programmes

Significant regional programmes

Selection of network programmes

More Information

Technical

The BBC TV and Radio stations are brocast primarily from the Divis Mountain transmitter (500kW) and the Limavady transmitter. Both transmitters receive the BBC stations via a satellite feeds and each transmitter has a wealth of relay transmitters to provide annalouge service to areas not served by their respective main transmitter.

BBC Northern Ireland have a radio link from their studios in Belfast which allows mobile on-location News crews to hear the studio; the test tone is known as the "commbeep".

Famous BBC NI broadcasters

Former BBC NI Broadcasters

  • Patrick Kielty - chat show host now mainly working on network television
  • Sean Rafferty - former presenter of Scene Around Six and Inside Ulster, evening news programmes broadcast until mid-1990s, as well as BBC Radio Ulster news programmes, now a distinguished BBC Radio 3 music presenter
  • Gloria Hunniford - former BBC NI presenter now well-known national personality working in network programmes based in London
  • Suzanne Virdee-former News reporter and presenter of BBC Newsline and Inside Ulster and former radio presenter on BBC Radio Ulster now based in Birmingham presenting BBC Midlands Today.

Current BBC NI Broadcasters

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