Sutton Coldfield television transmitter
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Sutton Coldfield transmitter is a broadcasting mast located just north of Sutton Coldfield, in Birmingham, England (Grid reference ). On December 17 1949, it became the first television transmitter to broadcast outside London and the Home Counties, bringing BBC Television to viewers outside of the south-east of England for the first time.
A new mast was built around 1983 to replace the existing structure, primarily to support new mixed-polarisation FM antennas. With a mast height of 242 metres (794 ft), it is one of the most powerful transmitters in England, powered at 1000 kilowatts ERP for analogue television and 250 kW for FM radio. The coverage extends as far south as Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and as far north as Stoke On Trent. However, there are many relay transmitters around the Midlands that extend the coverage even further.
The transmitter broadcasts UHF analogue and six digital television multiplexes, as well as VHF or FM transmitters for the four BBC national and local radio stations, three independent local radio stations and the BBC DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting – i.e. Digital Radio). Although many people think it broadcasts Five that programme (on UHF channel 37) is actually transmitted from Lichfield which is 4 miles NE.
An MF transmitter for Radio Birmingham (now Radio WM) used to be installed at this site, but could only be operated at 5 kW instead of the planned 10 kW because of interference to video equipment on the site. It was eventually replaced with a transmitter at the nearby Langley Mill MF site owned by Arqiva. This transmitter is currently used for the BBC Asian Network.
The station is now owned by National Grid Wireless, a subsidiary of National Grid plc, based in Warwick.
See also
- List of masts
- List of tallest structures in Great Britain
- List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
External links
- Grid reference
- [Coverage area map]
- [Entry in the Transmission Gallery]
- [Tales From a Cold Field]
- [Info and pictures of Sutton Coldfield transmitter]
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