BBC Radio Derby - Transmitters

Transmitters

104.5FM is the primary frequency for BBC Radio Derby, and comes from a 200 ft transmitting mast on Drum Hill, four miles north of the Derby City Centre, the other side of the A38 from Little Eaton, next to a Scout camp. This service used to come from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. There is a transmitter for the Bakewell and Matlock areas based at Stanton Moor on 95.3 FM, and a relay of that frequency for the Buxton area on 96 FM. BBC Radio Sheffield is also clearly heard around Chesterfield with a dedicated relay station based in the town. Though in Derbyshire, Chesterfield and its surrounding area is officially catered for by Peak FM, Hallam FM or Radio Sheffield. Likewise, the north-western portion of the county taking in Glossop, Chapel, and Whaley Bridge is served by BBC Radio Manchester.

In addition, all of BBC Radio Derby's area is served via its medium wave service on 1116 kHz which comes from its transmitting mast at Burnaston, just south of the city, close to the Toyota car plant. The frequency is used to relay the BBC's Asian Network from 7pm, unless sports commentaries are being broadcast.

Capital FM East Midlands broadcasting on 102.8 FM also comes from the Drum Hill transmitter, as well as a local relay on 101.4 FM for the East Midlands regional station, Smooth FM. Stanton Moor also transmits the BBC national radio stations on FM and Peak FM on 102 FM (broadcast from Sheepbridge in Chesterfield on 107.4 FM). Buxton also has a television relay with regional programming from the North West and BBC national FM services, and High Peak Radio on 106.4 FM.

There is no BBC National DAB transmitter in Derbyshire at the moment, though Digital One have a transmitter in Chesterfield. Services over most of the area come from the nearest BBC DAB transmitters at Sutton Coldfield and Waltham, plus Holme Moss in the north. North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield listeners can pick up intermittent reception of Yorkshire-based local and regional DAB services from a transmitter in Sheffield (Tapton Hill). A local Derbyshire DAB license was advertised by OFCOM in January 2007, and has been awarded to "Now Digital" (with this Multiplex being known as NOW Derbyshire), with an "on air" date originally planned for July 2008, however this has been delayed. In addition to commercial services, BBC Radio Derby will be transmitted on the multiplex from five transmitter sites of Chesterfield, Drum Hill, Tibshelf, Stanton Moor, and Lichfield. There are also long term plans for further transmitters at Buxton, Ashbourne, and Glossop.