Orfordness Transmitting Station - BBC's Use of The Two Frequencies

BBC's Use of The Two Frequencies

From September 1982, the 648 kHz channel was used to carry BBC World Service programmes in English around the clock. From 1987 and into the 1990s, the channel carried a tailored service, branded BBC 648, in which some French and German programmes were interwoven with the main output in English. "BBC 648" ended in 1999 with the closure of the BBC's German service, and 648 reverted to being English-only. (The French for Europe service had closed in 1995.)

The 1296 kHz channel was used for BBC broadcasts in east European languages during the evening and early morning. This use of 1296 was phased out once the BBC was able to be relayed on FM within the target countries, following the end of the Cold War.