The BBC has begun test transmissions of four more radio services on new transponder capacity, ahead of January’s switch-off of services.
- All BBC Radio services moving to new frequencies in time for changes to BBC services in 2024
- Older satellite receivers will cease to receive BBC Radio via satellite.
The closure of standard definition (SD) TV channels in January will also affect how BBC Radio is broadcast on satellite.
Going forward, BBC Radio will piggyback on the satellite capacity used for its HD TV channels. With SD channels closing, this means all of its stations broadcast on satellite have to migrate to new frequencies.
Until today, copies of nine stations were already live on new frequencies. The BBC has now added four more stations, with more to come.
The new additions are: BBC Radio 1 Xtra, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio London. These are broadcasting on Astra 2E, transponder 45 (10773H), alongside TV channels including BBC Parliament HD and BBC One North West HD.
Additionally, BBC Radio 4 Extra, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Cymru 2 are now broadcasting on Astra 2E transponder 46 (10788 V), alongside BBC Scotland HD and BBC One West HD.
In 2024, the new copies will become the default versions of BBC Radio on satellite when the old service is discontinued. As the stations will broadcast on transponders using the DVB-S2 standard, older SD-only satellite receivers will be unable to receive any BBC service from early next year.
Sky+, Sky+HD, Sky Q as well as Freesat HD/UHD receivers will automatically switch. But users with generic satellite receivers, including those operated in France, Netherlands and Belgium will need to adjust to the new frequencies.
A full list of BBC frequencies is available on our dedicated page.
Marc Thornham
Updated 31/10/2023, with details of additional stations now dual broadcasting