BBC GMR

From Media UK's The Knowledge. Last update: 11:01, 1 Nov 2005 by Stuart Pinfold.

Table of contents

1 About BBC GMR

2 History

3 Studios

4 Transmitters

5 Communities and Output

6 Sport

7 Current Presenters

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About BBC GMR

From the inner cities of Salford and Manchester to the rural areas of Cheshire and the Peak District, BBC GMR broadcasts to a population of over 3.5 million people. BBC GMR is one of the largest of the BBC Local Radio stations.

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History

BBC GMR first broadcast to the Greater Manchester population in 1970. First known as Radio Manchester, the station became BBC GMR in 1988 to reflect the wide geographical area it covered. In the Radio Manchester days, News Editor Alec Greenhalgh described the station as "providing a local service to local people" - and that philosophy remains unchanged today. Serving such a large and diverse population means that BBC GMR has the opportunity to be a voice for everyone.

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Studios

GMR broadcasts from studios on Oxford Road in Manchester.

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Transmitters

95.1FM - Holmes Moss (for Greater Manchester)
104.6FM - Saddleworth (for Oldham and Saddleworth)
DAB Digital Radio

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Communities and Output

Afro-Caribbean, Asian, Irish and Chinese communities are all given the opportunity to have their say in specially dedicated programmes. BBC GMR news has covered many momentous news stories in their patch, particularly the Woolworth's’ fire, the IRA Warrington bomb and the Manchester air disaster.

The Station’s coverage of the Manchester bomb in 1996 won a Sony award for the quality of its reporting and its round-the-clock information service - but stories about the closure of a local post office, the demolition of a much-loved building or the problems of litter in a local park are all equally important.

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Sport

One of the busiest teams on the station is the sports team with 9 football and 10 rugby clubs under their umbrella. BBC GMR Sport also covers golf, swimming, horse racing and much more to provide a full sporting calendar for the listeners. GMR were in Barcelona when Manchester United were treble winners in May 1999, and more recently provided extensive coverage when the 2002 Commonwealth Games came to the city.

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