Radio Stations
Our region is served not only by our local 'Radio Borders', but also by the BBC and other commercial stations. Many of them offer internet broadcasting from their websites. Check the availability of DAB Radio in the Scottish Borders.
BBC Stations:
The BBC broadcasts the following stations throughout the UK (you can follow the links to the stations web site):
FM Radio
FM Radio Station frequencies for all the BBC stations in our region are available on the BBC website (using the Selkirk Transmitter at Ashkirk - and its relays). Radio Five can be found at 693MW, or 909MW.
The whole of Scotland is served by the BBC station Radio Scotland, (the AM frequency for Radio Scotland is 810MW). Their principle office location is in Glasgow, but there are local offices
in Selkirk:
Unit 1
Ettrick Riverside
Dunsdale Road
Selkirk
TD7 5EB
Telephone: 01750 724 567
Bulletins for the Borders are broadcast from Selkirk, on weekdays at:
- 0654-0700,
- 0750-0800,
- 1254-1300, and
- 1654-1700.
Radio Borders
Radio Borders came on-air on 22nd January 1990. News updates are on every hour.
It was the first commercial radio station of the decade and broadcasts on four frequencies - 96.8 (Central Borders), 97.5
(Berwick), 103.1 (Peebles) & 103.4FM (Eyemouth) from its studios at Tweedside Park in Galashiels.
Whilst trying to appeal to all age groups, it particularly focuses on the 25-54 year olds of the broadcast area.
The station launched with a 6am start compered by Danny Gallagher - after a frantic bit of engineering work and at the time there was some considerable concern for the station's future, as it serves a smaller population that any other ILR commercial radio station. On the other hand, it serves one of, if not the largest mass of land in the British Isles reaching the English coastal town of Berwick Upon Tweed, over Hadrian's Wall, across the border to beyond Peebles.
The first reward came in the year after launch when Radio Borders was declared 'Sony Local Station of the Year', it also received another Sony award in 1994. Research figures on the station’s audience levels showed that they were achieving higher statistics than any British station had ever reached before and could truly claim to be “Britain’s Number 1”. In 2002 Radio Borders could claim to dominate with the highest market share of any UK radio station.
On-air features include coverage of local rugby, regular on-air appearances from the station's Veterinary Surgeon, Solicitor, Property, and Tax Advisors - there's also youth programming and a station pet! This is a beaver - Bobby - who appears in the evenings with a 'Where's Bobby?' quiz - when listeners have to identify which Scottish Borders location Bobby is hiding in. Other quizzes include 'Cashphrase', and 'Beat the Beat' - and 13,000 people have been known to phone in for one round alone.
The highlight for many is the daily farming update.
Radio Borders has become essential in passing on travel and weather information during wintertime, when many areas can be cut off by heavy snow.
Radio Borders is owned by Scottish Radio Holdings.
Brick FM
The new kid on the block was recently launched in January 2008 with the basis of being a small-scale community radio station for St Boswells, Newtown St Boswells and the surrounding area.
It will provide a locally focused service with a particular spotlight on local sporting activities and other community events. Targeted at both young and old in the locality, this group's programming proposals were to be both relevant to local tastes and interests and likely to broaden choice locally.
It is being broadcast on FM frequency 103.0.
Other Commercial Channels
The other commercial channels do operate in our area, but none are known to offer specific Scottish Borders information.
They include Virgin Radio, on 1215AM/MW, and Classic FM, on 99.9-101.9 MHz.
Some areas in the Scottish Borders may be able to pick up stations broadcasting to other areas, e.g. Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Newcastle, and the Kingdom of Fife.
Unified Solutions.