Editing Worcestershire (section)

==Media==
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Droitwichtransmitter.jpg
| caption1          = Masts at the [[Droitwich transmitting station]]
| image2            = BBC Hereford And Worcester.jpg
| caption2          = The Worcester offices of [[BBC Hereford & Worcester]]
}}

Worcestershire has a long history in radio broadcasting. The county is home to the [[Droitwich Transmitting Station]] near [[Wychbold]], currently broadcasting [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and commercial radio services - [[Absolute Radio]] and [[TalkSport]] on [[AM broadcasting|Medium Wave/AM]] and [[BBC Radio 4]] on [[Long Wave]]. The site is the location of the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]]'s most powerful long-wave transmitter, which during [[World War II]], coded messages read during normal programme broadcasts, were received by the [[French Resistance]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2005/10/21/droitwich_transmitter_feature.shtml BBC Feature] Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref><ref>[http://www.bbceng.info/ BBC Engineering] [http://www.bbceng.info/Operations/transmitter_ops/Reminiscences/Droitwich/droitwich_calling.htm Droitwich Calling (Archive)] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Lying close to the county's north western border is the [[Woofferton transmitting station|Woofferton Transmitting Station]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Video Content Delivery Solutions|url=https://www.encompass.tv/encompass-woofferton/|access-date=31 January 2021|website=Encompass|language=en-US}}</ref> which was used during the [[Cold War]] to broadcast the [[Voice of America|Voice of America's]] [[Shortwave radio|Short Wave]] transmissions into the [[Eastern Bloc]] countries of Europe. These sets of transmitters are still in use today.

In 1939, the BBC bought the historic [[Wood Norton, Worcestershire|Wood Norton]] site near Evesham, and equipped the premises with a dozen temporary studios. These were to be used in the event of an evacuation of the BBC's operations in London and other urban areas. By 1940; Wood Norton was one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe with an average output of 1,300 radio programmes a week.<ref>Pawley, E. (1972), Cutmore, N. (Ed.), Laven, P (Ed.) [https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/buildings/wood-norton History of the BBC - Wood Norton]</ref> The [[BBC Monitoring|BBC monitoring service]] were also based at Wood Norton, where linguists, many of them foreign nationals, were hired to listen in to broadcasts from Europe until they were relocated to [[Caversham Park]] in early 1943. The move was made to release space at Wood Norton so that it could become the BBC's main broadcasting centre, should London have to be evacuated because of the threat from Nazi Germany's [[V-weapons]]. The site was also prepared for use during the Cold War, as an emergency broadcast centre.<ref>[https://www.subbrit.org.uk/ Subterranea Britannica] [https://www.subbrit.org.uk/sites/bbc-wood-norton/ Wood Norton] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The site is still in use for the BBC's engineering and technical training.
===Television===
The county's television news is covered by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]] from its studios in [[Birmingham]]. Television signals are received from either the [[Ridge Hill transmitting station|Ridge Hill]] or [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]] TV transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ridge_Hill|title=Full Freeview on the Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=28 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sutton_Coldfield|title=Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=28 September 2023}}</ref>

===Radio ===
[[BBC Hereford & Worcester]] and [[Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire]] broadcast to both Herefordshire and Worcestershire on analogue and [[Digital radio in the United Kingdom|digital radio platforms]],<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/96191/BBC000022WT.pdf BBC Hereford & Worcester licence] - Retrieved 7 May 2020; [http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom]  [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000061ba5freeradio.htm Free Radio (Hereford/Worcester)] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> whilst [[Greatest Hits Radio Midlands]] broadcasts to Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn, Bewdley and Droitwich.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000294ba1signal107.htm Signal 107]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> A [[Community radio in the United Kingdom|community radio station]] - [[Radio Wyvern]], is licensed to serve the Worcester area.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/community/cr000053ba2youthcommradio.htm Youthcomm Radio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531164355/http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/community/cr000053ba2youthcommradio.htm |date=31 May 2020 }} - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Meanwhile, [[Capital Mid-Counties]], [[Sunshine 855|Sunshine Radio]] and Like Radio, broadcast to the county on [[FM broadcasting|VHF/FM]] and/or [[DAB Digital Radio]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ofcom &#124; Analogue Radio Stations |url=http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000326ba2sunshineradio.htm |website=static.ofcom.org.uk}}; [https://radiotoday.co.uk Radio Today] [https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/11/global-confirms-capital-fm-to-replace-quidem-stations/ Global confirms Capital FM to replace Quidem stations] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Historically; [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands-based]] radio stations such as [[BBC Radio WM]], [[Hits Radio Birmingham]] and [[Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire|Beacon Radio]] have considered parts of Worcestershire as their broadcast areas.<ref>Allen, D.P. (2011) [https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/1430/1/Independent_Local_Radio_%28ILR%29_in_the_West_Midlands%2C_1972-198.pdf Independent Local Radio (ILR) in the West Midlands, 1972-1984: a comparative study of BRMB Radio and Beacon Radio.]- Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> However what were known as Wyvern, Beacon, BRMB along with Mercia are now known collectively as 'Hits Radio' and under the same [[Bauer Radio]] ownership.<ref>[https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/ Bauer Media] [https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands/free-radio Free Radio Brand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218092610/https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands/free-radio |date=18 February 2020 }} Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Other regional stations, such as [[Heart West Midlands]] and [[Smooth West Midlands]] also cover the county.
 
In 2007 the [[Office of Communications]] (Ofcom) awarded a DAB Digital Radio [[Multiplex (television)|multiplex]] licence for Herefordshire & Worcestershire to [[MuxCo]] Ltd.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2007/ofcom-awards-new-local-digital-radio-multiplex-licence-for-herefordshire-and-worcestershire Ofcom awards new local digital radio multiplex licence for Herefordshire and Worcestershire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930023553/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2007/ofcom-awards-new-local-digital-radio-multiplex-licence-for-herefordshire-and-worcestershire |date=30 September 2020 }} - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> MuxCo proposed new stations and a digital radio platform for [[Free Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire|Wyvern FM]], Sunshine Radio and BBC Hereford & Worcester, who were initially licensed to broadcast on VHF/FM and/or [[AM broadcasting|AM]]. MuxCo eventually launched in December 2013 following changes in legislation through the [[Digital Economy Act 2010]],<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk HM Government] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/24/section/35 Digital Economy Act - Section 35] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> and utilises existing transmitter locations at Great Malvern, [[Ridge Hill]] and Bromsgrove.<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/digital/dl000050ba3herefordshireandworcestershire.htm Herefordshire and Worcestershire DAB Multiplex Ownership] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> The multiplex continues to uses the same transmission sites, albeit with an additional transmitter at Kidderminster<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/mcamaps/dl000050.pdf Herefordshire and Worcestershire] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> and broadcasts a combination of local and national services.<ref>[http://www.muxco.com/ MuxCo] [http://www.muxco.com/multiplexes/herefordshireandworcestershire/ Digital Broadcast Radio Predicted On-Air Coverage Herefordshire & Worcestershire Block 12A Local DAB Multiplex] - Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> In 2008, [[MXR West Midlands|MXR]], who owned and operated the West Midlands regional DAB multiplex licence, improved coverage of DAB Digital Radio across other parts of the county to include Worcester and Malvern. This regional multiplex closed on 27 August 2013, partially replaced by [[CE Digital]]'s Birmingham DAB Multiplex, who opened new transmitters at [[Lickey Hills]] and [[Headless Cross (district)|Headless Cross]].<ref>[http://ofcom.org.uk Ofcom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508024555/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ |date=8 May 2020 }} [http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/mcamaps/dl000001.pdf Digital Broadcast Radio Predicted On-Air Coverage Birmingham Block 11C Local DAB Multiplex] - retrieved 7 May 2020</ref> Ofcom has earmarked two potential 'Small Scale DAB' digital radio multiplexes within Worcestershire<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ Ofcom] [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/licensing-small-scale-dab-new-powers-and-duties-proposed-by-government under new licensing guidelines Licensing small-scale DAB New powers and duties proposed by government under new licensing guidelines] - Retrieved 8 May 2020</ref> - one at Worcester, and the other within Bromsgrove, Kidderminster and Redditch.<ref>[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ Ofcom] [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/193662/statement-licensing-small-scale-dab.pdf Statement licensing Small-Scale DAB] - Retrieved 6 May 2020</ref> The legal framework for the potential new multiplexes come under 'The Small-Scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019'.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ HM Government] [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111187784/contents The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 - Contents] - Retrieved 8 May 2020; [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ HM Government] [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111187784/pdfs/ukdsiem_9780111187784_en.pdf The Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 2019 - Explanation Guide] - Retrieved 8 May 2020</ref>