Overlooking the rolling Oxfordshire landscape the Oxford Transmitting Station stands as a testament to broadcasting history. Today we explore its story. This structure isn’t just another transmitter. It’s a vital link in the nation’s broadcasting network.
The Oxford Transmitting Station sometimes called the Beckley transmitter is found northeast of Oxford. Its location is on land about 425 feet above sea level. The station’s grid reference is SP567105. Arqiva owns and operates it.
Construction began in the early 1960s by the BBC. It was meant to provide VHF/FM radio and 405-line VHF TV services. The station served Oxford and the surrounding areas. A guyed steel lattice mast supports the antennas. The main steel structure reaches 507 feet high. Above it is a UHF television antenna. This antenna consists of transmitting panels. The mast’s total height with the UHF antenna is 544 feet.
In 1968 the station was expanded for high-power color UHF transmissions. On February 17 1968 BBC Two entered service. BBC One followed in May 1970. ITV then ATV came online in June 1970. These analogue TV transmissions had an effective radiated power or ERP of 500 kW.
Channel 5 started analogue transmissions in 1997. Its ERP was only 40 kW. This lower power was needed to prevent interference with other transmitters.
The Oxford transmitter was among the first to carry UK digital terrestrial television. This service launched on November 15 1998. Six digital multiplex signals were transmitted. These operated at low power along with the existing analogue services.
Analogue television services were switched off on September 28 2011. This was part of the UK Digital Switch Over project. Three frequencies were reassigned to digital television at high power 100 kW. The remaining multiplex signals were operated at lower power. On April 18 2012 their power increased to 50 kW. The highest frequency multiplex was moved. It went from channel 62 to channel 50. This move was part of the UK scheme to clear the 800 MHz band for mobile 4G services.
In 2014 Ofcom decided to clear the 700 MHz band of digital television. This was for mobile broadband services by 2020. Oxford’s channels had to move down the band in 2018.
The Oxford site began transmitting BBC VHF/FM services on May 28 1962. The transmissions were horizontally polarized for rooftop aerials. With an ERP of 22 kW it covered Oxfordshire and surrounding counties.
The Oxford Transmitting Station has a population coverage of about 750000. Its transmissions reach Swindon Reading Banbury Bicester and Milton Keynes as well as Oxford. It stands as the joint 13th most powerful transmitter in the UK. The Oxford Transmitting Station has five smaller repeaters. These improve coverage in hilly areas.