BBC Northern Ireland (Irish: BBC Tuaisceart Éireann) is the main public
service broadcaster in Northern Ireland. The organisation is one of the three
national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland
and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting
House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content.
Television
BBC Northern Ireland operates two television stations;
Prior to 27 October 2006, BBC Two NI was a
digital only service while BBC Two Northern Ireland was available on analogue transmission. Since 28 October 2006, BBC Two
Northern Ireland has been the on-air name for both services which have been merged.
BBC Northern Ireland has its own team of continuity announcers which introduce
all programmes on BBC One and BBC Two in Northern Ireland.
BBC Northern Ireland makes some of its own programmes itself. However, unlike the radio stations, the television stations'
content is for the most part identical to that broadcast by the BBC One and BBC Two channels in England. Some network programmes may however be
time-shifted in order to make room for more local programming. Most local programmes are broadcast on BBC One Northern
Ireland.
Regional television
The titles of the BBC Newsline programme.
- BBC Newsline is the regional news service. Its main presenters are
Noel Thompson, Donna Traynor, Rose Neill, Sarah Travers and Mark
Carruthers. The main bulletin is from 18.30-19.00 with shorter bulletins at 13.30 and 22.25. Summaries are also broadcast
during Breakfast and the early afternoon (all the BBC regions broadcast their own
regional news simultaneously before all the networks reconnect to the national network for a national weather broadcast);
- regional political programmes, notably Spotlight, Hearts And Minds and Lets Talk;
- regional arts programmes;
- regional weekend chat shows;
- specialist coverage of events such a visit by the Queen or a distinguished visitor
such as the US president or President of Ireland; coverage of the Orange parades on
July 12, St. Patrick's Day parades on
17 March, etc.
Networked productions
As well as programmes intended purely for a regional audience, BBC Northern Ireland also produces programmes for national
consumption on the BBC's channels across the UK. The main part of BBC Northern Ireland's network productions are in drama and
comedy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/nidrama). Most
recently, this has included producing the high-profile drama series Messiah.
BBC Northern Ireland is also involved in co-productions with other broadcasting networks, most notably the Republic of Ireland's RTÉ.
Republic of Ireland
BBC One and Two Northern Ireland are widely available in the Republic of Ireland,
usually on cable, MMDS or Sky Digital (UK
& Ireland), but also directly via analogue or digital terrestrial as far south as Dublin. The main provider of Cable TV in Ireland, Liberty Global
Europe owner of Chorus & NTL (UPC Ireland) have over 600,000 subscribers (Aug 2006) and Sky Digital have over 465,000
subscribers (Jan 2007) in the Republic of Ireland, all of whom receive BBC Northern Ireland 1 & 2, BBC3, BBC4 and BBC News 24
are also available.
The two channels can also be received 'free-to-air' via satellite throughout northern Europe.
Radio
BBC Northern Ireland operates two radio stations:
- BBC Radio Ulster, on 92-95 FM and 1341 Medium Wave, which broadcasts throughout
Northern Ireland, and
- BBC Radio Foyle, on 93.1 FM and 792 Medium Wave, which broadcasts to the North West
of Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland also takes part in the 'Regionalisation' of some of the BBC's
national radio output. For example, on Thursday nights, Radio 1 splits the home nations
with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland broadcasting their own shows showcasing regional talent, with Zane Lowe still being
heard in England. The Radio 1 Session from Northern Ireland is presented by Rory McConnell.
Online
BBC Northern Ireland's online service provides News, Sport, Schools, Learning and Programme information for television and
radio programmes. It provides a streaming audio service for Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle as well as every programme on demand for
up to a week after transmission. bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ is part of BBC Online and operated
from the Belfast base. It also provides multi platform interactivity for TV programmes including
the annual Schools' Cup Rugby and Gaelic
Athletic Association finals.
Programmes
Significant regional programmes
Television news bulletins
- Ulster Mirror (1950s)
- Scene Around Six (1969-September 1984)
- Inside Ulster (September 1984 - 12 February 1996)
- Newsline 6.30/Newsline/BBC Newsline (12 February 1996 to date)
Selection of network programmes
Languages
Although BBC Northern Ireland broadcasts primarily in English, there is some programming in other languages. Radio Ulster
carries a daily programme in Irish and there is an Irish language section on BBC Northern
Ireland's pages, where reference is made to "BBC Thuaisceart Éireann". There are also occasionally TV programmes in Irish.
Programmes are also broadcast in Ulster Scots and there is a weekly programme in Cantonese
Chinese, called "Wah Yan Jee Sing".
Technical
The BBC television and radio stations are broadcast primarily from the Divis (500kW),
Limavady and Brougher Mountain transmitters. Both transmitters
receive the BBC stations via a satellite feeds and each transmitter has a wealth of relay transmitters to provide annalouge
service to areas not served by their respective main transmitter.
BBC Northern Ireland have a radio link from their studios in Belfast which allows mobile on-location News crews to hear the
studio; the test tone is known as the "commbeep". BBC Northern Ireland has three main television studios located in Belfast.
There are two small studios located in the BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast. These are home to BBC Northern Ireland's regional
news & current affairs programmes. They are around 2,000 Sq Ft each and are called Studio B and Studio 1. The largest of the
studios is called Studio A which is located in the BBC Blackstaff House on Great Victoria Street in Belfast (just a few streets
away from the BBC Broadcasting House). The studio measures 6,000 Sq Ft and has facilities which equal those available in the main
television studios in London. Studio A has been home to the award winning local sitcom Give My Head Peace, BBC Northern Ireland's
contribution to BBC Children in Need, Question Time, Nolan Live and more.
Famous BBC NI broadcasters
Former BBC NI Broadcasters
- Patrick Kielty - chat show host now mainly working on network television
- Sean Rafferty - former presenter of Scene Around Six and Inside Ulster, evening news programmes broadcast until
mid-1990s, as well as BBC Radio Ulster news programmes, now a distinguished BBC Radio 3
music presenter
- Gloria Hunniford - former BBC NI presenter now well-known national personality working in network programmes based in
London
- Suzanne Virdee-former News reporter and presenter of BBC Newsline and Inside Ulster and former radio presenter on
BBC Radio Ulster now based in Birmingham presenting
BBC Midlands Today.
- Colin Murray, BBC Radio One DJ started with BBC Radio Ulster as a presenter on the
Across the Line programme.
Current BBC NI Broadcasters
References
- ^ BBC Northern Ireland Drama bbc.co.uk
External links
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