BBC Radio 5 Live facts for kids
Logo used since 2022
|
|
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | MW: 693 kHz, 909 kHz, 990 kHz and on BBC Local Radio stations' frequencies overnight. DAB: 12B Freeview: 705 Freesat: 705 Sky (UK only): 0105 Virgin Media: 905 Virgin Media Ireland: 911 Astra 2E (28.2°E) satellite Telstar 12 Vantage (15.0°W) satellite |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | News/talk/sport |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC |
| Operator | BBC North |
|
Sister stations
|
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra |
| History | |
|
First air date
|
28 March 1994 |
|
Former call signs
|
BBC Radio 5 |
| Technical information | |
|
Licensing authority
|
Ofcom |
| Links | |
| Website | BBC Radio 5 Live via BBC Sounds |
BBC Radio 5 Live is a national radio station in the United Kingdom, run by the BBC. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, focusing on news, sports, interviews, and discussions where listeners can call in.
It is the main BBC radio station for sports coverage in the UK. It broadcasts almost all major sports events that happen in the country or involve British athletes. The station is based at MediaCityUK in Salford, England.
Radio 5 Live started in March 1994, replacing an older station called Radio 5. You can listen to it on AM radio, digital radio, TV, and online through BBC Sounds. Some sports coverage is only available to listeners in the UK because of broadcasting rights.
In July 2025, it was reported that the station had a weekly audience of 5.5 million people.
Contents
How It All Began
The idea for a non-stop news radio station came after the success of a temporary news service during the first Gulf War in 1991. The BBC decided to close the original Radio 5, which had shows for children and education. They replaced it with a new station that would have rolling news but keep the popular sports shows.
BBC Radio 5 Live went on air for the first time at 5 a.m. on Monday, 28 March 1994. The first person to speak on the new station was Jane Garvey. The station quickly became known for its relaxed and engaging style, which was different from other BBC channels at the time. This friendly tone helped it become very successful.
On its very first day, the station covered a major news story about a serious incident at a school near Middlesbrough. This was the first of many times the station would report live as important events were happening.
Growing and Moving
In 2002, a sister station called BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra was launched. This digital-only station was created to broadcast extra sports events that couldn't fit on the main channel. Over the years, 5 Live has won many awards for its news and sports coverage.
For a long time, the station was based at the BBC Television Centre in London. However, in 2008, the BBC announced that 5 Live would move to a new, modern broadcast centre at MediaCityUK in Salford. The move was completed in 2011. The station still has a studio in London for some of its shows.
How to Listen to 5 Live
You can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live in several ways. It is broadcast on AM radio across the country.
It is also available digitally, which means you can listen on:
- DAB digital radio
- Digital television services like Freeview, Freesat, Sky, and Virgin Media
- The BBC Sounds website and app, where you can listen live or catch up on shows you missed.
Overnight, from about 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., 5 Live is also broadcast on BBC Local Radio stations across the UK.
What's on 5 Live?
The station's schedule is a mix of news, current affairs, and a lot of sport.
Keeping You Updated with News
A key part of 5 Live's job is to provide rolling news coverage. This means they report on stories as they happen. There are news bulletins every half an hour, except when there is live sport on.
When a major news story breaks, 5 Live is one of the first places the BBC reports it. The station shares hourly news bulletins with BBC Radio 2.
All About Sports
5 Live is famous for its sports coverage, which is broadcast under the name 5 Live Sport. While football is a big part of its schedule, the station covers a huge variety of sports.
Some of the major events you can hear on 5 Live include:
- Live Premier League football matches
- The FA Cup Final and other key matches
- International football, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship
- UEFA Champions League matches
- The Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games
- Major golf tournaments like The Open Championship and The Masters
- Six Nations rugby
- Formula One racing
- Full coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament
- The Grand National horse race
- The London Marathon
Popular Shows on 5 Live
Here are some of the well-known shows and presenters on the station:
- 5 Live Breakfast with Rick Edwards and Rachel Burden
- Nicky Campbell (weekday mornings)
- Colin Murray (Friday and Sunday)
- 5 Live Drive with Chris Warburton and Clare McDonnell
- 5 Live Sport with presenters like Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates
- 606, a football phone-in show with Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton
- Fighting Talk, a funny sports panel show
- Tailenders, a popular cricket show with Greg James, Jimmy Anderson, and Felix White
5 Sports Extra: Even More Sport!
Sometimes, there are too many sports events happening at once for 5 Live to cover them all. That's why there is a sister station, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
Sports Extra is a digital-only station that broadcasts events that can't fit on 5 Live. This includes:
- Test Match Special, with live commentary of Test cricket matches.
- Live Super League rugby league games.
- Full commentary from all major Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
- Extra Formula One coverage.
If a big news story interrupts a sports broadcast on 5 Live, the sports coverage will often move over to Sports Extra so listeners don't miss out.
Station Controllers
The "controller" is the person in charge of the radio station.
| Years served | Controller |
|---|---|
| 1997–1999 | Roger Mosey |
| 2000–2007 | Bob Shennan |
| 2008–2012 | Adrian Van Klaveren |
| 2013 – 2019 | Jonathan Wall |
| 2019–present | Heidi Dawson |
See also
In Spanish: BBC Radio 5 Live para niños
