LBC News 1152

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LBC News 1152AM

Broadcast area	London
Slogan	Non-stop news for London
First air date	5 October 1994
Frequency	1152 kHz
Format	News
Owner	Chrysalis Group
Website	www.lbc.co.uk

LBC News 1152 is a 24 hour news and information radio station broadcasting in Greater London. It carries travel news, business news, sports and showbusiness news.

This station was previous News Direct 97.3 FM until it was acquired (along with LBC 1152 AM) in September 2002 by the Chrysalis Group. In January 2003 the station relaunched as LBC News 1152.

During Christmas and New Year 2002/2003 an LBC News-branded rolling news service was carried on both 97.3FM and 1152AM prior to the full launches of LBC 97.3 and LBC News 1152.

Since the Chrysalis takeover the station's editorial director has been Jonathan Richards.

The station's suppliers include Bloomberg and Sky News Radio (and, latterly, IRN).

You can Listen Live, or on 1152 AM and DAB Digital radio in the south-east of England.

1 History
2 Programming
3 Presenters
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The history of continuous news radio in London dates back to the early 1990s. In September 1993 London News Radio was awarded the FM and AM licenses previously held by LBC. They proposed a continuous news service on FM and a news/talk format on AM.

By the time the license was due to start in October 1994 London News Radio had been through several upheavals, first acquiring LBC and then itself being bought up by Reuters.

At launch on 5 October 1994 the company was known as London Radio Services and it operated London News 97.3FM and London News Talk 1152AM.

London News initially operated on a 20-minute wheel. The first presenters on air were Michael Wilson and Clare Catford. The morning sequence was presented by LBC veteran Jonathan Staples with Nicky Broyd the afternoon presenter. Drivetime was in the hands of Christopher Terry and Brenda Ellison. John Terrett was the evening host.

By spring 1995 the rolling news format gave way to a more traditional schedule of news and features programmes.

In summer 1995 the station's name was shortened to News 97.3.

In 1996 Reuters sold London Radio Services to the newly formed London News Radio (unrelated to the previous LNR company), in which ITN, DMGT, Reuters and GWR held equal shares.

In summer 1996 the station reverted to a rolling news format, initially with no name (the station was branded as 97.3FM).

In autumn 1996 - following a move to ITN's headquarters - the station was relaunched as News Direct 97.3FM and Chris Mann was appointed editor.

In 2000 the station was renamed ITN News Direct 97.3FM

In late 2002 - following the sale of the station to Chrysalis - the station dropped the ITN prefix and returned to its previous name until the rebrand as LBC News 1152.

In Spring 2007 it was announced that the station will be replaced by Sky News Radio.^[1] This move comes alongside Channel 4's 4 Digital Group second DAB multiplex bid.

[edit] Programming

A live service of continuous news coverage is provided between 6am and 6.30pm on weekdays. Other than during the breakfast sequence, the short news bulletins every 30 minutes are simulcast with LBC 97.3.

Between 5am and 6am the station carries Bloomberg Business Breakfast, a digest of the latest financial news.

At 6.30pm on weekdays the station carries the LBC Nightly News, a simulcast with LBC 97.3 and the station's flagship news programme. This is followed at 7pm by the 'Live London' programme which provides information on events in the city.

The Soccer Saturday programme presented by John Cushing and Kenny Sansom on Saturdays between 3pm and 6pm is also shared with LBC 97.3

The overnight service between 8pm and 5am carries live bulletins every 30 minutes with an automated service of recorded interviews and features filling the rest of the airtime.

24 hours a day you can get:

News headlines every 15 minutes
Travel and Weather every 10 minutes
Sport every 30 minutes (at 23 and 53 minutes past each hour)
Business every 30 minutes (at 14 and 44 minutes past each hour weekdays only)

[edit] Presenters

Current presenters include James Hartigan, Sue Mansfield, Martin Weedon, Petrie Hosken, Richard Midson and Richard Hakier.

Past presenters include Douglas Cameron, Peter Deeley, Sandy Warr, James Hirst, Russell Hookey and Kim Michaels. Former Sky News anchorman Bob Friend was a guest presenter on the station at the time of the 2005 British general election.