Chillerton Down transmitting station | |
The Chillerton Down transmitting station |
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Height of mast | 228.9 metres (751 ft) |
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Grid reference | SZ475835 |
Built | 30 August 1958 |
BBC region | BBC South |
ITV region | ITV Meridian |
The Chillerton Down transmitter is a broadcasting facility for FM and DAB radio at Chillerton Down on the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England (grid reference SZ475835). The transmitter was erected in 1958 and uses as aerial a 228.9-metre (751 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast of triangular cross section.[1]
It was originally used to transmit Southern Television, and later TVS, until the end of VHF television transmissions in the UK at the beginning of 1985. It now transmits Wave 105, 103.2 Capital FM, Jack FM, Isle of Wight Radio, the local Arqiva (NOW S. Hampshire) DAB multiplex and the national Digital One DAB multiplex.
The site is owned and operated by Arqiva.
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The Chillerton Down transmitting station was the first of two stations built to serve the south and south-east coastal areas of Britain. To conform with the Government's policy the Isle of Wight Council decided to build the band III transmitter as close as possible to the existing BBC band I Rowridge transmitting station on the island. To begin with there was large opposition to building a second television mast on the island, however the alternative was to extend the current transmitter at Rowridge to carry both the ITA and BBC television services which proved even more unpopular. Thus, the proposal to use Chillerton Down for a slim 750 ft mast was accepted. After construction, Chillerton Down first went into service on 30 August 1958.[2]
Frequency | kW[3] | Service |
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103.2 MHz | 2 | Capital South Coast |
105.2 MHz | 10 | Wave 105 |
106.0 MHz | 4 | Jack FM |
107.0 MHz | 0.1 | Isle of Wight Radio |
Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
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221.352 MHz | 11C | 1.6 | NOW South Hampshire |
222.064 MHz | 11D | 5 | Digital One |