Beacon Hill transmitting station
# Beacon Hill transmitting station

The Beacon Hill transmitting station is an English telecommunications facility located at Beacon Hill, Marldon, Devon. It includes a guyed mast (Beacon Hill A) and a free-standing lattice tower (Beacon Hill B), both of which support various antennas.

## History

Beacon Hill A became operational in 1972–3, bringing 625 line PAL colour television to the coverage area of Torbay and south Devon. Beacon Hill B transmits FM radio and DAB radio to the area. In 2007, a third guyed lattice mast was constructed at the site to provide medium wave transmissions for Gold (Exeter/Torbay). The transmitter for Gold was dismantled after the service was discontinued.

### Digital switchover

In April 2009, the analogue television transmissions at Beacon Hill A were turned off, requiring homes in the area to switch to the Freeview service. The Beacon Hill transmitter group was the first in the South West of England to stop broadcasting analogue television services. BBC Two ceased at 00:50 on 8 April 2009 and the remaining analogue signals were turned off on 22 April 2009 at 00:20.

## Services listed by frequency

### Analogue radio

| Frequency | kW | Service |
| - | - | - |
| 88.7 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 2 |
| 90.9 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 3 |
| 93.1 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 4 |
| 96.4 MHz | 1.8 | Heart West |
| 98.4 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio 1 |
| 104.3 MHz | 1 | BBC Radio Devon |
| 105.5 MHz | 1.6 | Greatest Hits Radio Devon |

### Digital radio

| Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
| - | - | - | - |
| 220.352 MHz | 11C | 2 | NOW Exeter and Torbay |
| 222.064 MHz | 11D | 2 | Digital One |
| 225.648 MHz | 12B | 5 | BBC National DAB |

### Analogue television

Analogue television signals ceased in April 2009. BBC2 was closed on 8 April 2009, with ITV Westcountry temporarily moving into its place, followed by the remaining services on 22 April.

| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
| - | - | - | - |
| 727.25 MHz | 53 | 100 | Channel 4 |
| 759.25 MHz | 57 | 100 | BBC1 South West |
| 783.25 MHz | 60 | 100 | Westcountry |
| 807.25 MHz | 63 | 100 | BBC2 South West |
