Bressay transmitting station is a broadcasting transmission facility for the Shetland Islands, located on the isle of Bressay, owned and operated by Arqiva (previously National Grid Wireless). The transmitting station is based on the Ward of Bressay, the island's highest peak.
  Bressay transmitting station (Shetland) | |
| Tower height | 70 metres (230 ft) |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 60°07′48″N 1°05′45″W / 60.13°N 1.095833°W |
| Grid reference | HU5022838667 |
| Built | 1964 |
| BBC region | BBC Scotland |
| ITV region | STV North |
The facility includes two steel lattice towers both over 70m high.It first came into service on 1 April 1964 transmitting BBC Television on Band I VHF channel 3 and the Scottish Home Service, Light Programme and Third on Band II VHF, using the same frequencies as today. (Home Service now Radio Shetland, Light R2 and Third R3).[1]
Services listed by frequency
Analogue radio
| Frequency | kW[2] | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 88.3 MHz | 43 | BBC Radio 2 |
| 90.5 MHz | 43 | BBC Radio 3 |
| 92.7 MHz | 43 | BBC Radio Shetland |
| 94.9 MHz | 43 | BBC Radio 4 |
| 96.2 MHz | 15† | SIBC |
| 97.9 MHz | 43 | BBC Radio 1 |
† Licensed to transmit at 50 kW.
Before switchover
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 474.000 MHz | 21 | 1 | BBC (Mux 1) |
| 497.833 MHz | 24- | 1 | Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) |
| 521.833 MHz | 27- | 1 | SDN (Mux A) |
| 553.833 MHz | 31- | 1 | BBC (Mux B) |
| 834.000 MHz | 66 | 1 | Arqiva (Mux C) |
| 842.000 MHz | 67 | 1 | Arqiva (Mux D) |
Analogue television
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 479.25 MHz | 22 | 10 | BBC One Scotland |
| 503.25 MHz | 25 | 10 | STV (North) (Grampian) |
| 527.25 MHz | 28 | 10 | BBC Two Scotland |
| 559.25 MHz | 32 | 10 | Channel 4 |
Digital switchover
The digital switchover happened in two stages.
In Stage One, BBC Two Scotland was switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV needed to re-tune. The date for this was 5 May 2010.
In Stage Two, analogue was permanently switched off and anyone with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV needed to re-tune again. The date for this stage was 19 May 2010.
HD and high-powered Freeview services replaced the analogue signals.