BBC Radio 1 leaves mediumwave - 1st July 1994

BBC Radio 1 became an FM-only service on 1st July 1994. Before going into a looped service announcement, the last thing the station broadcast on MW was this jingle set, starting with the then current package and ending with the 1st jingle from the launch, in 1967. I believe this was only broadcat once.

[@Tomsonic41]

I remember listening to this on the day too. Sadly I didn't hear the whole thing; someone changed the radio to a different station before I realised! But I did hear the final jingle then the announcement loop.

[@alexmacleod3728]

This is where my mid life crisis started even though I was 23 at the time

[@anthonyperkins7556]

I remember when they stopped broadcasting on MW 1053 kHz / 1089 kHz between midnight and 6am, on the stroke of midnight, the output would fade out and a jingles and announcement loop with 6 jingles in between would play and after the last jingle on the loop, there was a couple of seconds of silence then the transmitters switch off totally. At 5.55 the 1053 / 1089 transmitters would kick in with a 440 Hz test tone at full power and at 6am the regular FM output would kick in on MW.

[@arthurvasey]

I seem to recall that they played a loop tape of Nicky Campbell during the daytime hours, shortly prior to the AM switch-off, getting people to tune to FM - in the transition period between Radio 1 going off air and Talk Radio (now Talk Sport) starting up, they played a loop which was Harry Enfield in his Mr Cholmondeley-Warner persona.

[@adambirchenall]

During the month of June 1994, Radio 1 on MW stopped from 6pm each day , repeated voice over announcement by Nicky Campbell, and then it stopped at midday after a couple of weeks or so. i have a recording of that somewhere

[@owdblenky]

I remember listening to this on the day. Seem to recall it was 9am but I thought the jingles played for longer, say 15 minutes or so? The memory can play tricks and I've no doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong!! I also heard the start of Radio 1 on 30th September 1967, I was 12 at the time.

[@leepenfold]

1053 1089 MW left Radio 1 on July 1st 1994 then it become 97-99 FM

[@stephenemmett9753]

This jingle montage was actually produced by then-Radio 1 producer Simon Sadler. I believe somebody does have a copy of this montage from the master in stereo, not medium wave.

[@wrongsideof40]

That would be good to hear. I'm guessing all the jingles were produced in stereo but didn't get their chance to 'shine' until R1 took to FM??

[@stephenemmett9753]

@@wrongsideof40 Here's the link to hear the final Medium Wave jingle montage in super stereo: soundcloud.com/ian-arnold/19-track-19

[@DeejvilleTV]

I have a cassette of all the announcements somewhere. One day I will find it.

[@adambirchenall]

Please do DeejvilleTV, i have clip of it somewhere too on tape, was 2 versions of it, first that stopped programmes at 6pm onwards and another that stopped from Midday

[@daros194]

Nice to hear 275/285 and stereo VHF again!

[@ChrisATV301]

At 1.27 "radio 1 it's a great good morning" jingle was used to GEM AM which was the gold station for the east Midlands as "GEM spells solid Gold, All across the Great East Midlands" Many ex radio 1 presenters were networked & syndicated on GEM AM including David Hamilton, Tommy Vance, D.L.T, Mike Smith & Paul Burnett. Kid Jensen worked there when it originally started as radio Trent in 1975 & left a year later to replace Roskp on radio 1. It would have been a good idea if 1053 & 1089/275 & 285 was made into a national oldies station as a rival to all the ILR GOLD format stations so ex radio 1 DJ'S could have been re deployed instead of being sacked or resigning to join local GOLD format networks..

[@christopherhulse8385]

I heard there were still around 100,000 people still listening on MW when they pulled the plug.

[@robalexander8065]

Remember this well.The switch off happened at 9.30am just after Steve Wright in the Morning. Hard to believe people listening to Radio 1 in 1994 might actually call a helpline to retune their radios.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

It was 9am actually after steve wright finished the MW split from the FM with a medley of R1 jingles and announcement loop.

[@AndrewSvonja]

and "it may be marked VHF!"

[@scottpeacock5492]

Tuning for idiots who still stuck in the medium wave mode, How to retune your radio to continue listen to Radio 1, first find the switch that mark MW and FM, It may mark VHF, Now switch to FM or VHF now retune between 97 to 99 where you will find Radio 1 in crystal clear sound, now that better.

[@tracyyy99]

Great upload...Thanks.

[@ashlarhogmany]

I have this on a cassette somewhere too.

[@alexmacleod3728]

same here

[@philb8311]

I remember listening to this out of interest to see what happened, also they played Stephen Tintin Duffy as the last song, something a bit different for people retuning at the last minute no doubt.

[@jaredjackson8526]

Yes I remember that too. Back when I liked Radio 1.

[@cerinolancerinolan7148]

Talk sport use the frequencies BBC RADIO 1 used have done for quite a while.

[@christopherhulse8385]

Radio 1 died when Bannister took over.

[@christopherhulse8385]

Absolutely!

[@Sheffield_Steve]

Here, here! I understood that it needed to be refreshed to capture 'da youth' back, but I think it could have been done with a little more tact to both the DJ's & the listeners. He helped drop about 15 million listeners to 4mil in about a fortnight! Great plan, chief! 🥴

[@RWL2012]

I didn't know 0345 numbers went that far back!

[@jaredjackson8526]

One person is still trying to listen on Medium Wave. 🤔

[@Theslavedrivers]

They'll get TalkSport instead, then :-)

[@radautisuceava6195]

Today talksport smooth and gold radio used former amplitude

[@abhudson14]

This is where Radio 1 went down hill

[@AW_2000]

andrew hudson It really isn't

[@anthonyperkins7556]

Too right it went downhill after this

[@dean1100110]

Funny how the BBC dropped "National" after Tony Blair got in power

[@autistictechgirl]

3:10

[@adambirchenall]

The first annoucement kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6WTkHWLZ81-h80