A European-wide re-organisation of band 2 of the VHF band comes into effect in July 1987. In preparation for this, 1986 sees many local stations change their VHF/FM frequency.
5 May –
Mike Smith takes over the
Radio 1 breakfast show.[2] The same day also sees Radio 1 begin broadcasting on weekdays 30 minutes earlier, at 5:30am.
June
28 June – At midday, Portsmouth station
Radio Victory stops broadcasting after more than ten years on air, three months before its broadcast licence is due to expire. The previous year the
Independent Broadcasting Authority had announced that it would not renew the station's licence.
July
24 July – Pirate Radio 4 returns for a second run of three more editions and is again broadcast on the VHF/FM frequencies of
BBC Radio 4 with the usual Radio 4 schedule continuing on
long wave. The programme is shorter in length than last year, being on air from 9:05am until 10:45am.
August
25 August – An early evening service of specialist music programmes launches on the BBC's four local radio stations in Yorkshire. The programmes are broadcast on weeknights between 6pm and 7:30pm.
September
30 September –
BBC Radio Jersey begins experimental broadcasting of
States of Jersey proceedings. The broadcasts are made a permanent feature from 25 November.
October
1 October –
Downtown Radio's broadcast area is expanded when it begins broadcasting to the north western area of
Northern Ireland.
12 October –
Ocean Sound begins broadcasting. It replaces
Radio Victory in East Hampshire, but also covers
Southampton,
Winchester and the
Isle of Wight. Ocean Sound launches as a split frequency service – Ocean Sound West on 103.2 FM and 1557 AM and Ocean Sound East operates as the replacement for Radio Victory on 97.5 FM and 1170 AM – due to management identifying two potential audiences: one familiar with commercial radio (in the East area), and one largely acquainted with the BBC (the West area). Ocean Sound East launches with a livelier sound than the West service although both services share breakfast and evening programmes with split programming airing during daytime.
November
November – Following its purchase of
Northants 96,
Chiltern Radio launches a networked service called The Hot FM. The service is broadcast on three ILR licenses with local programming restricted to mid-mornings.
30 November –
Northants 96 launches at 10 am and becomes part of The Hot FM.
December
24 December –
John Timpson presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 for the final time.[3]
28 December – Apna Hi Ghar Samajhiye (Make Yourself at Home) is broadcast on
BBC Radio 4 for the final time. It had been broadcast on Radio 4 and the
BBC Home Service every Sunday morning since 1965.
A European-wide re-organisation of band 2 of the VHF band comes into effect in July 1987. In preparation for this, 1986 sees many local stations change their VHF/FM frequency.
5 May –
Mike Smith takes over the
Radio 1 breakfast show.[2] The same day also sees Radio 1 begin broadcasting on weekdays 30 minutes earlier, at 5:30am.
June
28 June – At midday, Portsmouth station
Radio Victory stops broadcasting after more than ten years on air, three months before its broadcast licence is due to expire. The previous year the
Independent Broadcasting Authority had announced that it would not renew the station's licence.
July
24 July – Pirate Radio 4 returns for a second run of three more editions and is again broadcast on the VHF/FM frequencies of
BBC Radio 4 with the usual Radio 4 schedule continuing on
long wave. The programme is shorter in length than last year, being on air from 9:05am until 10:45am.
August
25 August – An early evening service of specialist music programmes launches on the BBC's four local radio stations in Yorkshire. The programmes are broadcast on weeknights between 6pm and 7:30pm.
September
30 September –
BBC Radio Jersey begins experimental broadcasting of
States of Jersey proceedings. The broadcasts are made a permanent feature from 25 November.
October
1 October –
Downtown Radio's broadcast area is expanded when it begins broadcasting to the north western area of
Northern Ireland.
12 October –
Ocean Sound begins broadcasting. It replaces
Radio Victory in East Hampshire, but also covers
Southampton,
Winchester and the
Isle of Wight. Ocean Sound launches as a split frequency service – Ocean Sound West on 103.2 FM and 1557 AM and Ocean Sound East operates as the replacement for Radio Victory on 97.5 FM and 1170 AM – due to management identifying two potential audiences: one familiar with commercial radio (in the East area), and one largely acquainted with the BBC (the West area). Ocean Sound East launches with a livelier sound than the West service although both services share breakfast and evening programmes with split programming airing during daytime.
November
November – Following its purchase of
Northants 96,
Chiltern Radio launches a networked service called The Hot FM. The service is broadcast on three ILR licenses with local programming restricted to mid-mornings.
30 November –
Northants 96 launches at 10 am and becomes part of The Hot FM.
December
24 December –
John Timpson presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 for the final time.[3]
28 December – Apna Hi Ghar Samajhiye (Make Yourself at Home) is broadcast on
BBC Radio 4 for the final time. It had been broadcast on Radio 4 and the
BBC Home Service every Sunday morning since 1965.