BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live

Logo used since 2022
Salford
Broadcast area	United Kingdom and internationally via BBC Sounds
Frequencies	MW: 693 kHz, 909 kHz, 990 kHz and on BBC Local Radio stations' frequencies overnight. DAB: 12B Freeview: 705 Freesat: 705 Sky (UK only): 0105 Virgin Media: 905 Virgin Media Ireland: 911 Astra 2E (28.2°E) satellite Intelsat 901 (18°W) satellite
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	News and sport
Ownership
Owner	BBC
Operator	BBC North
Sister stations	BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
History
First air date	28 March 1994; 30 years ago (1994-03-28)
Former call signs	BBC Radio 5
Technical information
Licensing authority	Ofcom
Links
Website	BBC Radio 5 Live via BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 5 Live is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It broadcasts mainly news, sport, discussion, interviews and phone-ins. It is the principal BBC radio station covering sport in the United Kingdom, broadcasting virtually all major sports events staged in the UK or involving British competitors.

Radio 5 Live was launched in March 1994 as a repositioning of the original Radio 5, which was launched on 27 August 1990.^[1] It is transmitted via analogue radio in AM on medium wave 693 and 909 kHz and digitally via digital radio, television and on the BBC Sounds service. Due to rights restrictions, coverage of some events, particularly live sport, is not available online or is restricted to UK addresses.

The station broadcasts from MediaCityUK in Salford in Greater Manchester^[2] and is a department of the BBC North division.

According to RAJAR, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 4.8 million with a listening share of 2.9% as of March 2024.^[3]