Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

At 12.30pm on 22nd November 1967 a specially composed jingle by Gerry Marsden announced the arrival of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Merseyside the country's third and largest local radio station.

However the station wasn't the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's first attempt at local broadcasting on Merseyside, that honour went to the 1920's station 6LV.

The crystal set era station 6LV began broadcasting on Wednesday June 11th 1924. The studio was above a cafe in Liverpool's Lord Street.

The transmitter and engineers were located on the first floor of a disused paint shop near Smithdown Road. 6LV was shortlived, transmissions came to an end in 1931 when a shortage of wavelengths forced re-organisation of radio along regional lines.

In 1967 the possibility of more local broadcasting was once more addressed, initially as a two year experiment.

Broadcasting milestones have included coverage of major events - the Papal tour of 1982, two visits of the Tall ships, the International Garden Festival in 1984 and many others.

Big news stories such as the Toxteth riots, the murder of young James Bulger, and the trial of Louise Woodward have made international as well as local headlines. On each occasion Radio Merseyside has brought the news not just to its own listeners but also to other Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ radio, television and text services.

The Merseyside Radio experiment started on the top two floors of Commerce House, an anonymous local authority building in Sir Thomas Street. But as the station developed the facilities proved increasingly inadequate.

In the winter of 1981/82 Radio Merseyside moved to the purpose built premises in Paradise Street which became its home for gathering news and producing programmes for the next 24 years.

In July 2006 the station moved once again to its new home in Hanover Street. The new glass fronted Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ building includes a street facing performance area as well as state of the art studios and production areas.

A number of broadcasters who cut their teeth at Radio Merseyside have gone on to become well known nationally with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. They include sports presenter Ray Stubbs, newsreader Sian Williams, DJ Janice Long, and 'Top Gear's' Michele Moran.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Merseyside's editorial area embraces the whole of Merseyside (Liverpool, Bootle, Birkenhead, Southport, St.Helens etc.) much of North Cheshire (Chester, Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes, Ellesmere Port) and West Lancashire (Skelmersdale, Orrell, Burscough, Ormskirk).

The station can be heard further afield, notably in North Wales, the Isle of Man and Ireland. In freak reception conditions we have been heard as far away as Scandinavia and Canada!