Bluebell Hill transmitting station

Bluebell Hill transmitting station
	Bluebell Hill transmitting station (Kent)
Tower height	52.5 metres (172 ft) (A); 55 metres (180 ft) (B); 46 metres (151 ft) (C); 43 metres (141 ft) (South)
Coordinates	51°19′26″N 0°31′14″E / 51.324°N 0.52054°ECoordinates: 51°19′26″N 0°31′14″E / 51.324°N 0.52054°E
Grid reference	TQ757613
Built	1974
BBC region	BBC South East
ITV region	ITV Meridian
Local TV service	KMTV Kent

The Bluebell Hill transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility located at Blue Bell Hill between Maidstone and Rochester in the English county of Kent.

The station is situated on the crest of the North Downs and comprises five steel lattice towers, each 45 to 50 metres tall - their height being compromised by the location of nearby Rochester Airport. It broadcasts digital television, FM and DAB radio to much of north, west, and central Kent, and an overspill service into southern Essex. It stopped broadcasting analogue television when the digital switchover was completed on 27 June 2012. When in analogue service, the broadcast power of 30 kW for a main transmitter was unique in the United Kingdom, the strength being limited by potential interference with transmitters in France and the Low Countries.

Services broadcast include BBC One (South East), BBC Two, ITV (Meridian), Channel 4, Heart Kent, KMFM Medway and KMFM Maidstone. Between its opening in 1974 and 31 December 1981 the transmitter broadcast Thames Television (weekdays) and London Weekend Television (weekends), being switched on 1 January 1982 to carry signals from the new ITV franchise TVS (Television South), until superseded on 1 January 1993 by ITV Meridian for ITV in the south east. The transmitter takes its main BBC1 feed from Crystal Palace, with an opt-out for BBC local news in the South East broadcast from studios in Tunbridge Wells. Although timing is of the essence at this point the human factor sometimes results in a delay of a second or two, enabling viewers to glimpse the London studio and presenter before the Tunbridge Wells studio appears.

Bluebell Hill was originally an E group for analogue, then became a B group at DSO. At its 700 MHz clearance in July 2018 it became a K group (excluding the temporary MUXES 7 and 8). Most E groups and B groups, as well as widebands and K groups, will work OK on Bluebell Hill (see graph).

Services available[]

Analogue radio[]

Frequency	kW	Service
103.1 MHz	2	Heart Kent

Digital radio[]

Frequency	Block	kW	Operator
218.640 MHz	11B	0.9	DRG London
220.352 MHz	11C	2	NOW Kent
222.064 MHz	11D	6.3	Digital One
223.936 MHz	12A	2	Switch London
225.648 MHz	12B	6.3	BBC National DAB
227.360 MHz	12C	1	CE London

Digital television[]

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator	System
618.000 MHz	39	20	Arqiva A	DVB-T
626.000 MHz	40	20	BBC B	DVB-T2
650.000 MHz	43	20	Digital 3&4	DVB-T
666.000 MHz	45	20	SDN	DVB-T
674.000 MHz	46	20	BBC A	DVB-T
738.000 MHz	54	20	Arqiva B	DVB-T

Before switchover[]

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
498.000 MHz	24	2	Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)
522.000 MHz	27	2	SDN (Mux A)
618.000 MHz	39	3	Arqiva (Mux D)
641.833 MHz	42-	3	Arqiva (Mux C)
665.833 MHz	45-	3	BBC (Mux B)
778.000 MHz	59	3	BBC (Mux 1)

Analogue television[]

Analogue television transmissions have now ceased. BBC Two was closed on 13 June 2012 and the remaining three services on 27 June. Channel Five was never broadcast from this transmitter.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
623.25 MHz	40	30	BBC One
647.25 MHz	43	30	ITV1
671.25 MHz	46	30	BBC Two
823.25 MHz	65	30	Channel 4