BBC Radio Cymru

Welsh national radio station

For the sister station, see BBC Radio Cymru 2.

For the English language equivalent, see BBC Radio Wales.

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "BBC Radio Cymru" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

BBC Radio Cymru

Logo used since 2022

* Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Bangor

Broadcast area| Wales
Frequency|

* DAB: 12D MuxCo (Mid & West Wales)
* DAB: 10D MuxCo (North Wales)
* DAB: 12D Now Digital (SE Wales)
* DAB: 12A Bauer (Swansea & SW Wales)
* DAB: 10D MuxCo (Wrexham, Chester & Liverpool)
* FM: 92.4–96.8 MHz and 103.5–104.9 MHz
* Freesat: 715 (all of UK)
* Freeview: 712
* Sky: 0135
* Sky: 0136 (rest of UK)
* Virgin Media: 936 (all of UK)

Programming
Language| Welsh
Format| News, music, sport, entertainment
Ownership
Owner| BBC
Operator| BBC Cymru Wales

Sister stations

* BBC Radio Cymru 2
* BBC Radio Wales

History

First air date

| 3 January 1977; 48 years ago (1977-01-03)
Technical information

Licensing authority

| Ofcom
Links
Webcast| BBC Sounds
Website| Official website

BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and BBC Sounds.

The station broadcasts general factual and entertainment programming for 18+1⁄2 hours a day from 5:30am to midnight with overnight programming simulcast from the BBC World Service after closedown.

Its sister station, BBC Radio Cymru 2, providing separate music-led programming at certain hours of the day, broadcasts on digital and online platforms.

The managing editor of BBC Radio Cymru is Dafydd Meredydd, a former presenter and producer.

## Overview

[edit]

BBC Radio Cymru began broadcasting on the first Monday morning of year on 3 January 1977. Its first programme was an extended news bulletin presented at 6:45am by Gwyn Llewellyn and Geraint Jones. This was followed at 7am by the first edition of the breakfast magazine show Helo Bobol!, presented by Hywel Gwynfryn with contributions from a network of local reporters in studios across Wales. The first record played on Radio Cymru was Plas-y-Bryniau by Hergest.

The station was the first broadcasting outlet dedicated wholly to programmes in Welsh, allowing much more airtime for such output than had previously been available on the old Radio 4 Wales (or its predecessors the Welsh Home Service and, before that, the BBC Welsh Regional Programme).

Initially, the service was part-time and restricted to breakfast shows, extended news bulletins at breakfast, lunchtime & early evening and a number of off-peak opt-outs from a sustaining Radio 4 Wales feed.

In November 1979, Radio Cymru's programming was expanded to 65 hours a week, introducing mid-morning output on weekdays, along with a growing line-up of dramas, light entertainment and documentaries. The network continued to expand over the next two decades before achieving a continuous service of up to 20 hours a day.

Later developments in the 21st century saw Radio Cymru introducing a nightly youth strand, C2, and regional opt-outs for South West Wales, which were axed in 2008 but later reintroduced to provide live commentary of Swansea City A.F.C. matches. The station has also been streaming online since January 2005.[1]

Radio Cymru is similar in format to many "general" radio stations, with news programmes at breakfast (Post Cyntaf, 'First Post'), lunchtime (Taro'r Post – a debate-centred programme), and drive-time (Post Prynhawn, 'Afternoon Post'); together with presenter-driven sequences mixing music with guests, calls from listeners and competitions. Radio Cymru also produces drama, features, current affairs and sports programming.

Over the years, it has done much to promote the language, with its sports commentators coining new terms which later became accepted by Welsh linguists. One of its more unusual – and longest-running – programmes is Y Talwrn, a poetry competition in which teams must come up with poetry in specific styles on specific topics.

In 2018, following a three-month pilot service, a second station - BBC Radio Cymru 2 \- was launched on a permanent basis. Initially providing a music and entertainment alternative to its breakfast news programme, the station gradually expanded its own programming while continuing to simulcast output from the main Radio Cymru service. In March 2024, the station expanded its bespoke output from 15 to 60 hours a week, after receiving approval from the broadcast regulator OFCOM to become a fully-fledged public service radio station.[2][3]

## Listening figures

[edit]

According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 95,000 listeners and a listening share of 2.2%, as of December 2023.[4] The average number of hours per listener is 11.5 hours a week.

## Presenters

[edit]

Notable current presenters include:

* Shân Cothi (Bore Cothi)
* Caryl Parry Jones (Monday-Thursday nights)
* Huw Stephens (Thursday evenings)

## Transmission

[edit]

BBC Radio Cymru is broadcast across Wales FM and DAB. It is also available on Freeview in Wales, throughout the UK on Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and internationally online on BBC Sounds. As Radio Cymru was created from an opt-out of BBC Radio 4, it inherited the FM transmitters previously used by Radio 4 across Wales. At the time of the station's launch, it was the only radio service in the UK broadcasting solely on FM.

### Main transmitters

[edit]

* Blaenplwyf: 93.1
* Haverfordwest: 93.7
* Llanddona: 94.2
* Llangollen: 104.3
* Wenvoe: 96.8

### Relays

[edit]

* Aberdare: 93.6
* Abergavenny: 103.5
* Abertillery: 104.3
* Betws-y-Coed: 92.6
* Blaenavon: 104.1
* Brecon: 93.3
* Carmarthen: 93.3
* Carmel: 104.6
* Clyro: 92.4
* Conwy: 93.5
* Croeserw: 93.4
* Cwmavon: 104.5
* Deiniolen: 92.5
* Dolgellau: 94.5
* Ebbw Vale: 104.6
* Ferndale: 104.9
* Ffestiniog: 92.5
* Holywell: 104.7
* Kilvey Hill: 104.2
* Llandrindod Wells: 93.5
* Llandecwyn: 93.8
* Llandinam: 96.1
* Llandyfriog: 94.5
* Llanfyllin: 95.7
* Llangeinor: 104.6
* Llanidloes: 92.5
* Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant: 103.8
* Llwyn-Onn: 92.7
* Llyswen: 94.0
* Long Mountain: 103.6
* Machynlleth: 93.8
* Mynydd Pencarreg: 94.1
* Ogmore Vale: 95.0
* Penmaen Rhos: 92.8
* Pennar: 94.7
* Pontypool: 93.6
* Porth: 104.5
* Rheola: 92.6
* Rhymney: 104.9
* Ton Pentre: 93.2
* Varteg Hill: 93.3

## See also

[edit]

* List of Celtic-language media

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "BBC re-launches internet radio – everything in one place". BBC Media Centre (Press release). BBC. 24 January 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
2. ^ "BBC Radio Cymru 2 officially approved by Ofcom as a UK Public Service". Radio Today. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
3. ^ Ymestyn oriau Radio Cymru 2 i gyrraedd cynulleidfa newydd, bbc.co.uk, 4 March 2024
4. ^ "RAJAR". www.rajar.co.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* BBC Radio Cymru at BBC Online
* BBC Radio Cymru on Facebook
* BBC Radio Cymru on Instagram
* BBC Radio Cymru on Twitter

* v
* t
* e

Radio in Wales

BBC Cymru Wales national stations|

* BBC Radio Cymru
* Cymru 2
* BBC Radio Wales

Regional commercial stations|

* Gold
* Heart North and Mid Wales
* Heart South Wales
* Kiss
* Nation Radio Wales

Local commercial stations|

* Hits Radio South Wales
* Radio Pembrokeshire
* Bridge FM
* Capital Anglesey & Gwynedd
* Capital North West & Wales
* Capital South Wales
* Swansea Bay Radio
* Radio Carmarthenshire
* Smooth Wales
* Sunshine Radio
* Greatest Hits Radio South Wales

Community, charity & non-profit stations|

* Bro Radio
* GTFM
* Môn FM
* Newport City Radio
* Premier Radio
* Radio Cardiff
* Radio City 1386AM
* Sound Radio
* Welsh Coast Radio

Student stations|

* Bay Radio (Aberystwyth)
* Radio Noize
* Storm FM
* Tequila Radio
* Xpress Radio
* Xtreme Radio

Defunct local stations|

* BRfm
* Calon FM
* Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
* Heart North Wales Coast
* Point FM
* Radio Ceredigion
* Radio Hafren
* Radio Maldwyn
* Tudno FM
* Valleys Radio
* XS

Welsh DAB multiplexes|

* Cardiff and Newport
* Mid and West Wales
* North Wales
* Severn Estuary
* Swansea SW Wales

UK national BBC services|

* BBC Radio 1
* BBC Radio 2
* BBC Radio 3
* BBC Radio 4
* BBC Radio 5 Live

UK national commercial services|

* Absolute Radio
* Classic FM
* Talksport

UK national DAB multiplexes|

* BBC National DAB
* Digital One
* Sound Digital

See also
List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

Portals:

* Radio
* Wales

* v
* t
* e

Radio stations in South Wales

AM stations|

* BBC Radio Wales 882
* BBC Radio 5 Live 909
* Talksport 1089

FM stations|

* BBC Radio 2 89.5, 89.9
* BBC Radio 3 91.7, 92.1
* BBC Radio 4 94.3, 94.6
* Hits Radio South Wales 96.4
* BBC Radio Cymru 96.8, 104.2
* Radio Carmarthenshire 97.1
* BGfm 97.3
* Bro Radio 98.1, 98.4, 100.2, 106.1
* Radio Cardiff 98.7
* BBC Radio 1 99.1, 99.5
* Classic FM 101.3, 101.7
* Swansea Bay Radio 102.1
* Radio Pembrokeshire 102.5
* Capital 103.2, 97.4
* BBC Radio Wales 103.9, 93.9
* Heart 105.4
* Rhondda Radio 106.1, 97.5
* Bridge FM 106.3
* Welsh Coast Radio 106.5
* Nation Radio 106.8, 107.3
* GTFM 107.9

DAB|

| Bauer Swansea|

* Absolute Classic Rock
* Absolute Radio Country
* BBC Radio Cymru
* BBC Radio Cymru 2
* BBC Radio Wales
* Greatest Hits Radio South Wales
* Heart South Wales
* Hits Radio South Wales
* Hits Radio Pride
* Magic Chilled
* Magic at the Musicals
* Magic Soul

|

MuxCo Mid & West Wales
(including Swansea)|

* BBC Radio Cymru
* BBC Radio Cymru 2
* BBC Radio Wales
* Dragon Radio
* Heart South Wales
* Nation Radio
* Nation 80s
* Nation Hits
* Radio Carmarthenshire
* Radio Pembrokeshire
* Swansea Bay Radio

NOW South East Wales
(including Cardiff)|

* BBC Radio Cymru
* BBC Radio Cymru 2
* BBC Radio Wales
* Capital South Wales
* Dragon Radio
* Greatest Hits Radio
* Heart South Wales
* Nation Radio
* Nation 80s
* Smooth Wales

Cardiff small-scale|

* Aspen Waite Radio
* Gaydio
* Great British Radio
* Marefa Radio
* Nation 80s
* Radio Cardiff
* Tomorrowland OWR
* Voice of Islam
* XL:UK Radio

Former|

* Scarlet FM
* Swansea Sound
* Valleys Radio
* XS

National network FM frequencies are given for main transmitters covering Cardiff and Swansea. Other relay frequencies may exist in other areas.

See also
List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

* v
* t
* e

Welsh language

History|

* Common Brittonic
* Old Welsh
* Middle Welsh
* Modern Welsh
* Treachery of the Blue Books
* Welsh Not

Linguistics|

* Grammar
* Phonology
* Morphology
* colloquial
* literary
* Syntax
* Numerals
* Singulative number
* Orthography
* Welsh Braille
* Ỽ
* Y with loop
* Dictionaries
* Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru
* Welsh Academy English–Welsh Dictionary
* Toponymy
* outside Wales
* in the United States
* on road signage
* in English
* Exonyms

Literature|

* Authors
* Medieval Welsh literature
* Welsh mythology
* Welsh Triads
* Mabinogion
* Welsh-medium education
* Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin
* Wlpan
* Bible translations into Welsh
* Comics
* Magazines
* Newspapers
* Novels
* Poetry

Demographics|

* Welsh-speaking population
* Y Fro Gymraeg
* by county or county borough in Wales
* Landsker Line
* Y Wladfa
* Welsh Tract (historical)
* Surnames
* Politicians
* Other occupations

Media|

* Programming
* S4C
* timeline
* BBC Radio Cymru
* Cymru 2
* Capital Cymru
* Golwg
* Golwg360
* Maes-e
* Tafod y Ddraig
* Y Cymro
* Barn

Music and festivals|

* Celtic Media Festival
* National Eisteddfod of Wales
* Urdd National Eisteddfod
* Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau
* Shwmae Sumae Day
* Tafwyl
* Y Selar Awards
* Welsh Language Music Day
* Welsh Learner of the Year
* Nant Gwrtheyrn
* Films

Dialects|

* Dyfedeg (south-western)
* Gwenhwyseg (south-eastern)
* Gwyndodeg (north-western)
* Cofi
* Powyseg (north/central-eastern)

* Patagonian Welsh

Governance|

* Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language
* Welsh Language Commissioner
* Welsh Language Board (defunct)

Groups|

* Arfor
* Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol
* Cymdeithas y Dysgwyr
* Cymreigyddion y Fenni
* Welsh Language Society
* Cymuned
* Dyfodol i'r Iaith
* Menter Iaith
* Mudiad Adfer
* Urdd Gobaith Cymru
* Association of Welsh Translators and Interpreters
* Wales Interpretation and Translation Service
* Crachach

Legislation|

* Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542
* Welsh Courts Act 1942
* Welsh Language Act 1967
* Welsh Language Act 1993
* Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011
* National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Act 2012

* Language
* Wales

* v
* t
* e

BBC Radio

BBC

UK stations|

| Nationwide|

* Radio 1
* Radio 2
* Radio 3
* Radio 4
* Radio 5 Live

|

Digital-only|

* Radio 1Xtra
* Radio 4 Extra
* Radio 5 Sports Extra
* Radio 6 Music
* Asian Network

Online-only (BBC Sounds)|

* CBeebies Radio
* Radio 1 Dance
* Radio 1 Anthems
* Radio 3 Unwind

Nations|

| Scotland|

* Scotland
* Orkney
* Shetland
* Nan Gàidheal

Wales|

* Wales
* Cymru
* Cymru 2

Northern Ireland|

* Ulster
* Foyle

BBC Local Radio|

| East|

* Cambridgeshire
* Essex
* Norfolk
* Northampton
* Suffolk
* Three Counties

East Midlands|

* Derby
* Leicester
* Nottingham

London|

* London

North East and Cumbria|

* Cumbria
* Newcastle
* Tees

North West|

* Lancashire
* Manchester
* Merseyside

South|

* Berkshire
* Oxford
* Solent

South East|

* Kent
* Surrey
* Sussex

South West|

* Cornwall
* Devon
* Guernsey
* Jersey
* Somerset

West|

* Bristol
* Gloucestershire
* Wiltshire

West Midlands|

* CWR
* Hereford and Worcester
* Shropshire
* Stoke
* WM

Yorkshire|

* Leeds
* Sheffield
* York

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire|

* Humberside
* Lincolnshire

International stations|

* World Service
* Albanian (Dissolved)
* Arabic
* Bangla
* Nepali
* Brasil
* Hausa
* Mundo
* Persian
* Russian
* Ukrainian (Dissolved)
* Urdu

Defunct stations
and services

| Local services|

* 2LO London
* 5IT Birmingham
* 2ZY Manchester
* 5NO Newcastle
* 5WA Cardiff
* 5SC Glasgow
* 2BD Aberdeen
* 6BM Bournemouth
* 2FL Sheffield
* 5PY Plymouth
* 5GB Daventry
* 2BE Belfast

|

Relays|

* 2EH Edinburgh
* 6LV Liverpool
* 2LS Leeds and Bradford
* 6KH Hull
* 5NG Nottingham
* 2DE Dundee
* 6ST Stoke
* 5SX Swansea

National services|

* Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme
* Forces Programme
* General Forces Programme
* Home Service
* Light Programme
* National Programme
* Radio 1 Relax (BBC Sounds)
* Radio 4 News FM
* Radio 5
* Radio 7 (rebranded)
* Regional Programme
* Third Programme

Related topics|

* Awards
* Logos
* BBC Music
* National DAB multiplex
* Programmes
* Radio Explorer
* Radio Orchestra
* School Radio
* BBC Sounds
* Wartime Broadcasting Service

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Freeview

TV channels|

* 4seven
* 5Action
* 5Select
* 5Star
* 5USA
* Al Jazeera English
* HD
* Arise News
* BBC One
* HD
* BBC Two
* HD
* BBC Three
* HD
* BBC Four
* HD
* BBC Alba
* BBC Scotland
* HD
* BBC News
* BBC Parliament
* Blaze
* +1
* CBBC
* HD
* CBeebies
* HD
* Challenge
* Channel 4
* +1
* HD
* 5
* +1
* HD
* DMAX
* E4
* +1
* E4 Extra
* Film4
* +1
* Food Network
* GB News
* Gems TV
* Great! TV
* +1
* Great! Action
* Great! Movies
* +1
* Great! Romance
* +1
* HGTV
* Ideal World
* ITV1
* +1
* HD
* ITV2
* +1
* ITV3
* +1
* ITV4
* ITV Quiz
* The Jewellery Channel
* Legend
* More4
* PBS America
* Pop
* Pop Player
* Quest
* +1
* Quest Red
* QVC
* HD
* QVC2
* Really
* Rewind TV
* RTÉ One
* RTÉ2
* S4C
* Sky Arts
* Sky Mix
* Sky News
* STV
* +1
* HD
* Talking Pictures TV
* TBN UK
* TG4
* That's TV UK
* That's TV 2
* That's Melody
* That's Dance
* That's TV 3
* Together TV
* True Crime
* True Crime Xtra
* U&Dave
* ja vu
* U&Drama
* +1
* U&Eden
* U&W
* U&Yesterday
* +1
* UTV
* +1
* HD

Radio stations|

* BBC Asian Network
* BBC Radio 1
* BBC Radio 1Xtra
* BBC Radio 2
* BBC Radio 3
* BBC Radio 4
* BBC Radio 4 Extra
* BBC Radio 5 Live
* BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
* BBC Radio 6 Music
* BBC Radio Cymru
* BBC Radio Cymru 2
* BBC Radio Foyle
* BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
* BBC Radio Scotland
* BBC Radio Ulster
* BBC Radio Wales
* BBC World Service
* Capital
* Classic FM
* Heart
* LBC
* Premier Christian Radio
* RNIB Connect Radio
* RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
* Smooth Radio
* Talksport
* Trans World Radio

Local channels|

* Latest TV
* Local Television Limited
* London TV
* Notts TV
* NVTV
* Sheffield Live TV
* That's TV

Streamed channels|

* Channelbox (Africanews/Euronews/FashionTV/Qello/Hellenic TV)
* On Demand 365
* Vision TV (Brit Asia TV/Spotlight TV/Sports Tonight/3ABN/JML Direct)

TV platforms|

* Analogue
* Analogue terrestrial
* Cable
* Digital
* Digital terrestrial
* High-definition
* IPTV
* Satellite

Miscellaneous|

* History of Freeview UK

* v
* t
* e

Media in Cardiff

Television and
film production|

* Aspect Television
* Bad Wolf
* Bay TV Swansea
* BBC Wales
* ITV Wales
* S4C
* Cardiff Uni TV
* Made in Cardiff
* Broadcasting House, Cardiff
* BBC Roath Lock
* BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House
* BAFTA Cymru
* Hartswood Films
* Calon
* Cardiff Film Festival

Television
series|

| Drama|

* Doctor Who
* Torchwood
* The Sarah Jane Adventures
* Class
* Caerdydd
* Being Human
* Crash
* Merlin
* Sherlock
* Upstairs Downstairs
* Casualty
* Pobol y Cwm
* Atlantis
* Wizards vs Aliens
* Alys
* In My Skin
* His Dark Materials

|

Comedy|

* Gavin & Stacey
* Satellite City
* High Hopes
* Sex Education

News and factual|

* BBC Wales Today
* Hospital 24/7
* Newyddion S4C
* ITV News: Wales at Six
* #CardiffNews
* CF99

Reality|

* The Valleys

Quiz shows|

* Only Connect

Children's|

* SuperTed
* Fireman Sam
* The Story of Tracy Beaker
* Wil Cwac Cwac
* Stwnsh
* Young Dracula

Film|

* Tiger Bay
* Human Traffic
* The Contractor
* Flick
* Skellig
* Patagonia
* The Big I Am
* Panic Button
* Killer Elite
* Prevenge

Press|

* Western Mail
* South Wales Echo
* Echo Extra
* Y Dinesydd
* Gair Rhydd
* Metro

Radio|

* BBC Radio Wales
* BBC Radio Cymru
* Cymru 2
* Capital South Wales
* Nation Radio Wales
* Heart South Wales
* Xpress Radio
* Radio Cardiff

Online|

* WalesOnline
* CardiffOnline
* Pizzaman

* category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template