Lichfield transmitting station

Lichfield

Mast height	305.2 metres (1,001 ft)
Coordinates
Grid reference	SK1631404390
Built	1961
ITV region	ABC (1961-1968) ATV (1961-1981) Central (1982-1985)

The Lichfield transmitting station is situated close to Tamworth in Staffordshire in the West Midlands between the A5 and A51. The nearest geographical feature is Hopwas Hill. The station is owned and operated by Arqiva. The mast is known locally as Hopwas mast or Hints mast.

History

The station was the main 405-line ITV transmitter for the Midlands from 1956 until 1985. It has a 305.2 metres (1,001 ft) tall guyed mast.

The station came on air on 17 February 1956, using two 5 kW transmitters and a 16-stack antenna mounted on a 450ft tall Eiffelized tower. This tower was replaced by the tall mast which came into service on 18 July 1961. The 450ft tower was dismantled in 1962 and shipped to Jersey, Channel Islands and re erected at Fremont Point on the north of the Island.

625-line colour transmitters for the region were all co-sited at the nearby Sutton Coldfield transmitting station until 1997, when Lichfield began broadcasting Channel 5 in the Midlands. At 1000 kW on C37 it was the most powerful Channel 5 transmitter in the country. Before the digital switchover, Lichfield effectively worked in conjunction with Sutton Coldfield (4 miles to the SW) to supply the full five analogue channels. Reception of Channel 5 from Lichfield was also receivable at viewable quality throughout the borders of North Wales.

All analogue TV transmissions ceased on 21 September 2011, as part of the digital switchover. A temporary HD multiplex BBC B (Mux HD) on C34 was moved to the Sutton Coldfield transmitting station on C40+ (626.2 MHz) thereby ceasing all analogue and digital television broadcasts from the Lichfield transmitter.

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio (FM VHF)

Frequency	kW	Service
101.6 MHz	0.06	Touch FM

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency	Block	kW	Operator
220.35 MHz	11C	0.5	CE Birmingham

Analogue television

17 February 1956 – 3 January 1985

Frequency	VHF	kW	Service
189.75 MHz	8	200	Central (ABC until 1968/ATV until 1982)

30 March 1997 – 21 September 2011

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
599.25 MHz	37	1000	Channel 5

Digital television

Digital television is no longer broadcast from Lichfield as of 21 September 2011.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Operator
578.0 MHz	34	4	BBC B (Mux HD)

See also

• List of masts
• List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

External links

• The Transmission Gallery: photographs, coverage maps and information
• Bob Cotton's Lichfield Memories
• http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b61327
• Lichfield Transmitter at thebigtower.com