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The Bee

Broadcast area	Blackburn, East Lancashire, Preston, Leyland and Chorley
Frequency	FM: 96.3 MHz 106.5 MHz 107.0 MHz
Programming
Format	Hot AC
Ownership
Owner	UKRD
Sister stations	2BR
History
First air date	1 October 2005
Last air date	26 May 2016

The Bee was an Independent Local Radio station serving southern and eastern parts of Lancashire, England. On Friday 27 May 2016, The Bee merged with its sister Lancashire station 2BR.

The station was owned and operated by UKRD and broadcast from studios at Clayton-le-Moors in Accrington.

History

The Bee initially broadcast to the Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington areas under RSL licences in 2001 and 2002, before winning a permanent licence in December 2004. The station, founded by Roy Martin, launched full-time on 1 October 2005. Its investors included neighbouring station 2BR, The Radio Business and local shareholders. Initially based at Dalton Court in Darwen, the station moved to Petre Court in Clayton-le-Moors in August 2010, co-locating with 2BR.

At 7pm on 17 June 2011, the station began broadcasting to the Preston, Leyland and Chorley areas on 106.5 FM, following the sale and subsequent closure of 106.5 Central Radio. A further relay (96.3FM) for the Chorley area went on air in 2012.

On 4 April 2016, UKRD announced The Bee would be closed and merged with its sister East Lancashire station 2BR as part of an expansion onto DAB. The merged station carries the same 2BR programming and identity with opt-outs for local news, traffic and advertising in the Burnley, Blackburn and Preston & Chorley areas.

In July 2018, the expanded 2BR was brought by Global.

Frequencies

• 96.3FM Chorley
• 106.5FM Preston and South Ribble
• 107.0 FM Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington

References

1. 2BR to merge with The Bee and expand on DAB, Radio Today, 4 April 2016
2. "The Bee grows bigger with 3rd frequency". Radio Today. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
3. 2BR to merge with The Bee and expand on DAB, Radio Today, 4 April 2016
4. Global expands in Lancashire after buying 2BR, RadioToday, 31 July 2018
5. "The Bee grows bigger with 3rd frequency". Radio Today. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2014.

53°46′12″N 2°23′23″W / 53.7699°N 2.3897°W / 53.7699; -2.3897

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