BBC Radio 1Xtra
{{short description|British national radio station}}
{{distinguish|BBC Radio 1}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = BBC Radio 1Xtra
| logo = File:BBC Radio 1Xtra 2021.svg
| city = London and Birmingham
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2021
| area = United Kingdom
| airdate = {{start date and age|2002|8|16|df=y}}
| sister_stations = BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 Dance
| frequency = DAB: 12B (BBC National DAB)
Freeview: 701
Freesat: 701
Sky UK: 0127
Virgin Media: 907
Astra 2E (28.2°E) satellite
Intelsat 901 (18°W) satellite
| language = English
| format = Rhythmic CHR/urban contemporary
| owner = BBC
| licensing_authority = Ofcom
| coordinates =
| website = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_1xtra BBC Radio 1Xtra] via BBC Sounds
}}
{{BBC Radio sidebar}}
BBC Radio 1Xtra is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It broadcasts black music and urban music, including hip hop and R&B and is a sister station to Radio 1.{{cite web |title=Inside the BBC: BBC Radio stations |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/whatwedo/publicservices#networkradio |website=www.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110103926/https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/whatwedo/publicservices#networkradio |archive-date=10 January 2019|url-status=live}} Launching at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been code named "Network X" during the consultation period. At the time, the station was listed as "1 Xtra BBC" on many electronic programming guides. The station broadcasts from the 8th floor of Broadcasting House, shared with Radio 1 and the Asian Network.
According to RAJAR, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 786,000 with a listening share of 0.3% as of March 2024.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
Music policy
BBC Radio 1Xtra's music includes largely British, North American, Caribbean and African hip hop, grime, drill, UK garage, drum and bass, UK funky, house, R&B, comtemporary R&B, soul, dancehall, soca, reggae, afrobeats and amapiano. It is available on BBC Sounds, digital radio (DAB) and digital television. The first ever track played on 1Xtra was a specially created track produced by DJ Skitz and Rodney P and featuring Beverley Knight and Blak Twang. The five-hour show was presented by the Rampage DJ collective and the station's then breakfast show host, KC.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/aug/19/bbc.race|title=BBC enlists raw talent for radio station to woo black audience|date=19 August 2002|access-date=3 May 2009|last=Wells|first=Matt|location=London|work=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826144626/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/aug/19/bbc.race|archive-date=26 August 2013|url-status=live}}
News and speech
As part of its public service broadcasting remit, 1Xtra is required to carry a significant amount of news, information and speech content. 1Xtra had its own news service, 1Xtra News (formerly known as "TX"), which was operated as a subsidiary of Radio 1's Newsbeat operations. The tone and style of the news presentation is in keeping with the station's overall target audience - young and predominantly urban.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/ |title=1Xtra News homepage |publisher=BBC.co.uk |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=4 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613113431/http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/ |archive-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=live }}
Initially, in addition to regular hourly bulletins, TX had a flagship weekday two-hour news, features and discussion show under the title "TX Unltd" (pronounced "Unlimited").[http://www.bbcgovernorsarchive.co.uk/annreport/report03/radio.txt BBC Governors report includes a reference to TX Unltd] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703012031/http://www.bbcgovernorsarchive.co.uk/annreport/report03/radio.txt |date=3 July 2008 }} This show - initially broadcast in a 5{{nbsp}}pm{{snd}}7{{nbsp}}pm slot - rated poorly, however, and was later absorbed into a mixed music-and-speech format (similar to that used by Jeremy Vine on Radio 2) which aired in mid-afternoon (2{{nbsp}}pm{{snd}}4{{nbsp}}pm) and was named after its host, Max.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/max/ |title=Max's 1Xtra page |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=4 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907104502/http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/max/ |archive-date=7 September 2009 |url-status=live }}
In 2009, the BBC Trust agreed to a further change to the scheduling of news content on 1Xtra, such that it could use the same format successfully operated by Radio 1's Newsbeat: two 15-minute news bulletins, one in the middle of the day and another in the early evening, with other speech features, profiles and social/cultural specials being broadcast on an ad hoc basis within music-led shows, and with regular hourly news bulletins also continuing. The Trust required that 1Xtra's main bulletins not air at the same time as those on Radio 1.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/service_reviews/yar/yar_review.pdf |title=BBC Trust review of youth audiences, 2009 (pdf) - includes approval of 1Xtra News changes |format=PDF |access-date=4 August 2012}} When the new bulletins were introduced in late summer 2009, they aired at noon and 5{{nbsp}}pm, with Radio 1's bulletins remaining at 12:45{{nbsp}}pm and 5:45{{nbsp}}pm.
As of Summer 2009 it was reported that Radio 1 and 1Xtra were carrying shared news bulletins at weekends;{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1105176 |title=Digital Spy forums: 'Radio 1 and 1Xtra share news' |publisher=Digitalspy.co.uk |access-date=4 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818163049/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1105176 |archive-date=18 August 2009 |url-status=live }} weekday news output remained separate.
September 2012 saw a substantial increase in Newsbeat bulletins simulcast with Radio 1. Weekday breakfast bulletins at 6{{nbsp}}am, 7.30{{nbsp}}am, 8{{nbsp}}am, 8.30{{nbsp}}am and 9.30{{nbsp}}am remain bespoke 1Xtra broadcasts. From 10:30{{nbsp}}am, bulletins are shared with Radio 1, including the 15-minute Newsbeat magazines at 12:45{{nbsp}}pm and 5:45{{nbsp}}pm.
In the first quarter of 2011, 1Xtra was part of an efficiency review conducted by John Myers.{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Andrews |date=28 November 2010 |title=BBC enlists commercial sector help to shake up radio |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8164936/BBC-enlists-commercial-sector-help-to-shake-up-radio.html |work=The Telegraph |access-date=12 March 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122001905/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8164936/BBC-enlists-commercial-sector-help-to-shake-up-radio.html |archive-date=22 January 2011 |url-status=live }} His role, according to Andrew Harrison, the chief executive of RadioCentre, was "to identify both areas of best practice and possible savings."
In November 2017, reports signalled that the Roundhouse Rising concert series would partner with 1Xtra. As part of the change, the BBC curated a free grime night in the venue's Sackler Space.{{Cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/live/read/roundhouse-rising-partners-with-1xtra/070446|title=Roundhouse Rising partners with 1Xtra|access-date=10 November 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114440/http://www.musicweek.com/live/read/roundhouse-rising-partners-with-1xtra/070446|archive-date=10 November 2017|url-status=live}}
Audience profile
BBC Radio 1Xtra's typical audience is between fifteen and thirty years old.{{cite web|title=Submission for the Secretary of State's review of the BBC's new digital radio services|date=March 2004|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/pdf/dig_rev_1xtra.htm |access-date=21 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050321174427/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/pdf/dig_rev_1xtra.htm |archive-date=21 March 2005 }}
According to the "Submission to the Secretary of State's review of digital channels" in March 2004, Radio 1Xtra "provides music output 24 hours a day, punctuated by bespoke BBC news bulletins and other speech output designed specifically to be pertinent to the audience."
Notable presenters
=Current notable presenters=
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Kenny Allstar
- Benji B
- Nick Bright
- Tiffany Calver
- Eddie Kadi
- Nadia Jae
- Trevor Nelson
- David Rodigan
- Snoochie Shy
- Sir Spyro
- DJ Target
- Heartless Crew
- Remi Burgz
{{div col end}}
Weekday evening shows began with MistaJam helming a three-hour multi-genre show, followed by six hours of specialist output tailored to a particular genre (e.g. UK Garage, dancehall, etc.) Between October 2009 and spring 2010, the 4{{nbsp}}am{{snd}}6{{nbsp}}am slot housed a replay of selected weekend specialist programming; this and the one-hour Morning Mix programme were dropped in spring 2010 and a new six-days-a-week 'early breakfast' show (4{{nbsp}}am{{snd}}7{{nbsp}}am) hosted by Nick Bright was introduced. (The Saturday 4{{nbsp}}am replay of Target's Friday night show was also axed, to make room for Bright's sixth show) This has now itself been replaced by a rerun of the previous week's overnight mix show from 4{{nbsp}}am to 6{{nbsp}}am, giving nine hours of specialist output.
Weekday overnights (1{{nbsp}}am{{snd}}3{{nbsp}}am), Saturday overnights (1{{nbsp}}am{{snd}}4{{nbsp}}am) and Saturday evenings (7{{nbsp}}pm{{snd}}1{{nbsp}}am) are now simulcast entirely with Radio 1 - this allows Radio 1's flagship urban content to air on 1Xtra.
=Former notable presenters=
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
- A. Dot
- Clara Amfo
- Adele Roberts
- Sarah-Jane Crawford
- Gemma Cairney
- Reggie Yates
- Ronnie Herel
- DJ Cameo
- DJ Diggz
- Devin Griffin
- Kelly Rowland
- Ms. Dynamite
- Zena McNally
- Tim Westwood
- Crissy Criss
- DJ Blakey
- Matthew Xia
- DJ Q
- Rodney P
- DJ Skitz
- Ras Kwame
- Robbo Ranx
- Friction
- Panjabi Hit Squad
- Semtex
- Charlie Sloth
- MistaJam
- Toddla T
- Diplo
- René LaVice
- Annie Nightingale
- Yasmin Evans
- Cuppy
- Lady Leshurr
{{div col end}}
Logo history
File:BBC Radio 1Xtra launch logo.svg|BBC Radio 1Xtra logo from its 2002 launch until 2007, known as "BBC 1Xtra".
File:Logo BBC Radio 1Xtra.svg|BBC Radio 1Xtra logo from 2007 to 2010.
File:BBC Radio 1Xtra Logo (2010-present).png|BBC Radio 1Xtra logo from 2010 to 2022.
File:BBC Radio 1Xtra 2021.svg|BBC Radio 1Xtra logo since 2022.
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/pdf/dig_rev_1xtra.htm |title=BBC 1Xtra |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225092921/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/pdf/dig_rev_1xtra.htm |archive-date=25 February 2007 |url-status=live }}
- {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3144799.stm|title= BBC NEWS - Entertainment - TV and Radio - 1Xtra celebrates birthday presence |access-date=5 April 2007 | date=16 August 2003|work=BBC News|first=Ian|last=Youngs}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra}}
{{BBC Radio 1Xtra}}
{{BBC Radio}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|radio}}
{{Freeview}}
{{Portal bar|BBC|Radio}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bbc Radio 1xtra}}
Category:Urban contemporary radio stations
Category:Radio stations established in 2002
Category:2002 establishments in the United Kingdom