BBC Radio 5 Live frequency & live stream

BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC’s national radio network for live news and sport. Its schedule mixes breaking news, interviews and listener phone-ins with commentary on football, cricket, rugby, tennis and other major sporting events.

History

5 Live launched on 28 March 1994, replacing the earlier BBC Radio 5, which had run since 1990 as a mixed sport and education network. The relaunch created a dedicated rolling news and sport service, partly in response to the BBC’s experience of covering the 1991 Gulf War. In 2011 the station moved from London to MediaCityUK in Salford as part of the BBC’s relocation of departments to the north of England. A sister station, 5 Sports Extra, launched in 2002 to carry additional live sports coverage on digital platforms.

Format and programming

Weekday output is built around live news sequences, with breakfast and drivetime programmes, extended interviews and audience phone-ins that make the station a prominent forum for national debate. Sport dominates evenings and weekends, with Premier League and other football commentaries, coverage of major tournaments, and long-running discussion programmes. The station is also a significant producer of sport and news podcasts distributed through BBC Sounds.

Reach

5 Live broadcasts across the United Kingdom on medium wave frequencies of 693 and 909 kHz and on DAB digital radio, and is available online through BBC Sounds. The BBC began switching off some of 5 Live’s smaller AM transmitters in 2026 as part of a wider move away from AM, so DAB or BBC Sounds is the most future-proof way to listen — see our UK radio frequencies guide. Rights restrictions mean some live sports commentaries are limited to UK listeners.

Significance

As the UK’s principal live news and sport radio network, 5 Live plays a major role in national coverage of breaking stories and sporting occasions. Its phone-in culture helped establish interactive talk as a mainstay of British radio, and its Salford base made it a cornerstone of the BBC’s presence outside London.

Sources

• Official site: https://www.bbc.co.uk/5live
• Radio Browser: https://www.radio-browser.info

BBC Radio 5 Live: frequently asked questions

What frequency is BBC Radio 5 Live on?

BBC Radio 5 Live broadcasts on medium wave (AM), mainly on 693 kHz and 909 kHz, as well as on DAB digital radio and online via BBC Sounds.

Is BBC Radio 5 Live on FM?

No. 5 Live has no FM frequency — its analogue service is AM (medium wave) only. For better sound, listen on DAB or BBC Sounds.

Which country is BBC Radio 5 Live from?

BBC Radio 5 Live is a radio station from the United Kingdom, headquartered in Salford, United Kingdom. It broadcasts in English.

Who owns BBC Radio 5 Live?

BBC Radio 5 Live is owned by BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).

How can I listen to BBC Radio 5 Live online?

You can stream BBC Radio 5 Live live in your browser with the player on this page or on the official website, www.bbc.co.uk/5live — free, with no app or sign-up needed.

Read more about BBC Radio 5 Live

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