Britain has one of the world's oldest and most influential radio traditions, from the BBC to the pirate stations of the 1960s and today's community and specialist broadcasters.
Station counts updated September 30, 2026
The British Broadcasting Company began broadcasting in 1922 and became the British Broadcasting Corporation, a public body, in 1927. BBC radio is funded by the licence fee rather than advertising, which is why its stations carry no commercials. Its national networks each have a distinct character:
The BBC also runs local stations across England and national services for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including broadcasting in Welsh and Scottish Gaelic.
In the 1960s the BBC played little pop music, and offshore "pirate" stations broadcasting from ships, such as Radio Caroline (launched in 1964), filled the gap. Their popularity pushed the BBC to launch Radio 1 in 1967. Later, land-based pirate stations in London and other cities were crucial for genres such as jungle, UK garage and grime, which grew up on pirate radio long before mainstream stations played them.
Commercial stations, licensed from the 1970s onwards, now operate as large national brands alongside local stations. Community radio stations serve neighbourhoods and communities — including many that broadcast for particular cultural and language groups — and are a great way to hear the UK's diversity.