9 February – Following the announcement of the death of
Princess Margaret, the younger sister of
Elizabeth II, some radio and television schedules are changed to make room for tribute programmes. Among the tributes paid to her is an edition of The Archers aired on 10 February, a programme on which the Princess made a personal appearance in 1984.[1]
28 February–1 March – The first three community radio stations –
Bradford Community Broadcasting,
Cross Rhythms in Stoke and
Angel Community Radio (
Havant) – start broadcasting as part of a trial of community radio which sees 15 stations go on air during 2002. The trial, under the title of “Access Radio”, saw each station originally licensed for one year. All three stations are still on air today.
March
11 March
BBC 6 Music begins broadcasting as a national digital alternative music station.
TeamTalk 252 closes after four months on air. The 252 kHz
long wave frequency is re-subsumed by Irish broadcaster
RTÉ to provide a version of
RTÉ Radio 1 to the expatriate community in Britain.
27 September –
Les Ross presents his final
BRMB Breakfast show, live from
Birmingham International station. As 9 o'clock approaches, he hops on a train (hauled by electric locomotive
86259 specially named 'Les Ross' by
Virgin Trains West Coast) to symbolise the end. He later preserves this locomotive following its retirement from passenger service.
12 November –
The Radio Authority announces that London station
Liberty Radio has lost its licence to
Club Asia, which has previously been broadcasting for several hours each day on
Spectrum Radio. This is the first time in several years that the incumbent broadcaster's licence has not been renewed. The station has repeatedly only obtained a 0.1% share of listening.
December –
Talksport announces plans for the station's first ever music show. An easy listening music show entitled Champagne & Roses with
Gerald Harper, is broadcast each Saturday evening. The show is axed after less than six months[10]
20 December – Sir
Jimmy Young presents his final lunchtime programme on
BBC Radio 2 after nearly 30 years with the network, and 50 years with the BBC.[11]
^"… Radio 1 denied he has been fired because of falling listener figures, saying his contract is coming to an end."
"DJ Goodier leaves Radio 1". Entertainment News. BBC News. 15 August 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
^"… station bosses want to replace him with someone younger, who will be more in tune with its target audience of 15 to 24-year-olds." Day, Julia (15 August 2002).
"Countdown begins for Goodier's departure". Media Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
^"Mark Goodier is leaving Radio 1's weekly chart show after 15 years because he is considered too old for the job." Gray, Chris (16 August 2002).
"Goodier drops out of the charts". The Independent. Archived from
the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2009.