BBC Radio Cymru

BBC Radio Cymru is BBC Cymru Wales's Welsh-language radio station, broadcasting throughout Wales from studios in Cardiff, Bangor, Aberystwyth and Carmarthen on FM since 1977. At the time of its launch it was the sole FM-only radio service in the United Kingdom. The station broadcasts for up to 18½ hours a day (5.30am–midnight) and is also available on DAB digital radio, on Freeview within Wales and via satellite TV. Radio Cymru has also been streaming its output on the Internet since January 2005. Between midnight and 5.30am, the Radio Cymru frequencies carry BBC Radio 5 Live programmes.

The station began broadcasting at 6.45am on Monday 3 January 1977 with an extended news bulletin presented by Gwyn Llewellyn and Geraint Jones. Its first programme at 7am was the breakfast magazine show Helo Bobol!, presented by Hywel Gwynfryn with contributions from a network of local reporters in studios across Wales. The first record played on Radio Cymru was Ffrindiau Bore Oes by Hergest.

Radio Cymru was the first dedicated Welsh-language broadcasting outlet, allowing much more airtime for Welsh-language programmes than had previously been available on the old Radio 4 Wales (or the Welsh Home Service prior to 1967). Over the years, it has done much to promote the language, with its sports commentators coining new terms which later became accepted by Welsh linguists.

Radio Cymru is similar in format to many "general" radio stations, with news programmes at breakfast (Post Cyntaf, 'First Post'), lunchtime (Taro'r Post – a debate-centred programme), and drive-time (Post Prynhawn, 'Afternoon Post'); together with presenter-driven sequences mixing music with chat to invited studio guests, calls from listeners, competitions etc. Radio Cymru also produces drama, features, and current affairs, youth, and sports programming. One of its more unusual programmes is Y Talwrn, a poetry competition in which teams must come up with poetry in specific styles on specific topics.