The radio signal-controlled studio clock has been accurate ever since radio began – thanks to the accurate time signal transmitted from Rugby.
But from next year, the signal will be broadcast from Cumbria instead. National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is switching contracts from BT, which owns the Rugby site, to VT Communications.
So next time you give a tour and explain about the studio clock picking up a signal from Rugby – you can now explain that from 2007, the signal, which is accurate to within 1000th of a second of Universal Time, will arrive from Cumbria instead! Users do not need to change anything to keep receiving the signal, which is expected to change in April.