on 29 july 1945, within 12 weeks of ve day, the bbc reactivated the regional programme, but retained the name "bbc home service". on the same date, the bbc light programme was launched, taking over the style and much of the function, as an entertainment channel, of the bbc forces programme (which had begun broadcasting in 1940), as well as the droitwich 200 khz longwave frequency which had been used by the pre-war national programme.