Category: Website Updates

Local Radio Day – 12th October

This Monday (12th October 2020), sees the fifth Local Radio Day, a day which celebrates and promotes genuine local radio. The initiative was first started by the now defunct UKRD Group, and is now led by the Local Radio Alliance.

Various community stations are taking part, along with BBC Local Radio, and some independent commercial stations. Additionally, the Community Media Association, Community Radio Awards, and The Radio Academy are supporting the initiative.

The event normally takes place in May, but has been delayed this year by the Covid-19 pandemic.

More details can found on the Local Radio Day website at www.localradioday.co.uk

Launch Dates for New Community Stations

As previously reported, Caroline Community Radio (not to be confused with similarly named Radio Caroline) is testing on 94.7 FM. The planned launch date has now been established as 19th October 2020. The station will serve Maldon and Burnham-in-Couch in Essex.

Salaam BCR (Bury Community Radio) is set to launch on the 14th October (2020), and is targeting the Muslim community of Bury. The station is broadcasting on AM, so it is likely that there will be over-spill into other areas. It is unclear whether the station is connected to the similarly named Salaam Radio based in Peterborough.

Both stations will be added to the station directory once they are confirmed to have launched.

FM Coverage Extensions

Three community radio stations have extended their coverage areas using FM transmitters.

Bro Radio in Wales has opened a transmitter on 100.2 FM, to serve the Llantwit Major area. I understand they have permission for a further transmitter, but are still fundraising for this.

Devon station Exmouth Air have an additional transmitter, which serves Cranbrook using the 94.6 FM frequency.

Lastly, Oxfordshire station Witney Radio have opened two new transmitters, one serving Eynsham on 105.3 FM, and the other serving Chipping Norton on 107.4 FM.

The Station Directory has been updated to reflect the new transmitters.

New Community Stations Launching Soon

Caroline Community Radio (not to be confused with similarly named Radio Caroline) is testing on 94.7 FM. The station will serve Maldon and Burnham-in-Couch in Essex.

In addition, the following stations are either about to launch, or have already launched:

  • Cross Counties Radio, so serve Lutterworth and Magna Park on 92.0 FM
  • Coast FM, to serve Coleraine on 106.4 FM.

These stations will be listed on the Station Directory once they have launched.

Funding Boost for K107 FM

Kirkcaldy community station K107 FM has received funding from the town’s Common Good Fund.

The station has been awarded £4,400, which will be used to cover some of the costs of renewing equipment and licenses. These are to cost a total of £8,800.

More on this story can be found on Fife Today.

Gateway 97.8 Produces Special Documentary

Gateway 97.8, the community station broadcasting to Basildon and East Thurrock, has produced a documentary to reflect life in the stations coverage area over the past 6 months during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The documentary will air tomorrow (26th August 2020) between 3 pm and 4 pm, and will feature interviews with local people and community groups that were recorded during the lock down period.

Separately, the Gateway 97.8 has distributed free radios to isolating residents over 70. These have the had the stations frequency pre-set, enabling easy access to the station.

Soul Club Moves to Nova Radio North East

Chris Donald is moving his Soul Club from BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio Tees to community station Nova Radio North East.

The was temporarily axed due to the recent virus outbreak, before cuts to BBC local radio made the move permanent.

The show will run from 10pm to 1pm on Fridays, in the same slot it held at the BBC.

Nova Radio North East initially launched online, before merging with NE1 FM to take over the 102.5 FM frequency, which can be heard across West Newcastle and Gateshead. NE1 FM initially launched in 2007.

Kev Lawrence to Joins PCRfm

Kev Lawrence is joining Peterborough Community Radio (PCRfm) to host is its breakfast show, starting on Monday 17th August 2020.

Kev has been heard on various breakfast shows in Peterborough, including Hereward FM, Lite FM, and Heart (Cambridgeshire).

He has most recently spent a year at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, but his contract was not renewed due to cuts made during the recent virus outbreak.

Peterborough Community Radio, known as PCRfm on air, can be heard across Peterborough on 103.2 FM.

Steve Furnell Joins Radio Tyneside

Steve Furnell, one half of the Steve and Karen Breakfast show on Metro Radio, has joined the presenting team at hospital and community station Radio Tyneside.

He will be presenting a new Back to the Nineties music show, airing on Saturday evenings at 8.00pm, starting from this weekend. The show will play music from the 1990s decade, along with stories from the era.

Steve was named patron of Radio Tyneside in August last year (2019), and also provides the voice over for the stations jingles.

Radio Tyneside is available on 93.6 FM across the Newcastle and Gateshead area.