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ENGLAND                                                                                                                                  

BBC LOCAL RADIO:  

BBC RADIO DERBY hit the air officially at 5:50pm on 29th April 1971.  But, two months earlier than planned, finishing touches were being put to the building when the news team had to dash to Rolls Royce when the firm got into difficulties.  A broadcast facility was rapidly set up at the base of a transmitter at Sutton Coldfield to transmit information.  Since the launch, the station has evolved considerably both in studio and transmission form.  However, there were some dark days in 1977 - the station's future as a public service broadcaster was in the balance as the Government considered handing over BBC local radio to commercial sectors - there was understandable protest from listeners and local groups.  Surviving this threat, by its 10th birthday in 1981, the station was ranked second most popular BBC station nationally.  In 1987, a Trent(!) bus was completely covered with a Radio Derby graphic including the logo which then included the ram's head.  See our sticker archive for a picture of the station logo.  Derbyshire was renowned for naff reception in places, most noticeably North Derbyshire.  This led to a new North Derbyshire transmitter at Stanton Moor, switched on in 1988 on 95.3FM.  Most triumphantly in 2000, Radio Derby recorded its largest audience figures ever.

Based on St. Helens Street, just off the Derby ring road, the station has for many years provided unrivalled coverage of Derby County Football Club - something that cannot be echoed by 106 Century FM due to its regional size.  It was only rivalled for a short time by the now defunct Derby County's SKY DIGITAL based radio station, RAMPAGE (see below in our DIGITAL section)  Radio Derby hosts an annual charity fundraising weekend on-air auction, 'The Money Mountain', which often requires the siting of a marquee in the station car park.  Managed up until the early 1990s by Alex Trelinski, there was once a greater amount of local output on the station.  Regional management demands following Alex's departure were met by new management and this resulted in taking Nottingham's 'Beat On The Beeb' service on Saturdays, and similar networking on a Sunday evening.  Saturday nights previously ran to 1:00am featuring (firstly) David Harvey, (then) David Halls, and finally Devon Daley from 7:00-10:00 with the Dance Music Show, The Saturday Night Dance Party/Saturday Sort-Out, and this was followed by Tom Price and guests until 1:00am.  Following the evening networking, Devon has maintained his MOBO programme on a Sunday night.  Later moves also led to the end of Ashley Franklin's popular 'Soundscapes' programme and ultimately, Ashley's work at Radio Derby.  Other presenters of note are John Stiles (who officially launched the station), Graham Knight, Mark Sheldon, Terry Christian (ex-Channel 4 show 'The Word' and more recently on networked shows for Century FM), and long standing presenters who remain today, Chris Baird and Paul McKenzieBBC Radio Derby has used ex-hospital radio staff too.  Namely, Julia May-brown, David Rider, Nigel Cash and Andy Potter.  I also worked for David Halls and Devon Daley's Saturday night programming for two and half years until networking from Nottingham took over.   After a period in the wilderness, Alex Trelinski did some work for Radio Five Live, then for BBC Radio Nottingham but he is now the presenter of the regional networked evening show he inherited from John Taynton.  Both West and East Midlands BBC stations now have their own night time show but this previously used to be combined from BBC Pebble Mill Birmingham studios and presented by Alex until comparatively recently - he now presents the East Midlands evening service.  Radio Derby broadcasts on 104.5, 95.3 & 96FM & on 1116kHz AM/MW to Derbyshire & East Staffordshire        www.bbc.co.uk/england/radioderby 

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BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD commenced its service on 15th November 1967, but has evolved a great deal since then.  It is designed to serve South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire and the major areas of the two counties.  Satellite studios are based in Barnsley, Rotherham, Chesterfield, Doncaster and Worksop.  Actual station history is difficult to track, but the current programming speaks volumes anyway.  As with standard BBC stations, the public have ample time to discuss a point, or make enquiries for information from studio guests.  Live commentary comes from local sporting events, also as you would expect and entertainment once came from the legendary Tony Capstick and his team every weekday morning from 9:00am.  Programming includes elements for the ethnic communities, plus jazz, folk, country and Indie specialist music programming and a religious perspective every Sunday morning too.  It broadcasts from new premises at 54 Shoreham Street in Sheffield, on 94.1FM from the Holme Moss transmitter, 88.6 for for Sheffield from Crosspool's transmitter, 94.7FM for Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, and on AM 1035 from Broadfield Road in Sheffield.  Presenters to have graced the airwaves of this BBC station include none other than ex-Blue Peter presenter and Derbyshire peak resident Simon Groom. www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiosheffield.

COMMERCIAL:    LOCAL

RADIO TRENT 945 / TRENT FM / THE RAM / RAM FM: Commercial radio activity started in the early 1970s, London's LBC, Birmingham's BRMB, and nearby Nottingham's Radio Trent amongst the first on-air.  Derbyshire was a wasteland as far as commercial radio was concerned, with those lucky enough to live in the northern part of the county able to pick up Sheffield's Radio Hallam as early as 01/10/1974.

The first commercial radio station for Derby didn't appear until the late 1980s, and was targeted at the BBC's audience of Derbyshire and East Staffordshire - not surprisingly, the station was operated by Radio Trent from Nottingham.  But rather than call it Derwent FM/Sound in line with the local river passing through the area as with Nottingham's station name, Derby's ILR commercial radio station was called Radio Trent 945.  This being due to simulcasting on both FM and AM, AM being 945kHz MW.

The early part of 1987 saw test transmissions begin with familiar names from Nottingham such as Steve Merike, David Lloyd, Andy Miller, Brian Tansley and more presenting the vocal links and station promotion amongst a recognisable Trent music mix.

The morning of Tuesday 3rd March 1987 saw test transmissions replaced by the occasional bleep to remind the transmitter not to switch itself off.  At 6:00am, Andy Marriott announced the arrival of the station and handed over to a recording of the official opening announcement by his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, who stated how marvellous it was that Radio Trent was extending into Derbyshire and remarked: "Would it be rude of me to say, high time too? .." Giggles then faded into the launch montage led by David LloydAnd so the station began.  Interesting fact - Derby Market Place studios of Radio Trent 945 had blinds in the window and, on good authority, we've been told that these were down and closed on the morning of the launch.  This is because Andy Marriott was actually in Nottingham's Radio Trent Castle Gate studios!  The launch of the station resulted in a whole mass of personnel departing the local hospital station, Radio Link, including Richard (Dick) Stone, Colin Woolley, Mark Burrows and Gary Burton, and latterly James Daniels and Adrian Eyre.  The station also spawned the local broadcasting careers of Ian Chilvers (Century 106 & Trax), Tony Horder (Trax), Danny White (Centre FM) as well as to my own albeit lesser extent.  Some of the names you see here are not as they were originally written on their birth certificates with birth names not deemed 'radio names'!

The station saw some considerable changes, most noticeably the FM/AM split dictated by the IBA which led to the creation of one of the best, if not the best GOLD radio stations.  Not surprising then that it was done by Radio Trent, by this stage part of Midlands Radio plc, the station, which occupied the Nottingham 999, Derbyshire 945 AM and Leicester 1260 AM frequencies was GEM AM which launched on 04/10/88

Radio Trent became Trent FM at this time, but albeit with a few presenter changes, standards remained, Danny Cox and Andy Miller staying on FM, Andy Marriott moving to GEM along with John Peters, Brian Tansley, and Steve MerikeTrent FM Derby reached its fifth birthday but not much further than that in comparative terms.  By the end of February 1994, Midlands Radio plc had been taken over by the then little known GWR Group plc - who hailed from Bristol.  Trent FM Derby had long been partially coming from Nottingham for some time, but because the quality of the service was good, this was accepted, but gave GWR an excuse for a relaunch with a new name for a station 'just for the Derby area.'   This didn't really exist anyway due to networking on both FM and AM services by GWR.

By what would have been Trent's 7th birthday, (March 1994), almost to the day, the last Trent new jingle had been heard one early breakfast late February, news bulletins remained first voiced by Anne-Marie Minhall (now at Classic FM), (although the existing news team didn't stay around for long after rebranding), test transmissions promised we were getting a radio station WE wanted and featuring music that WE had said we wanted to hear, and 102.8 THE RAM was announced.  Gone were the JAM jingles, gone were the familiar presenters personalities, and in their place, liner cards - lots of them and often.  And so on 04/03/94, DLT launched 102.8 THE RAM (subsequently dropped in favour of) / RAM FM and the show presented by James 'Derby' Daniels, stating the station management were claiming a new world record for the fastest launch of a radio station.  Odd really for saying the studio and offices were already there, and the transmissions had never stopped on the 102.8 frequency.  No more was said of the claim afterwards.  Early music played sounded distinctly adult contemporary - Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Simple Red, Simple Minds, Talk Talk, described as artists who formed 'today's better music mix' and so we were encouraged to 'make the switch'   Considering that lots hadn't been anywhere in the first place and were simply waiting for this new all-singing all-dancing station 'just for the Derby area', this did seem a little odd.  Around again came the same artists.... and again... and again... and again...and...

Over recent years, the station music policy has evolved to a distinctly younger feel - however the repetition and liner cards remain.  As I chose to take a dislike to the new service after launch, having given it reasonable time to appeal I might add,  I must admit I have rarely sampled it since, unless by force in a restaurant, on a bus, a shop or someone else's car, unless I felt I ought to give it another chance or as 'site research'.  Perhaps I'm just getting old!  However, the content I have heard has not forced me to tune away from other more attractive local and regional radio services - irrespective of the 80s,90s, NOW policy which seems to be adopted by virtually all the local commercial stations in the area.  

The original station logo of the RAM's head (representing Derby, i.e. it was local) was latterly replaced by non-descript orange swirly lettering on a black background, and then with the standard GWR 'flare' logo as seen today on all station stickers in the group, intended to indicate they were part of 'THE MIX' network, but, probably not an intention, also blatantly showing a lack of local identity.  The 'today's better music mix' tag line has recently been scrapped but replaced by the similar 'today's best mix'.

After many years underneath the Assembly Rooms in Derby Market Place, RAM-FM and the Derby based offices of both RAM and GEM are now just around the corner in Iron Gate - easy to miss by all accounts - there is not believed to be a reception for the public to access.  The old premises dating back to Radio Trent 945's launch are now a Derbyshire Constabulary Police office.  More recently, further efforts to eradicate the apparent nature of the station premises, came when sheets of black tape were put over the signs at the doorway, although this co-incided with a break-in at the Drum Hill transmission site and the burglary of the transmitter one night in 2004.  

GEM-AM/CLASSIC GOLD 'DIGITAL' GEM: Chris Hughes became Programme Controller at Radio Trent in July 1980, then took on a similar position at sister station Leicester Sound, then Radio Trent 945 in Derbyshire.  Upon the launch of GEM AM on 4th October 1988, he would be overseeing 76 hours of local programming and 55 news bulletins amongst them.  In a final interview with John Shaw on Radio Trent's final 'Conversations' programme, when asked by John what the 'sudden commercial expansion of ILR was about', i.e. the end of simulcasting, Chris said that the 'Government said we could do it'.  In the previous three years, approximately six areas of the country trialled a split frequency format - Leicestershire carried Leicester Sound on FM and the Asian service Sabras on 1260kHz as part of the trial.  A subsequent Government Green paper said it would be unreasonable to 'waste' spectrum space by simulcasting so stations could either have an FM or an AM service.  Therefore to beat this new legislation, it was a case of 'use it or lose it' and so Trent (Midlands Radio plc) created GEM-AM, (Great East Midlands-AM) which turned out to be one of, if not the best UK GOLD radio station.  It launched on 945, 999 & 1260 kHz, at 12:00noon by paying a possible homage to the offshore stations that had built a long standing reputation for GOLD radio - John Peters played The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love'.   With John's fondness for offshore radio, this could be nothing else.  

Here's the opening schedule for GEM-AM.

MONDAY - FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

And so, GEM-AM became the great GOLD station for the three counties.  In 1992, a decision was taken to remove GEM completely from the 1260 AM frequency and replace it with 24-hour Asian programming - effective from 14th September of that year.  It was perhaps felt that Leicestershire would be covered quite adequately by the other frequencies.   No real damage done then....

Midlands Radio plc, also the home to BRMB, Beacon, Mercia & Xtra-AM, and Trent-FM 102.8 was purchased by a company called GWR in 1993  - this put a dread fear through everyone as the GWR company had already gained a reputation for taking over stations and wielding various sizes of axe upon doing so - networking their own Classic Gold service on AM from Swindon.  GWR didn't dare touch GEM - at least not straightaway.  Evenn in 1994, GEM continued live and local 24 hours a day much to the temporary relief of local interested parties.  

But the cloud of networking hung heavy throughout that time and in 1997, a decision was taken to network Tony Lyman across the Classic Gold network encapsulating the Midlands and the Home Counties - GEM was sneaked onto the end of the Classic Gold name to form Classic Gold GEM.   Once the rather clever covert methods of networking had been started, it could only go to its full anticipated state.  Today's extent is one of minimalistic localness - i.e. four hours weekdays 14:00-18:00 which, until his move to SAGA was presented by John Peters, who himself had been freelancing all over the place in between times.  And, safety wins at all costs, with the usual replicated worn set of safe oldies featuring - with all the other greats cast into oblivion, probably never to be heard again.  

Radio Authority ownership restrictions hit the intentions of GWR group in a way they didn't like - as they continued to buy up stations, they were told to offload stations - GWR retained FM stations and offloaded AM.  Relieved, previously aggravated fans and listeners to the old GEM rejoiced.  But there is some bad news for this good news.  GWR sold Classic Gold to UBC, United Broadcasting - on the understanding that GWR can buy the stations back again when ownership rules are relaxed.  

It took a considerable amount of time for GWR to pluck up enough courage to even breathe on GEM let alone touch it.  It was though thought inevitable as the CLASSIC GOLD brand was rolled out on all acquired station AM networks.  945 for Derbyshire and 999 for Nottingham continue as GEM however, albeit confusingly as CLASSIC GOLD GEM when minimalistic programming is broadcast locally and as CLASSIC GOLD at all other times.  You're more likely to hear less 50s, more 80s and contemporary 90s.  60s tracks are the usual tired safe ones which do nothing but exaggerate the quality of the broadcasts of GEM long gone.  Continuing in name only partially, GEM is a shadow of what it was.  One thing that remained for some time in various guises was the semi circle logo, which harks back to Midlands Radio plc ownership - but the black and gold CLASSIC GOLD logo has now been adapted.  The other AM frequency of 1260kHz for Leicestershire has been operated by SABRAS SOUND for the Asian population of the region for some time now.  It was felt 945 & 999 would cover Leicestershire adequately perhaps.  All localised GEM programming comes from Nottingham's Castle Gate studios.   www.classicgolddigital.com 

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HIGH PEAK RADIO: The Radio Authority advertised a new 8 year Independent Local Radio licence for the town of Buxton and other parts of the High Peak district, in Derbyshire on 24th December 2002.  Applicants could choose to apply for a licence to broadcast either on the FM (VHF) waveband or the AM (medium wave) band, but not both, with only a single licence up for grabs on whichever waveband the successful applicant prefers.  The closing date for applying for this eight year licence was Tuesday 8th April 2003.  A non-refundable application fee of £1,500 for an FM licence, or £1,000 for an AM licence, was required for each application submitted.  The date of award was Thursday 10th July 2003.  First to break the story were rival but unsuccessful bidders, Temple FM on their website, offering congratulations to the Jenner brothers, and High Peak Radio who were awarded the licence.

High Peak Radio Ltd proposed a vibrant local radio voice for Buxton, Glossop, New Mills, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Whaley Bridge and the rural High Peak, featuring great music and a full service of local news and information.  Previously known as Radio Buxton, they operated four locally based RSLs in May 1999, November 1999, May 2000 and May 2001 using 106.2 & 106.3.  They were the first and last group to stage such broadcasts in the target area.  The directors of the station are the locally known Jenner brothers Paul & Steve, who have history in local RSLs & licence bids in the Peak area (Chesterfield & Buxton).  The Chairman of the group is local businessman Clive Beattie.  There are no known details about any substantial backing from other radio groups or parties.

The RA noted the significant number of applications, especially when considering the small population of the area and the likely difficulties in providing adequate reception over the particularly hilly terrain but said that the decision was finely judged between the strongest of the candidates.  

The members of the deciding RA panel noted High Peak Radio's local roots, the levels of awareness generated by its five local trial broadcasts, the involvement of members of the board in starting up small-scale stations, the good relationships held with many local station advertisers, many of whom had written endorsements for the station bid, and support as shown with similar endorsements and petitions from members of the public, local bodies and community groups.  The successful bidder's business plan was deemed to be realistic, containing reasonable audience forecasts and prudent local revenue estimates. 

Officially, High Peak Radio provides a full service local radio station, primarily targeting 25-54 year olds.  Speech content will comprise 20-35% of the output during weekday daytimes, 15-30% on Saturdays and 10-25% on Sundays.  The group has committed to the provision of eight locally-orientated speech features which will include a weekday mid-afternoon 'News Focus', a local expert slot, community group appeals, and an item on outdoor pursuits and activities in the Peak District National Park scheduled at breakfast time at the weekends.  The news bulletins will include two minutes of local news during weekday peak times.  The music output will consist of hits from the last four decades.  The RA Members accepted the fact that the station would rely heavily on automated output. 

A launch of a new radio station is usually a high-level one.  Early indications suggested a March/April 2004 launch.  Christmas 2003 saw a set back when planning permission for four transmitters was rejected due to objections by residents, even though some of them would be station listeners.  A case of 'not in my back' then!  Due to the new broadcast area and the rough and hilly terrain, the transmitter network was set up from scratch.  With the transmitter network an ongoing thorn in the side, a provisional launch date was set for Sunday 21st March, but this is believed to be when tests first commenced.  Testing is reported to have been provided through the use of a CD on continuous play and the odd drop out caused by engineering work.  Such a small amount of testing was caused by locally unsurprising weather conditions, in this case, prolonged periods of 90mph winds which slowed down the installation of the transmitter network on already hilly terrain.  A more permanent and full station launch date of Sunday April 4th 2004 was then announced.  Studio installation work was completed just days before the go-live with engineering done by Paul Taylor of MaxFM Broadcast.  The launch of High Peak Radio was promoted via a large ad in the local press which confirmed what had previously been a largely unconfirmed launch date.  

The station broadcasts on two frequencies using four transmitters - 103.3 (at Buxworth - 0.17kw broadcasting south-easterly) for the Whaley Bridge area, 103.3 (at Hope Valley - 0.1kw - broadcasting easterly) for Castleton and surrounding areas, 106.4 (0.25kw) from and for Glossop, broadcasting easterly, 106.4 (0.25kw) from and for Buxton, also easterly, and a small 106.6 0.07kw transmitter operating to fill in the valley of Chapel En Le Frith, pointing away from the output of East Midlands Regional station, SAGA 106.6FM (see below).  All transmitters operate directionally, i.e. to prevent overspill of output into outlying and neighbouring areas.  

Studios are located in Chapel en le Frith.  Early indications suggested that programmes would include Sunday 60s and 70s shows, presented by Wayne Fontana (The Mindbenders) and Hollies star Eric Haydock, respectively.   Station website: www.highpeakradio.co.uk 

A total of five groups formally applied for the new radio licence. Four went for FM, one for AM.  Here are the other four unsuccessful applicants.  

For FM, the bids were from:
The Edge Ltd: Proposing the first truly local radio service for the High Peak with a clear focus on local news, sport and information, playing the best of today's music and popular songs from the last 40 years.  The application was led by Wayne Chadwick, who, as Grand Central Broadcasting, entered the bidding for the Chesterfield SALLIE at the death, without carrying out any RSLs and won the licence as Peak 107.  This was later sold to Forever Broadcasting.  Backing for The Edge came from The Wireless Group - a fact reflected by a member of the board.  The bid website (no longer operational) at www.fmtheedge.com - on quality of websites alone, was thee winner!   A locally based Special Event Millennium RSL was staged from 13th December 1999 - one of only approximately 25 to be licenced.  The brand name has been previously linked with Huddersfield (February 2000) and Edgware - London (November 1997).  The station name is only known to be a brand rather than having any specific local relevance.  

Spring FM Ltd: Proposing a unique radio service for all age groups, with the emphasis being on providing a diverse range of music from the last six decades, complemented by devoted local news, issues and event coverage.  Spring FM was proposed by The Vale of Belvoir Community Radio Association, the group behind TWC-FM, also known as Melton FM over in Leicestershire.  Cliff Sanderson was the man at the helm of the group and its Buxton application.  Also on the board of directors was Dave Lee Travis & Crossroads and ex-Coronation Street actress Sherrie Hewson who offered their services for free until the group was profitable.  Bid website at www.springfm.co.uk.  There are no records of any locally based RSL broadcasts.  The name is synonymous with the area and its abundance of natural spring water.  

Temple FM (The Radio Game Ltd): Proposing a real local radio for Buxton and the High Peak District, with a total focus on the local community and programmes from and for this wonderful area: music from the 1950s to the present day, local news, travel and details of charity/community events 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  A known name behind this bid is Kenni James, ex Forward Media Group Chief Executive
who left the group suddenly in September 2001, having only taken over from Bill Johnston in May of the previous year.  Kenni's experience goes back to his BBC roots in 1980, commercial radio from 1987 with the likes of Red Rose Radio, Radio City, The Bay, and Belfast CityBeat.  Also with him was Chris Hornby, who has worked on the same commercial stations, plus Southport's Dune FM.  The station name is taken from the local heritage site 'Solomon's Temple' which was created in the 1800s to provide work for local people.

And the one AM licence application:
PKM (Peak AM Ltd): Proposing a mature and stimulating radio service for an adult audience aged 25-55.  AIRCHECK's early impressions were that this was a bid by Forever Broadcasting, who, at the time, already operated Peak 107 in the Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire area.  This was partially based on the trading name of Peak AM Ltd.  The Chesterfield FM licence was originally won by Wayne Chadwick's Grand Central Broadcasting but was later bought out by Forever.  However, we located the bid website/page at www.peakradio.co.uk which diverted to the actual page of www.powerstation.demon.co.uk/Peakradio1.htm.  This showed the on-air name of PKM - quite obviously an attempt to avoid legal proceedings by Forever Broadcasting should they have won the licence avoiding the use of 'Peak AM'.  They claimed to be the first group to ask the Radio Authority for a licence to broadcast to the Peak district as far back as 1990, and suggested that it was through constant pressure that a licence was offered.  PKM showed a logo of three green letters spelling out the name, and 'Radio For The Peaks on 1521AM'  as a logo with a two sided box around the top and left of it.  Names behind the bid were Alistair Bates & Graham Symonds.  

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PEAK 107:  A request for a commercial radio station for the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire area was put in to what was then the IBA as early as the mid 1980s.  Repeated requests, from a local and prominent journalist, were refused, with the IBA believed to cite that locals had Radio Sheffield and Hallam-FM.  But this wasn't for Chesterfield itself.  In 1996, more than 10 years since the campaign began, Chesterfield was finally put on the working list and a SALLIE (small scale alternative local licence) was advertised by the Radio Authority in the August of the following year.  TRUST-FM was the first station to break the local radio silence, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of Hady/Chesterfield Hospital Radio to broadcast in 1996, backed by other radio group professionals, local businessman Norton Lea, then chairman of Chesterfield Football Club and a team of other local prominent business people and individuals.  Full commentary on Chesterfield FC's games featured for the first time on local radio.  Second on-air with an RSL was FIRST-FM, backed by SPIRE FM from Salisbury, a town also known for their prominent church spire.  Both groups applied for the licence, but close to the deadline for receipt of applications, a third bidder applied - Grand Central Broadcasting Limited, broadcasting as PEAK 107.  Despite other groups operating local RSLs and doing heavy campaigning and publicity in and around Chesterfield, and that no trial broadcasts had stemmed from PEAK 107, the licence was awarded to them in May 1998.  But the licence award needed some confirming by the Radio Authority.  Anonymous allegations were made to the RA about information contained in Peak 107's application.  RA members met on July 2nd of that year to consider the content of the allegations submitted, but concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the Authority had been materially or intentionally misled.  The licence was therefore confirmed as awarded to Peak 107 at the same meeting.  The station commenced broadcasting on 07/10/1998.  

Ex-Trent presenter Mark Burrows took control of breakfast on the station and there was even weekend presentation work done by the bloke who used to play Andy McDonald in Coronation Street, Nick Cochrane.  More recently, Mark moved to Lincs FM group stations nearby, and now to SAGA 106.6, and on 29th June 2001, Grand Central Broadcasting Limited & Peak 107 was bought out by Forever Broadcasting Ltd, who brought in Sean Goldsmith (ex Centre-FM (Tamworth, Lichfield & Burton) and Century 106) and Diana Luke.  Also more recently on the broadcast staff was Tim Disney, station programme controller, who established himself in the region at Nottingham & Derby's Trent-FM and Pete Allen, who has now moved back to Derby's RAM-FM.  Peak's current broadcast licence doesn't expire until 6th October 2006. 

In 2005, Forever Broadcasting Ltd was acquired by Ulster Television (UTV).  A full update on this acquisition will follow ASAP.  In the meantime, please see www.utvplc.com

www.peak107.com 

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MAGIC 990 / 1548 / 1305 is another part of the EMAP MAGIC network with this part having studios at Radio House, 900 Herries Road, Sheffield - to serve South Yorkshire and the North Midlands.  In particular, the service covers major towns of Doncaster, Rotherham, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Worksop and parts of the Peak District National Park.  

The MAGIC brand stations play quality, laid back songs 24 hours a day to their respective areas, and is aimed to be the ideal choice of listening when its time to unwind.  Only well known songs from big names are played with a mix both older and newer songs.  Chat is kept to a minimum, however, international, national and local news and sport is aired at the times expected.  In a survey carried out independently, it was found that 7 out of 10 new MAGIC listeners quickly made the station their first choice when turning the radio on - and this matches the station aims - i.e. to be personal to listeners.   www.magicam.co.uk / www.magicradio.co.uk 

COMMERCIAL:    REGIONAL

   

Radio 106FM/ CENTURY 106 / 106 CENTURY FM / HEART 106: The man deemed to be at the helm of Midlands Radio plc until its takeover by GWR was a Mr. Ron Coles.  Having relinquished control to GWR, he was probably well delighted to be at the helm of the new and first East Midlands (Notts/Derbys/Leics) regional licence.  Backed by Border Radio Holdings (BRH) based in Cumbria and part of Border TV, Radio 106 ran simple test transmissions of adult contemporary music interspersed with simple announcements about the station's programming.  On board was Ron's Trent colleague, Mr. Sport, Tony Delahunty who, for station launch was in Valderama in Spain, watching local golfer Lee Westwood in action for Radio 106.

                                                                           

Ken Warburton at Radio 106                                                                        Ron Coles at Radio 106

On 23/09/1997, Radio 106 was launched at 6:00am by Dickie Dodd with later programming from Kevin Fernihough on the morning show and Ken Warburton on afternoons.  As Border further established its Century brand, this led to a rebranding of Radio 106, which was perhaps, in hindsight going to be inevitable anyway.  Out went Ron who, my memory tells me, couldn't bare the pending changes, and in came John Myers. (Ron then took control of the radio division of SAGA plc, who were planning some moves into the radio licence sector).  Hiring and firing seemed the norm and the obligatory changing of personnel took place.  Names such as Mark Keen, Gordon Astley, Adrian Allen & Ian Skye all passed through the 'revolving doors'.

One person who did come in the doors of note, and then fresh from the Radio Authority was a Mr. David Lloyd.  Having spent a considerable time at Radio Trent, then Lincs FM in Lincolnshire, and in other radio areas including Classic FM, and then the Authority itself, David's arrival at what was then Century 106 saw what was almost a hark back to the Radio Trent days with David himself taking up some air time, the arrival to on-air programming of ex-Derby hospital radio presenter Ian Chilvers, who had then been working in the background at Century as a producer, assistant programme controller to David, and formerly as travel presenter in the Radio 106 days as 'Jimmy Jams'(!) (after a Lincs-FM group stay at Compass FM, he's now returned to Nottingham as producer for John Peters, swing presenter and co-ordinator of station branding at SAGA 106.6FM), the brief appearance of Radio Derby sport reporter, Nigel Cash, along with Ian, also an ex-Radio Link (hospital radio) member, Colin Woolley and Tony Lyman and John Peters to daytime programming, and, the return to radio of Andy Marriott, continuity announcer for Central/Carlton TV, (who at that stage was not working on radio) who brought with him his ex-GEM-AM programme 'The Andy Marriott Television Show' to Sunday evenings.  David also brought in Steve Jordan, ex-Lincs FM colleague, to afternoons and latterly, before Graham Mack, and after Sean Goldsmith, breakfast.  Programming echoed the Trent feel, which no doubt was of huge appeal to the population of the counties it served.  David is no longer associated with Century again, but does still have a firm footing in the radio business, mostly advisory once more at Galaxy 105, but joined SAGA 106.6 FM in February 2003 to present a Sunday request show across the East Midlands.  

Big groups are normally taken over by bigger groups, and following negotiations, Century 106 became property of Capital Radio plc.  This led to a slight rebranding to 106 Century FM, scrapping of sung jingles, a clear out of presenters, most of the above either leaving or getting the push in some way, copious amounts of SPORT and phone-ins, fronted by ex-Trent news reader and sports reporter Darren Fletcher and a more Capital styled music mix.  Although maintaining its older target audience, the music mix is generally more targeted that it has ever been with regulars like TEXAS, TRAVIS, STEREOPHONICS, et al doing the rounds (and arounds).  To their credit though, weekends break the mould with each Saturday and Sunday currently being 80's themed.  Capital GOLD presenters Mike Sweeney and Noddy Holder have also appeared with relevant sixties and seventies programming, although this has been dumbed down or scrapped over more recent months.  Other presenters have included Stuart Ellis, ex Heart FM 100.7 Breakfast & BRMB.  Century 106's final licence in name expired 22nd September 2005.  

In late 2005, Capital Radio plc and GWR merged to form GCap Media.  Terms of the merger required 106 Century FM to be sold - it had long been rumoured that a Heart station was likely for the area, so it came as no surprise when the brand's owner - Chrysalis, purchased the East Midlands regional station and rebranded it as Heart 106.  A full profile on the acquisition will follow here in due course.

www.century106.com / www.heart106.com

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SAGA 106.6FM (101.4 Derby): When tests began on Tuesday 28th February 2003 (30th for 101.4 Derby) - a 'who's who' of local radio gradually appeared with the airing of pre-recorded test announcements - John Peters & David Hamilton started things off, later being joined by Tony Lyman, David Lloyd, Paul Robey, Erica Hughes and night-time presenter Tim Gough.  A sizeable playlist was aired with only long term listeners hearing a repeat of some tunes - with a music mix which combined Radio 2 and the classic days of East Midlands great gold station GEM-AM.  Sunday 2nd February 2003 also saw the use of the first SAGA 106.6 jingles.  Cheekily, the tests continued to trail the station as serving '...the Great East Midlands...' -  undoubtedly a 'ha-ha we're back' sideswipe at the dumbing down of local radio and the downsizing of GEM-AM

Summarising the tests, Day 2 saw a short period off air for approximately 90 minutes with tests heard returning at 4:30 in the afternoon.  Other intermittent drop outs of sound were heard although less and less over the last few days of tests.  These then, were truly tests in every sense.   Other interesting facts, include the referral to Lincolnshire as being served, along with the other three inland East Mids counties, Notts, Derbys & Leics - Lincs doesn't get a mention by the other regional, 106 Century FM.   More recent tests have included programme trailers.  Prior to launch, perhaps a negative side is that there were seemingly no large adverts being carried on lorries - no billboards spotted - no leaflets through doors, but Derby's Evening Telegraph Entertainment supplement on Friday 7th featured an interview and photographs with David Hamilton.  Some locals who have previously made contact with SAGA in any guise, received a small magazine featuring articles and schedules. It confirmed, after recent omissions from the test announcements, the appearance of Andy Marriott, with 'Pure Nostalgia' on a Sunday - this is already aired by Andy on the West Midlands sister station so we assume that this is networked on both stations.  Diana Luke e-mailed confirmation to us here at AIRCHECK that she would be presenting a weekend JAZZ show on SAGA 106.6 whilst maintaining a weekday show on Peak 107 (Chesterfield) and also at weekends on Yorkshire's Real Radio.

Overnight presenter, Mike Wyer started his first shift warming up for launch, providing regular live test announcements, counting down to the launch throughout the night - and at 7:00am, John Peters burst onto the air, clearly excited with what lay ahead.  Its the third time he has launched a local station in what was then 28 years of broadcasting locally - the original Radio Trent 301 in 1975 and GEM-AM in 1988.  Airing a re-sung Radio London jingle, (of which the style would be familiar, with John being a fan and having worked on recent Big L broadcasts), he announced that SAGA was 'about to take off' - the first songs aired were Frank Sinatra's 'Come Fly With Me'  and The Carpenters' 'We've Only Just Begun', with other songs from The Beatles, The Seekers and Abba following.  It seems SAGA have done what Radio 106 / Century didn't/doesn't  - and that's to show clear evidence of being interested in its different counties and their audience - it was very quickly evidently involved with all local papers in each county - evident from the pre-launch magazine and by John on-air - there was also interactivity by mentioning the many e-mails and letters received and a request.  The 'Great East Midlands' theme has continued, along with a constant, occasional although tricky reference to the Derby transmitter on 101.4 despite the station being on 106.6 in the main.  The first advertiser/sponsor to appear came with the first travel bulletin, British Airways, closely followed by the first commercial proper - again a National advertiser - Sainsburys.  At 7:25, £500 was up for grabs on the Mystery Voice competition - and the station phone number was announced -  0845 650 1066.  Claire Bailey presented a detailed news, sport and weather bulletin at 7:30pm.  Overall reflections on the opening 30 minutes from AIRCHECK?   SAGA RADIO is fronted by ex-Trent and Radio 106 man Ron Coles.  It would seem that real, local radio (with JINGLES!!!) is finally back in the East Midlands - the ghost of Trent & GEM past returns to haunt once more.  Happy haunting!

So, who else is/was doing what then?  Trent, GEM, Big L, Century 106 & Lincs FM group jock John Peters is the Breakfast show presenter from launch, a local radio star for 28 years, Erica Hughes (ex-Superstation etc) initially filled the morning show (9am-Noon), and David Hamilton took on the afternoon show (1-4pm) moving from the Breakfast show on the West Midlands sister station on 105.7 which can be heard well over the East Midlands coverage area.   Ex-BRMB star Les Ross took over in Birmingham's SAGA Breakfast from January 6th 2004 following a short break after his departure from BRMB but left in early 2005.   Ex Trent and GEM presenter Tony Lyman has moved back home to present the drivetime afternoon slot from his similar position in Birmingham's SAGA station - he also presents Saturday Breakfast - and ex-Trent/GEM links continue because Paul Robey has left his job with the Lincs-FM group to become the SAGA 106.6 Programme Controller, and Head Of Music and presents 'The SAGA Collection weekdays at 12noon and 7pm.   Tim Gough controls the late night show, weekdays 8pm-Midnight (Tim is ex-96 Trent-FM) ex-golden Trent era star Peter Quinn was scheduled to finally return to local airwaves Friday 8pm-Midnight, Saturday afternoon 2pm-6pm and Sunday breakfast from 6:00am-10:00am. However, a few days into the start of transmissions, his name was removed from the list of presenters on the station's website.  Peter was unable to appear due to personal reasons, but later took over from Diana Luke on the Jazz show.  The aptly named ex-travel news presenter Mike Wyer presented the graveyard shift before moving to the West Midlands, with Mark Burrows making a welcome return to local radio, in a slot he's familiar with - in this case Midnight - 2am, with anoother familiar title 'A Little Night Music'  and both Sheila Tracey and Diana Luke appeared in the early schedule too.  As David Lloyd's dulcet tones were heard on test announcements, fans of the great Steve Merike began jumping for joy as David included Steve in a list of presenters cited as appearing on the station.  It is known from inside AIRCHECK circles, that Steve has a fondness for the music of the 1930s, however, it was not on a specialist show that Steve made a return - with no start for Peter Quinn, this freed up Sunday breakfast, a show which Steve has seemingly stepped straight into as if he'd never been away.  We were the first to be told by the man himself on December 12th 2002 - and we promised we wouldn't tell, but it was later announced by the station itself - David Lloyd returned to the East Midlands with the Sunday request show 10:00am - 1:00pm.  On his first show, one of David's first links enthused about being back and referred to having been 'interrupted last time'.  On station back up, ex-Derby Hospital Radio Link, Radio 106, Century 106 & Compass FM presenter Ian Chilvers is producer for John Peters, later a swing presenter and co-ordinator of station branding and now works full-time in regular slots.  Having presented the soul show, Diana Luke exited the station within a short time to begin more regular work for Real Radio.  This enabled the albeit late arrival to the station of ex-Trent presenter Peter Quinn to take over Diana's Sunday Jazz Show.

Speaking about the launch, David Hamilton who also presents a show called 'Million Sellers', said: 'Radio for people aged 50 and over is something new on the airwaves and I am delighted to be one of the pioneers and part of the launch team at SAGA 106.6FM.'   Studios are based at Nottingham's Riverside Business Park. Saga plc invested £2.5million in the new radio station.

SAGA 106.6fm was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saga Group Ltd, founded in 1952 and market leader in travel, financial and other services for people aged 50 and over, and also publisher of the award-winning 1.2 million circulation Saga magazine.  The SAGA group was sold off in 2004, with the original owner retaining the radio division only.   www.saga1066fm.co.uk 

Click here to see who SAGA beat to get to air!

RESTRICTED SERVICE LICENCES (RSLs):  

DERWENT FM: Thanks to an injection of some £240,000 from the Derwent Community Team (responsible for issuing £42m worth of Government 'New Deal In The Communities' regeneration money and assisting in redeveloping the district), 2003 saw a new RSL radio service for the Derwent Ward area of Derby.  Launched 1st July 2003, Derwent FM is an RSL service which fits into the mould of being there for media training.  Four RSLs were outlined under the initial funding. On its first broadcast in October 2003, it operated for 12 hours a day from studios (built with part of the funding) at High View School, Breadsall Hill Top, which is in the Derwent Ward of the City Centre.  The venture was set up primarily as a vehicle of delivering basic skills learning.  Around 12 people work in the broadcast team who take part in the 'Basic Skills Media Course' validated by the Open College Network.  Prior to the broadcasts, the team spend their time writing scripts, working in both the class and studio to put together programmes and to progress ideas to actuality.  Other members of the local community help out too.  

Derwent FM was the brainchild of ex-Hospital Radio, and BBC local & community radio presenter Andy Potter.  Speaking at the time of launch, he said "...the type of programmes we put out will be down to the people taking the course and they need to be representative of the community we're broadcasting to.  It will be another avenue for local people to express themselves.'"  Andy saw the location of the studio (i.e. within the school complex) as having a spin-off effect for the school, enabling the facilities to be used both during and outside of school hours.  Andy continued "..we have limited speakers to hear what's happening in the studio - I'm hoping that these can be placed all around the school so that it can become part of a daily lunchtime broadcast."  2,000 tracks were listed in the station's playlist.

To date, Derwent FM has operated on five occasions - from 22/09/03-12/10/03, 19/04/04-16/05/04, 25/11/04-22/12/04, 25/01/05-21/02/05 and most recently 01/09/05 to 28/09/05.   The mid-part of 2005 saw the project fall into a level of uncertainty, when plans were announced to practically rebuild High View School, aka Da Vinci Community College - plans which did not include accommodation for the radio station.   Station management issued a press release highlighting the plight of the station, and appealing for offers of a new base.  The Derby Evening Telegraph published a story including a picture of the Derby River Gardens, but including a superimposed canal boat with a super imposed telecommunications mast attached at the rear, suggesting that these were the lengths the station may have to go to to continue broadcast.

Upon conclusion of the September 2005 broadcast, the station website issued notice of a 6th broadcast in March 2006.  However, early November saw the replacement of such indications with the following message: 'It has become apparent that people want to know the latest on our funding situation, so in true Derwent FM style we are going to be open and set the record straight.  Towards the end of the last broadcast we were told that we needed to apply for funding from Derwent New Deal for Communites, which would keep us going from April 2006- March 2007.  We were then assured a decision would be made by 21st October, but to this date (3rd November) we still haven't heard anything.  If we DO get further funding, we can move to a new home (to be confirmed) and continue with training and broadcasts as well as corporate training.  If we DON'T get funding we may or may not go on air in March before we close.  Thank you for your patience on the matter, and we promise to keep you posted as soon as we hear any news.' 

In early December 2005, Derwent FM secured further funding from Derwent New Deal for Communities enabling the station to plan up to March 2007.  This means there will be at least two more courses and broadcasts.  Following the redevelopment of the Da Vinci Community College, and after discussions with Headteacher Frances Glaze, the station is relocating to Derwent Community School on St. Marks Road, Derby for 2006 - the new facilities should allow longer broadcasting hours and more flexible training opportunities.  The station management currently envisage a further broadcast from 27th February 2006, although much has to be confirmed.

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/derwentfm provides web access to further station information.

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EREWASH SOUND: In January 2005, a group of local people set out plans to bring a local radio station on air just for the Erewash area of Derbyshire during the Summer of 2005.  Initially the station is only allowed to broadcast up to twice a year for 28 days each time, using short-term licences (RSLs) available from broadcast regulator OFCOM, but with the range of full time Community licences being made available by the Government, the group is aiming to establish a full time station.

The station media spokesman Jeff Martin said: "The Erewash area falls between the two main cities of Nottingham and Derby which means it is always on the fringes of stations serving these areas.. What we want to do is run a station that just serves the towns and villages of the Erewash Valley.  Our station will want to play a real part in the community life within Erewash and promote the area in a positive way.  It will also give local companies cost effective way of promoting their businesses and experiencing the value in radio advertising."

Local radio for Erewash has been done before.  Smooth FM broadcast to the area in 2000 when Guardian Media Group were planning a bid for the East Midlands licence that was eventually awarded to Saga RadioSmooth FM proved popular with listeners and advertisers alike and Jeff Martin believes Erewash Sound can build on that.

The group needs to raise at least £6000 to pay for licences to put the station on air for the 28 days but aims to raise as much as £10,000: "We want to make sure that we run a lively promotional campaign during the build up to and beyond our on-air date", Mr. Martin said.

Ian Perry is the Erewash Sound Station Director: "The station offers a mix of 80% music and 20% speech with hourly news broadcasts.  Our music policy has something for everyone, with main-stream programming featuring the best of today's music, with favourites from the last five decades, as well as specialist music shows. Mainstream radio is so tightly formatted that a lot of great music is ignored, but on Erewash Sound we have literally thousands of tracks to choose from."

Erewash Sound launched for the very first time on 16th July 2005, a date which coincided with the 10th birthday of Ilkeston's hospital radio station, Radio Robin during the first week.  The hospital station, run by the local League Of Friends, along with its staff, plus the hospital itself, were promoted and the anniversary celebrated during the broadcast, particularly the first week.  Programmes on both Radio Robin and Erewash Sound included staff from both stations, in the case of the former, on what is anticipated to be an all-year round basis from the Summer of 2005.

Station management have now submitted a further application to OFCOM for an early 2006 broadcast - dates are to be formally announced soon.  For further information on the Erewash Sound project, visit the station website at www.erewashsound.com 

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RADIO IKHLAS: Broadcasting from the multi-cultural Normanton area of Derby City, this service operates on 87.9FM on occasional licences to cover local Asian religious festivals in the district.  The station has recently successfully applied for a five-year community licence - it is not known when the station will begin a full-time service, but it is maintaining a presence on short-term licences for the time being. 

STUDENT RADIO: 

BEDLAM / D:ONE: A student radio service first came to Derby on 106.5FM from 30/10/99 for 2 weeks.  Broadcast two aired for two weeks from 28/02/00 on 106.6, again from 30/10/00 for two weeks on 106.5, with a Freshers Service for the University Of Derby, and most recently on 106.5 from 27/02/01 for a further fortnight to promote Student Union elections, on the most recent occasion, as Bedlam FM.  

Following a rather quiet period, the station has undergone some internal restructuring and an arguable rebuild from scratch and is now known as D:ONE, the name coming from the Derby postal code district in which it it is based.  Founder member of D:ONE, Richard Green set about exploring the possibilities as far back as June 2003, having gained broadcast experience at GWR station Lantern FM and Bedlam.  He was determined that the job of bringing a new student station to the airwaves of Derby could be achieved, but that it would need a lot of work and committment.  The project was cleared by local lecturer Richard Batman - and following this, Richard began creating a management team - DCR (Derby Campus Radio) made up of four people - Sacha Wright - assistant station manager, Ralph Lamble - production, Tom Corker - Promotions, and of course, Richard himself, with a view to launch the station on-line and legally!

After a huge effort in planning, recruiting and foundation building, all looked promising for a launch on 1st January 2004 via the internet.  The local student union were offered the station to run after their project, and they started as contracted sales teams.  November 2003 brought about problems with the Student Union, resolved by some quick thinking by Anna Holland and, with student council financial backing and a sum of £5,000, an application was put in for a LPAM (Low Power AM) licence.   As 2003 became 2004, the broadcast regulator, The Radio Authority became OFCOM, and the changeover further delayed the station's launch to 5th April 2004.  

There was still much work to do and no time to wait around - DCR put the other appropriate licences in place, as well as the studio, the broadcast team and all the relevant training - overseen by newly appointed station manager Alex Leam from 10th June 2004.  Nothing was easy for the station, but in early 2004, they were re-awarded with two awards and Richard himself received 'University Honours' for the hours of dedication, commitment, professionalism and success in setting up the station.  

On 5th April 2004, OFCOM granted a 5 year LPAM licence for the University of Derby's Kedleston Road campus, to broadcast on 1278 AM (medium wave) or 1278kHz for those that like their frequencies in old money!  The station was originally set to commence it's broadcasting period on Monday 26th April 2004 at 9:00am, however, a change of frequency by OFCOM to 1287kHz caused some further headaches for the station bosses and the start date was postponed to 1st May 2004.  D:ONE's target audience is around 16,000 people - the station takes the Student Broadcasting Network (SBN) from 9pm to 9am, and operates itself during the daytime.  Speaking prior to the launch, Richard Green told AIRCHECK: "As Station Manager, it is going to be a very proud moment to put back into the University more than it has had and achieve more than anyone has on the radio front.  What a great team!  Originally, I was told we could not have a radio station, as it cost £33,000, but I knew costs were not that high - additionally, I've not been able to get a job on pro-radio, so I decided to set up a station of my own - I hope to learn here and make a better go of the full-time scene next time!

DEFUNCT (RSLs):  

PRIDE FM: Derby's last city-wide short-term radio licence station was formed in January 1997 by a group of individuals who formed the ASWAS RADIO GROUP from the remnants of Valley Radio in Ripley.  Together, they felt they could provide a service to Derby that was not already being provided by other operators.  With this in mind it laid down its objective: 'to provide community radio broadcasting within the laws laid down by the statutory authorities, with the intention of broadening listener choice.'   The station saw itself as being a provider of community access radio, and as an addition to existing services, rather than one which intended to bid for one of their licences.  

Licenced by former regulator the Radio Authority, PRIDE FM aired regularly on six occasionsfrom 1997-2002, initially around 106.6 and latterly in the part of the spectrum designated for this type of service - at the beginning of the dial from 87.7-87.9.  Notably, it operated as one of only 25 stations around the country to be licenced to provide a special service to cover the Millennium in late 1999 to 2000, and again in 2002 when it received acclaim in the Radio Authority Review of the Year for providing not only a service to celebrate the Queen's 50th year on the throne, but also Derby's 25th anniversary of having been granted 'City' status by Her Majesty, and the 75th year of Derby Cathedral.  The Jubilee broadcast also included unrivalled coverage of HM The Queen's visit to Pride Park for a pageant in her honour.  

2002's Jubilee service proved to be the last broadcast for PRIDE-FM.  The ASWAS RADIO GROUP spent the late part of 2003 acting as an advisory to Derby County FC with a view to resurrecting its club radio station - moving it from SKY Digital to AM match day operations.  The arrival of a new consortium who paid just £3 to take control, led to the abandonment of the collaboration.  Plans for a 2004 PRIDE FM broadcast were withdrawn by station management in July of that year when new projects were initiated.

The ASWAS Radio Group is run by a dedicated but experienced group of volunteers, which includes BBC, hospital radio and commercial radio experience.  It now operates on-air as Erewash Sound - see above. 

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VALLEY RADIO: Serving the Ripley area of Derbyshire, this RSL operation initially drew attention when it started services from a disused railway carriage at the Butterley Railway Museum, on AM from 08/10/1994 for a month.  It later made the transition to FM for broadcast two from 29/04/1995, and again from 13/01/1996 with what turned out to be its final appearance from 27/10/1996.  Its last broadcast came from the premises above an off-licence in the Oxford Street pedestrian shopping area of Ripley.  At the time, there was strong suggestion that the area was to be put on the Radio Authority's working list for consideration of a licence application and award process.  The closest this ever came was when the neighbouring district of Nottinghamshire gave rise to Radio Mansfield/Mansfield 103.2 as part of the final process.  The October 1996 broadcast, despite levels of success, turned out to be Valley Radio's final appearance on the local radio dial.  This was confirmed when a majority of the station staff moved to Derby to set up PRIDE-FM from the January of 1997.  (See above.)

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AMBER SOUND FM: Arguably a rival set-up to the Valley Radio service, it only appeared twice with trial services, using 105.6FM, firstly from 7th October 1995 for a month, and again from 24/08/1996, again for a month.  Little is known about the history of the service nor its reasons for failing to return.    

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RADIO FREEDOM:  Very much an alternative music service, the now defunct Radio Freedom first came to air as what was probably the first RSL operator in the City of Derby - celebrating 12 years of the premises in which it was based - the Rock House Club in Babington Lane.  The first service operated from 06/04/1996 to 03/05/1996.  It returned for broadcast two on 106.8 from 18/04/1998 for a further month, defined as being a trial service, and its next two services, from 17/04/1999 and 18/09/1999 were part of a local live music promotion.  What turned out to be the last broadcast to date, again operated to promote local live music from 26/08/2000 for just two days.  Of note, the station caused controversy when it once broadcast live from Friar Gate Railway bridge with a Disco style roadshow - it was silenced by local authorities when it, along with flashing disco light, was deemed to be a distraction to traffic!  On another occasion, it was even nice enough to announce the next occupant of the RSL 87.9FM  frequency - PRIDE-FM and wished them every success!  

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SMOOTH FM: The only other major RSL outfit to break cover didn't cover the Derby area directly, although it could be heard in the East of the City.  The broadcast was of a trial nature and was for the East Midlands regional licence and came from Ilkeston, itself considered a suburb of Derby although enjoying a Nottinghamshire postcode.  Run by Guardian Media Group, Smooth FM broadcast from and received considerable support from Ilkeston Co-op in the Town Centre.  Operating on 87.9FM, from 04/09/2000 to 29/09/2000, It included broadcast staff such as Gordon Astley & Craig Strong, both of whom have considerable involvement in local radio, (Century 106 for the former & Trent FM & the Lincs-FM owned station, Trax in Newark, Nottinghamshire for the latter.)  Although received well by locals, the application for the East Midlands 2nd regional licence failed, with the GMG bid losing out (as with many other applicants) to SAGA 106.6 FM (see above).  The Smooth FM name has been retained by GMG who re-launched the North West Jazz FM franchise under the Smooth FM name in March 2004 and set a process going to rebrand the London Jazz FM station similarly in 2005.  

DIGITAL:

Since 30th April 2004, a 12-year digital radio multiplex has existed for Nottingham, operated by Now Digital (East Midlands Ltd), a consortium made up of radio operators GWR (52.5%), Capital Radio (20%), Sabras Sound (20%) and Chrysalis Radio (7.5%) with nine services serving around 1-million people aged 15+.  Before this, Leicester saw its own digital network in December 2002.  Meanwhile, down the other end of the A52 from Nottingham, over in Derby, it will be at least another 18 months before there will be a dedicated digital radio service for the City, because the Government states there isn't enough capacity left.

OFCOM has recently announced that it has no plans to launch a digital service for Derby at present and it could be at least 2006 before there is any further movement.  High street retailer Dixons has recently revealed sales figures which detail that sales of DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio receivers had outsold sales of traditional analogue radio sets, i.e. those that can receive conventional radio services.   Owners of Digital Radios in the Derby area can receive national BBC and commercial stations - in the case of the latter, such as Virgin and Classic FM, but there will be no services such as BBC Radio Derby, RAM FM or Classic Gold GEM until a digital network is launched.

But OFCOM's latest announcement comes as part of continued efforts to provide a Derby DAB service - its legislating predecessor - The Radio Authority (RA) began attempts back in 1999 - in fact, only a handful of major cities in the UK remain digital-less - these include Derby, Oxford, Northampton & Wrexham.  May 2005 sees a meeting of the International Telecommunications Union - OFCOM are hoping that the conference will see the announcement / release of new space on the spectrum.  After this point, the regulator will then decide how the space should be made available, and this is likely to include plugging gaps where dedicated digital services do not currently exist.

Ian Dickens is the chief executive of the Digital Radio Development Bureau - he said: "In the late 1990s, the Government assigned a whole chunk of the spectrum to digital radio.  Over the last five years or so, all of the multiplexes have been given out, so there's no more spectrum left.  In 2006, there should be a new chunk of spectrum made available, and we want that to be designated to digital radio."

An OFCOM spokesperson confirmed that even if airspace was made available and was assigned to digital radio, it was unlikely that Derby would get digital radio until late in 2006 or early in 2007.  Once a local signal is made available, the digital radio channels will be broadcast using a transmitter likely to based near or on the transmitter at Drum Hill, which overlooks the City of Derby.  Estimates are that there are currently around 1.3million people in the UK with digital radio receivers.  

Find out more about how digital radio works via our Glossary page.  

RAMPAGE: In 1995, Brighton-based Radio First plc was founded and shares traded on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.  As of 1998, it owned analogue radio stations including Tendring's Mellow 1557 AM - all analogue licences were later soldAs the years passed, and led by Keith Harris (Chairman) and the highly respected John Aumonier (CEO) (co-founder of talk Radio UK (now known as talkSPORT) as well as Surrey & Sussex's Radio Mercury, and former MD of Virgin Radio), its aim was to use digital audio technology and create 'The Fan Radio Network', a chain of regional digital commercial radio stations covering what it called 'the key marketing areas of the United Kingdom' linked with major Premiership football clubs across the country and run jointly with the club as the 'official club station' owning the non-national digital audio rights for each football club.  The leading football clubs were: Aston Villa (The Villan), Chelsea (Big Blue), Derby County (Rampage) and Southampton (The Saint). All clubs signed joint venture contracts with Radio First for a minimum of twelve years.  The aim was to expand the station network further through more negotiations.  

Radio First aimed to create a network of stations that would be attractive to advertisers, advertising agencies, and sponsors, with all stations getting a piece of the advertising cake.  Stations would broadcast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  At the time, digital radio was an even more foetal stage than it is currently.  But Radio First were aiming to seize the moment early and stake a claim to a battle ground before anyone else did.  They felt that the change from analogue (conventional FM/AM transmission platforms) to Digital, was well underway even at that stage, and aimed for various digital platforms.  There was much experience in radio and football in Radio First management and it was confident of achieving its aims.  

In March 2000, it signed its first deals with Chelsea, Southampton & Aston Villa football clubs.  On 18th January 2001, it signed a fourth deal with Derby County, for output aired digitally, and via the internet.  In March 2001, the company agreed a five-year deal with British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC (BSkyB) to broadcast regional services of football-based digital radio stations on SKY Digital to a potential audience at the time of 4.7m.  Services were designed to appeal to 12-30 year olds.  It aimed to agree deals for a further four similar services.  In the six months up to March 31 2000, it posted pre-tax profits of £57,000 against a loss of £2.15m.  Operating profit was £49,000, loss £2.17m.  Earnings per share were 0.2pence against loss per share of 9.0p.

On 9th August 2001, Radio First announced launch dates for the first two radio stations.  The first of the new stations, Chelsea's Big Blue, launched on 19th August 2001 (Channel 898) for a home game against Newcastle United, and Southampton's The Saint (Channel 899) came to air on 25th August, ironically, a home game against Chelsea - both stations launching at the beginning of the 2001-2002 football season and to an audience of 11m and 5.1m viewers respectively.  Test transmissions began on 14th August of that year.  Aston Villa's The Villan (Channel 903) followed and Derby County's Rampage (Channel 906) launching last on 12th January 2002 with a state-of-the-art £70,000 studio at Pride Park Stadium.  SKY technology meant it was possible to beam each station to a specific target area.  Cross-promotional initiatives were developed for both viewers and listeners and SKY News Radio was carried, with allowance to use SKY audio material by each station.  4,550,000 shares were placed with institutional and other investors to raise £3.64m at a price of 80p per share with dealings set to commence on 12 March of that year.  

Excitedly, the-then Chief Executive of Derby County, Keith Loring said: “The agreement between BSkyB and Radio First will provide brilliant initial carriage for Derby County’s digital radio station.  Rams fans in the East Midlands will be able to keep in touch with what’s happening at the club at any time of the day or night and that’s an innovation which I welcome.”

But there was a problem that didn't seem too apparent to group bosses.  Although you could listen at home on your PC or through your SKY Digital box, you couldn't actually take it out with you to the match.  Plus, there were 10s of other radio stations available on SKY, plus of course, local sports coverage in the respective areas from BBC and Commercial analogue services.  But, Radio First were wax-lyrical on statistics which suggested success was in the air.  At the time of the Derby County deal, 6,000,000 adults told RAJAR, the audience ratings measurement body, that they listened to radio through their TV - a figure of more than one-in-eight listeners and a bigger audience than that attracted by all the AM commercial radio stations.  Radio First concluded that one-in-five 15-24 year olds listen to radio via the telly, particularly in Scotland, the North-West, North-East and Wales.  Derby County's Rampage was concluded to be capable of hitting 27% of the potential 7m listeners in the Derby area.  

March 2002: Radio First released a statement following its 10:30am AGM held on the 18th of that month.  Keith Harris said: 'I would like to take this opportunity to comment briefly on the Group's results for the year ended 30 September 2001 and on trading since the year end.  2001 saw the concept of the Fan Radio Network start to become a reality with the launch of our first two stations, Big Blue (Chelsea) and The Saint (Southampton) both on Sky digital.  It is a credit to the staff that we were able to open two stations on time and within budget, despite the short lead time between raising the necessary finance and the launches.  Since the year end we have launched a further two stations, The Villan (Aston Villa) and Rampage (Derby), again on time and within budget. 

There is no doubt that the last 18 months or so have proved to be exceptionally difficult for the media sector with its heavy reliance on advertising revenues.  Despite this, the Board is encouraged by the response from both listeners and advertisers to our new innovative stations.  The response to on air competitions as well as promotions run at the clubs' stadia indicates an increasing level of awareness amongst our target audience and an increasing amount of listening.  Formal audience research will be completed at each station during 2002.  As far as advertising is concerned we are currently running campaigns across the four stations for a number of household names including Ladbrokes, Sport First, VodkaIce and Budweiser.  We are especially pleased with the number of campaigns the stations have sold to local advertisers with the local advertising market less susceptible to the ups and downs of the national advertising industry.  The number of advertisers and as a consequence the revenues are growing month by month and we believe the product we are offering with our stations and the network leave us well positioned to take advantage of the expected improvement in advertising expenditure trends in the second half of 2002.  We are also looking to expand further the network in the future as negotiations continue with a number of football clubs in England and Scotland.  All the resolutions were passed at today's Annual General Meeting.'

At the close of the stock markets - records show that as of 17th June 20002, one of the biggest recent fallers was Radio First, but at the time, shares recovered slightly, but without explanation - much the same way that shares had dived at the end of the previous week.  But everyone knows that shares can rise as well as fall, so that was nothing too alarming to every day Joes.  After a 38% drop on the Friday, Radio First shares put on 23% in value on the Monday - adding 1 1/2p to 8p.  These though, were clear signs .  In July 2002, its shares were suspended following a failure to publish audited accounts for the six months ending March 31st 2002.  Keith Harris, who was the Chairman of the Football League at the time, spearheading the League's £178.5m claim against ITV Digital said the group were "optimistic" that additional funding would be raised and the issue resolved.  

In March 2003, Radio First withdrew from Rampage after a period in which the club had dropped out of the Premiership, had a run of significantly poor results, changed managers three times, suspending the most recent, who had also recently been landed with a five-match touchline ban, and had sold a swathe of key players.  At the exact time of withdrawal, Derby County were just six points above the First Division relegation zone and had only taken two points from the last 27 possible.  Shortly afterwards, Radio First ceased trading after City institutions failed to back the company expansion plans.  The digital operator was on the point of acquiring a major English language network in Spain and re-joining the AIM market when underwriting for the scheme was withdrawn.   All of the stations continued on their SKY Digital channels and it was felt that the football clubs would continue with the services as each one had proved the demand for 'unique fanzine style programming'.  SKY meanwhile, didn't have, and indeed never had any obligation to provide funding.  

However, by July 2003, Radio First was in voluntary liquidation, having called the receivers in the previous year.  So, what happened to the four fledgling Radio First stations?  Chelsea, Southampton and Aston Villa continued the transmissions of the services (and still do) via satellite, the internet and locally on short-term match day licences.  They bought the assets from the liquidators for what was probably a fraction of what they were worth.  Derby County's Rampage went off the air completely. In 2003, the ASWAS RADIO GROUP entered into discussions with Derby County to resurrect the station on analogue for a match day only AM service.  Discussions reached an advanced stage where costings were put before the board and the-then Chairman Lionel Pickering.  The club also bought the assets, i.e. the studio and other fabric of the old station set up.  Pride Park Radio almost took to the air, however, at the last minute, the club plummeted into the depths of financial turmoil and the club was sold for a token sum to a new consortium.  This put the kybosh on the radio station's phoenix-like rise from the ashes and both radio group and club parted company. The radio studios have now been completely eradicated from the stadium, with the space being turned over to commercial usage in some form. 

HOSPITAL RADIO:  

RADIO LINK, a registered charity, is run by a long-serving committee and broadcasts to the major Derby city hospitals.  It was established in 1974, then providing taped programmes to the Rycote Centre.  The service was launched by ex-Radio Derby presenter John Stiles and was the training ground for several local radio presenters as named above, most of whom went to Radio Trent on launch, although some presenters have also gone on to work for BBC Radio Derby as also named above.  More recently, Russell Walker-Brown has gone on to work for the BBC currently (Oct 2004) presenting at BBC Leeds and Mark O’Sullivan presenting for RAM FM and Centre FM.  Recent members from the station have also worked at Mansfield 103.2, Centre FM, Peak 107, Century 106, Saga 106.6 and Oak 107 as well as various RSLs in the area.  

In its early days, Radio Link broadcast from a doctor’s waiting room and equipment was taken out of a cupboard after surgery hours, set up for broadcast and packed away afterwards.  Patrons linked with the station include TV celebrity Andy Craig, Capital Gold DJ David Jensen and the late Brian Clough OBE, Sir Brian holding the post of Vice President.   Availability of extra rooms and appropriate fundraising over the years, led to the building of Studio 2 in what was the old, rather cramped record library and office, the latter occupying separate rooms down the corridor until the building work for the new superhospital commenced.  The station has recently refitted Studio 1, for years its only broadcast facility.  In 2003 the station won a Hospital Broadcasting Association gold award for programme trailers and a second gold award for its on air promotion and branding.  In 2004 the station won the Hospital Broadcasting Association gold award for best specialist music programme.

As with many hospital radio stations, a tired, temperamental internal loop system restricts audience, although a bedside entertainment system, is now being installed by HTS.  The new distribution system will be maintained by HTS and include a wide variety of services provided at FM quality and in stereo.  Radio Link will have a dedicated channel on this new system.  

Ex-Chairman, ex-member and now local radio presenter, journalist and TV extra, Andy Potter brought local and considerable publicity for the station with the likes of ambassadors Graham Knight (ex BBC Radio Derby & BBC Radio Two), locally born actress Gwen Taylor, and actors Ben Roberts & the late Kevin Lloyd, (ITV's THE BILL) who all represented and visited the station during Andy's chairmanship.  Other celebrities to visit the station since then included the snooker player John Virgo, the local artist Pollyanna Pickering and the late Brian Clough OBE.  After much fundraising and work by members, the station currently has excellent broadcast facilities including ISDN, a 24 hour play-out system, digital editing suite, the full IRN news service and a refurbished office area.  The current and ongoing building work to transform the site into the city’s superhospital will be a challenge but the station is working to ensure that any move to new premises does not disrupt the service more than is absolutely essential.    With thanks to Radio Link's Mark Atherton for providing this profile.  www.radiolink.org.uk 

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RADIO ROBIN: Ilkeston Community Hospital's radio station celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005 - presenters from the station teamed up with Erewash Sound to host a 28-day radio broadcast broadcast as Erewash Sound (see above) in July-August 2005 - specifically, one entire week and the actual date of Radio Robin's birthday was celebrated on-air.  Radio Robin is run by the hospital's League Of Friends. A more elaborative profile will appear here soon.  www.hospitalradiorobin.org.uk

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