Aircheck UK - Glamorgan 

UPDATED: 16/12/2004

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AIRCHECK Wales

BBC LOCAL RADIO: BBC Radio Wales is the English language national broadcaster for Wales.  Since it became broadcasting in 1978, when the station's output lasted for just a few hours a day, with Radio 4 in between the local programming, airtime has now expanded to over 19 hours of programming produced all over the country, specifically for the people living in the west of Offa's Dyke, however, the internet provides ex-pats and other interested parties with a service internationally.  

The station's schedule focuses on the kind of information deemed relevant to life in the country, with all the usual features plus tide times, inshore water forecasts, surf conditions and hillwalkers information aired regularly.  From 6:00am to 6:00pm, the phone lines are open (08700 100110) to provide programme content in whatever form.  Monday nights include the Welsh Top 40 Chart Show.

The station broadcasts nationally on 93.9 (Swansea, Llanelli & Carmarthenshire), 94.8 (Anglesey, Bangor, Gwynedd, Carnaefonshire & Conwy), 95.4 (Wrexham), 95.9 (Newport & Monmouthshire), 95.1 (Blaenavon, Torfaen & Carmarthenshire) & 104.0 (Cardiff, Penarth & Vale Of Glamorgan) and on AM bands 882 (South Wales), 657 (North Wales) & 1125 (Mid Wales).

COMMERCIAL:  LOCAL (ILR)

106.3 BRIDGE FM serves the South Glamorgan town of Bridgend with 'a broad mix of classic and contemporary hit music ranging from the 1960's to current and a comprehensive service of local news and information'.  It is owned by Tindle Radio and came on-air 1st May 2000, therefore licenced until 30th April 2008.  Studios are based at Cambria House, Wyndam, Street Bridgend.

(Tindle Radio is the only family-owned radio operator in the UK. It operates six radio stations across the UK. It owns Channel 103, Jersey; Island FM, Guernsey; The Beach, Lowestoft (Suffolk/Norfolk); Dream 100, Colchester/Clacton; Dream 107, Chelmsford; Bridge FM, Bridgend; as well as minority stakes in Kick FM, Newbury; and Kestrel FM, Basingstoke, Hampshire.)

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SOUND WAVE/96.4 THE WAVE is Swansea's radio station, providing contemporary hit music, headline news, sport, travel, weather and local information from Swansea studios, and a Kilvey Hill transmitter, since it's current licence began on 30th September 1995.  It originally launched as Swansea Sound on both AM (1170AM) & FM on 30th September 1974, and more recently became SOUND WAVE on FM whilst continuing as Swansea Sound on AM .  It is currently part of TWG (The Wireless Group), the head office of which is at 18, Hatfields in London.  The Wave is a very popular choice of radio station and consequently is the number radio station in South Wales.  Since it's launch, The Wave has been associated with some high profile competitions - 2000 saw the chance win a Ford KA or Mondeo in association with the local Marina based Tesco store.  CDs and Cinema tickets are on regular offer too.  An idea taken from Capital, 'Party In The Park' has been a regular fixture in the station's calendar, attracting an average crowd of 10,000 people to the Singleton Park in Swansea.  Headlining acts have previously included All Saints, Steps, A1, Lolly, Liberty X, H & Claire & Blue.  The station's music policy covers a broad spectrum over various decades along with current or recent chart hits.  It's TSA, i.e. it's potential audience (aged 15+) is 516,000 with around 30% (157,000) actually listening for 12.5 hours per week per listener, according to April - September 2002 IPSOS/RSL audience figures.  Swansea Sound, The Wave and Valleys all share overnights, starting from 10pm and each opt out at breakfast time.  

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SWANSEA SOUND 1170MW is the region's original local radio station, coming to air on 96.4 FM & 1170 AM on 30th September 1974 - it is Wales' most successful Medium Wave radio station and thousands of people have grown up with it.  Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant was involved in the establishment of the station.  It plays a variety of songs from the past four decades with evening specialist programmes, detailed news, sport, weather, local information and Welsh language news and programmes.  Swansea Sound continued on AM only from 30th September 1995, whilst sister station The Wave 96.4 continued on FM.  (see above).

It is currently part of TWG (The Wireless Group), the head office of which is at 18, Hatfields in London.  Swansea Sound's licence remit states that at least 18hours of daily programming must be locally produced and presented.  It is targeted at the over 30s living in and around the Swansea area, and is highly focused on local issues.  Speech and information are important ingredients for the station, and therefore local information, community news, regular phone-ins, local discussion and other general conversation feature prominently.  Speech does not fall below 15% of daytime output.  At least 12 hours of Welsh language programming is included each week, although this cannot be carried overnight.  Local news airs during peak time, with three bulletins lasting at least five minutes.  Weekday early evenings feature Welsh language news, with headlines in English.  National news is carried at other times.   The station licence stipulates the music on the station should be mainly a mix of ex-Top 40 hits from the 60s to the present day.  Current and re-current tracks do not make up more than 60% of the music output.  Specialist shows are permitted additionally, during off-peak hours.  Programmes come from Victoria Road in Gowerton. Swansea Sound is scheduled to appear on the local Digital Multiplex in January 2004. 

Famous names to have appeared on Swansea Sound include John Sachs (Capital Radio / BBCTV's quiz 4-Square & ITV's Gladiators) and BBC TV news presenter Huw Edwards.   2003 saw the station ban Michael Jackson's comeback single 'One More Chance' in the wake of further child abuse allegations against the star.  Programme Controller Steve Barnes said "The listeners, who are mostly aged 35-plus voted against it.  They are parents and grandparents and have strong feelings on the subject."  Sister FM station The Wave did play it after it younger audience supported the airplay. www.swanseasound.co.uk 

COMMERCIAL:  REGIONAL (IRR):

REAL RADIO (SOUTH WALES): In August 1999, the Radio Authority invited applications for a new regional radio licence for South Wales to be submitted by 23rd November of the same year.  A total of seven applications were received: 

On 6th April 2000, the Radio Authority awarded the licence to Real Radio to run for eight years from the date the station commenced broadcasting.  By 20th April, the RA had conducted a 'public interest test'.  This was done due to the fact that the winning station is owned by the Guardian Media Group, publishers of newspapers The Guardian and The Observer. Under the Broadcasting Act 1996, a national newspaper proprietor cannot hold a local or regional radio licence, unless the Radio Authority determines that the holding is not against the public interest.  The public were consulted to see if there was likely to be any effect on plurality and diversity of information available locally, but there were no large scale concerns raised.  

Announcing the reason for awarding the licence to Real Radio, the RA considered it offered a well-resourced, professional, full service station, likely to make a dominant contribution to the locale by providing a platform for debate on local issues.  The RA reflected on the management's experience of the same format in other parts of the country.  They acknowledged that the station targeted the older end of the 25-54 age bracket and that 30% of output would be speech based, including current affairs output daily - called Wales Today, phone-ins on sport and business plus a regular soap opera.  It was also noted that Welsh language was warmly welcomed by the station.  In comparison to other stations, Real Radio offered a different music format, one of 70% of melodic hits from the last forty years from a cross-section of genres.  The direct competition was seen as BBC Radio Wales.  The RA felt the new licensee was suitably equipped to meet it's promises and noted that the station management had operated presentations to local business and the public in the run up to the licence application.  Real Radio also carried out it's own research which concluded it's target audience was under-served by existing stations, and that their format would be popular.  

At the end of August 2000, Real Radio announced it would start testing it's transmitters from Monday September 4th on three FM frequencies: 105.4 (Cardiff), 106.0 (Swansea) and 105.9 (Newport).  It took around three days to activate the three, with assistance from the Radio Authority and from transmission providers, NTL.  Test transmissions were to last for four weeks - and a launch date was set for 8:00am on Tuesday 3rd October.  Overall, plans for the launch of the station were completed within five months.  Today, there is also another transmitter purely for Carmarthenshire on 105.2FM.  

As planned, on 3rd October 2000, the station began broadcasting to an estimated one-million people aged 15 or over, across South Wales from studios at Taffs Well, just off the M4 near Cardifff.  On launch, it housed the country's first 24-hour newsroom which would provide extended and regional bulletins 24 hours a day.  12 journalists, three of whom spoke fluent Welsh, were recruited for launch, and a separate newsroom and studio was planned for operation from Swansea.  In addition, on-air presenters were quickly hired and included seven Welsh folk.  As it launched, £500,000+ had been put into promoting the new station, including promotion on HTV Wales, the largest single advertiser on the TV channel over the next two months.  

The station provides exclusive commentary on Cardiff and Swansea City FC as well as the dominant Welsh sport of rugby.  As the licence application promised, there's a weekly business programme and a number of Welsh based features.  Programming is transmitted using five studios installed by the Oxford Sound Company and using the RCS Master Control System in each.  

On-air, you'll find the presenting talents of ex-Century 106 presenter Sarah Graham, ex-BBC Childrens TV presenter Simon Parkin, ex-Welsh footballer, Leighton James, and networked shows from Tony Blackburn, Gary Davies and Mark Goodier.  

HOSPITAL RADIO:  

RSL:

STUDENT: XPRESS FM is the student radio station for Cardiff University and has over 10 RSL broadcasts to it's credit.  It was created in 1994 as a radio society, and has applied for two short-term licences (the maximum permitted) since 1997.  Only in 2000, was the station refused a licence, this being due to the start of a new full time licence in Cardiff itself.  It's RSLs reach around a seven-mile radius of the transmitter around Cardiff City Centre.  When not on-air, the station airs internally around the shop, food halls and communal areas of the University for around six hours a day.   As with other student stations, it offers a live and practical learning resource for media students and others who just wish to take part.  RSL broadcasts feature mainstream music by day, specialist programming by night - there are hourly news bulletins and student related talk features too.  The station's presenter Vicki Blight won a Radio 1 Student Radio Award for 'Best Female' and 'Priority' won Best Show.  Altogether the station was nominated for ten awards at the ceremony.  The 2003 broadcast included soap opera 'Woodville Road' set in the centre of the Cardiff student village, exploring the lives and loves of first year students as they become used to student life.  For station information and to listen on-line (when available) visit www.xpressradio.co.uk 

DIGITAL:  TWG EMAP Digital has been awarded the twelve year digital multiplex licence for the Swansea area of South Wales.  The shareholders in TWG EMAP Digital Ltd. are The Wireless Group plc who own 70.0% and EMAP Digital Radio Ltd who own the remaining 30.0%.  TWG EMAP was the sole applicant for this licence, proposing a total of 8 services:, comprising: 96.4 The Wave, 1170 Swansea Sound, Kiss, Smash Hits, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru with later services of Gold/easy listening and Rock or Country, providers to be confirmed.

TWG EMAP Digital proposes to commence its service in January 2004, broadcasting on the VHF band III frequency block 12A (centre frequency: 223.936 MHz).  Digital listeners in Swansea can already receive programmes from regional digital providers on the MXR network, as well as national services from the BBC and Digital One.

Kelvin MacKenzie, TWG's Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted to win Swansea, which is a significant market. I believe the combination of TWG's heritage brands with EMAP's music brands will make a terrific digital line up. It is also another advance in our firm and committed alignment with the digital future."

TWG operates the national commercial speech station talkSPORT on Digital One, and has 80.5% stake in the London II Multiplex and 22% of London III, which both reach 9.5 million adults.  TWG also has a 92% stake in SwitchDigital (Scotland), which has won the multiplex licences for Central Scotland (incorporating Glasgow and Edinburgh), reaching 2.75 million adults, and Aberdeen, reaching 0.3 million adults; and an 80% stake in the local digital multiplex licence for Bradford and Huddersfield.

EMAP also operates seven wholly owned digital radio multiplexes: South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Liverpool, Leeds, Teesside, Central Lancashire and Humberside. It also operates three joint ventures in Manchester, Birmingham and London. 

Both companies also have programme services on local / regional networks around the UK.

THE FUTURE: INDEPENDENT COMMERCIAL RADIO

It may not be being advertised until May 2005, but that hasn't stopped a new group being formed to bid for a forthcoming radio licence for Swansea in South Wales.  And it's got itself on-air to demonstrate it's proposed output too.  Swansea Bay Radio took to the air for 28-days from November 19th on 102.1 FM using a short-term licence from OFCOM.  The station is designed to appeal to adults, particularly those over 40, with a mix of 'Gold', Easy Listening & Classic Hit music along with local news and information.  Management have carried out research in the region which has shown the age group is the least catered for by existing radio licence holders. 

Swansea Bay Radio have two reasons for the short-term broadcast - to gather feedback from listeners and the local business community - sectors which have, according to management, already shown a great deal of interest and support.  If successful in it's May 2005 licence bid, it, of for that matter, any successful applicant can look forward to serving a similar sized audience to that of current AM broadcaster Swansea Sound, reaching outlying areas of Swansea, Port Talbot, Neath and Llaneli.  Following half a decade as Director of Swansea Sound, a post he'd once aspired to, local resident Andy Griffiths is now part of the bidding consortium.  This is working towards reaching another ambition.  The group has also secured the backing of a group of local radio operators and individuals who already have a proven track record of broadcasting in South Wales - these include Radio Pembrokeshire Group, operators of Radio Carmarthenshire/Scarlet FM and Radio Pembrokeshire, a group which has reached the heights of having the highest market penetration of any UK commercial radio station.  All stations in the group have increased audiences and revenues.   Also on board is Tindle Radio, owner of 160 newspapers and 8 local radio stations including stations in Norfolk and the Channel Islands.  

If successful, the new station aims to broaden choice by offering listeners something new, not already provided by existing broadcaster and plans to be on-air early in 2006.  

THE FUTURE: COMMUNITY RADIO: Afan FM, a radio station for Neath & Port Talbot, have submitted a formal licence application for a Community Radio Licence, to broadcast regulator OFCOM.  The application is now available on OFCOM's website, and was formally approved by the station's Board Of Trustees and submitted with large quantities of paperwork and a non-refundable fee of £600, donated by Broadhall, a group responsible for created a new 'Talbot Gateway' building in the broadcast area's Baglan Energy Park.  

Craig Williams spent the latter part of 2003 and early 2004 seeking funding for the station's first and second short-term 28-day broadcasts, which aimed to play what he described as 'the essential mix of dance, trance, rock and indie' and even at such an early stage, expressed strong aims for a full-time licence.  Airing first in October 2003 for 11-25 year olds, it returned again in April 2004.  Post application, Craig, formerly Project Manager has now stepped back to take the Chairman's role, but is nevertheless delighted with the application: "In my final duty as Project Manager I am delighted that we have crafted a strong application to bring Community Radio to this area - it is the culmination of nearly 2 years work undertaken by an awful lot of people to make sure we got to this stage and I am hoping that Ofcom can see that Neath & Port Talbot not only wants AfanFM, but needs it"   

The station has proposed to offer a minimum of 60% Alternative music from some of today's popular artists such as Keane & Coldplay, plus conversation programmes looking at local subjects.  Members of the public will be invited to work for the station, and full training will be given, so anyone can, if the station is successful, give it a go, should they meet the station's application requirements.  Airtime will also be given to local bands, solo artists, and groups in order to gain a larger, more prominent footing locally.  If successful, Afan FM expect to begin broadcasting in 2006 for a licence period of 5 years, the period permitted as part of OFCOM's application and licensing procedures.   www.afanfm.co.uk

 

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