A quite interesting mix of music and news / documentary programmes about the environment. 

Outside of programme times, has been heard broadcasting a loop-tape announcing the broadcast times.

First heard back in spring 1998, on 106.6 FM

From spring 1999 onwards, have used the frequency of 87.7 FM (except for 2000, when 106.6 was used).

Following loop-tape announcement broadcast outside of broadcasting hours:

    "Hi, you're listening to Emerald Radio, broadcasting from Springwell Community School on 87.7 FM. We're off-air at the moment, but you can hear our fantastic environmentally-based shows weekdays 1 'til 6 pm. Don't forget - Green is clean, Green is Emerald Radio."

In my opinion, the programmes could be quite interesting. A radio station covering environmental issues is a good idea, and the presentation quality is generally very good. Occasional mistakes do occur , but it must be remembered that similar - and often far worse - mistakes, sometimes even deliberate unprofessionalism, have occurred on stations with programmes presented by adults.

One way, though, in which Emerald Radio could be improved (in my opinion) - its programmes are broadcast live during school hours, when most kids are at school and many adults are at work, and unable to hear the programmes. In the evenings and overnight, the "loop tape" announcement is aired, which in my opinion is a waste of air-space. It would be far better if the programmes could be recorded while they are being broadcast, then repeated in the evening / night time.

Since the station only broadcasts live for 8 hours each day, a video set to record a 4 hour video-tape on "Long Play" mode, could easily record the entire broadcast each day. Then the programmes could be repeated from 6pm to 2am, and the loop-tape - set to start automatically at 2am - would only be necessary for 8 hours from 2am to 10am.

An idea for their next RSL, perhaps ?

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