Aircheck UK - Wales
UPDATED: 19/09/2003
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WALES
AIRCHECK Wales
OVERVIEW:
As with other parts of the UK, there are a fair number of radio stations serving
the country. Late-breakfast broadcasters Roy Noble and Eifion
"Jonsi" Jones are typical voices of the two main BBC radio
services, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, which broadcast in English
and Welsh respectively, offering a mix of news, current affairs, sport, drama,
arts and religious programming.
Swansea Sound was the first local radio station, commencing in 1974 and
since that time, radio in Wales has expanded across the hilly climbs of the
country, to the extent that local radio has now been followed by regional radio
and the advent of South Wales' Real Radio, to be in competition with
Cardiff's Red Dragon as well as the BBC services. Across mid-Wales,
Aberystwyth-based Radio Ceredigion, and Newtown's Radio Maldwyn
(now called Magic 756) were the first community radio stations in
Wales, established in 1992. Elsewhere in South Wales, there's Valleys
Radio, run by TWG,
The Wireless Group, and Tindle
Radio's Bridge FM for Bridgend.
North Wales is served by Classic Gold Marcher (previously Marcher Gold)
and its sister station MFM covering Wrexham, Flintshire and Chester, and
there's also more recent appearances from Coast FM and Caenarfon's Champion
FM - all these recently acquired and re-branded by GWR
Group plc.
Beyond Wales, Wales Radio International broadcasts a weekly half-hour
programme, 'Celtic Notes', in North America, Australia and Europe.
BBC RADIO: BBC RADIO WALES is the English language national broadcaster for Wales. Since it began broadcasting, along with it's Welsh language counterpart, BBC Radio Clywd, in November 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.
It has previously operated two opt-out services, which no longer exist. These are;
BBC RADIO GWENT: This service ran from 18th April 1983 until March 1991
BBC RADIO CLWYD: This service ran from October 1981 until 1995.
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: REGIONAL:
DIGITAL:
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