Radio Pembrokeshire

Infobox Radio Station
name = 102.5 Radio Pembrokeshire


city = Narbeth
area = Pembrokeshire
branding =
slogan = "Great Music and County News"
airdate = July 14 2002
frequency = 102.5 MHz, 107.5 MHz (Fishguard and Tenby)
share = 30.6%
share as of = March 2008
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
format = Adult Contemporary
power =
erp =
class =
callsign_meaning =
owner = Town and Country Broadcasting
website = [http://www.radiopembrokeshire.com 102.5 Radio Pembrokeshire]

Radio Pembrokeshire is an independent local radio station (ILR) located in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was launched officially at 10am on Sunday, 14 July 2002.

History

The prelude to Radio Pembrokeshire was Haven FM, which broadcast on 107.0 MHz from a small makeshift studio at Bethany Chapel in Pembroke Dock during the summer of 1999. The first 30-day trial broadcast of Haven FM went down well with the residents of Pembroke, Pembroke Dock and Neyland. During the second stint of broadcasting in November/December 1999, the station was encouraging listeners to send in letters and cards to Haven FM to prove their case for a local station to the Radio Authority (now part of Ofcom), which issued all commercial radio broadcast licences in the UK.

Following two more 30-day trial broadcasts (a maximum of four broadcasts were permitted) during 2000, Haven FM went off air from their small studios in December 2000, quietly confident that they had secured enough of a mandate to win the licence not only to broadcast permanently to Pembroke & Pembroke Dock, but to the whole county of Pembrokeshire.

In November 2001, Haven FM beat off two other rival applications from More FM and Real Radio. They were awarded an eight-year licence which expires in July 2010. The station broadcasts to the majority of the county of Pembrokeshire on 102.5 MHz FM at high power from the Haverfordwest transmitting station near Woodstock, and to Fishguard and Tenby from separate low power transmitters in each town, both on 107.5 MHz FM.

It was at this point that the managing director, Keri Jones, renamed his new station 'Radio Pembrokeshire' to reflect the fact that it was to broadcast countywide, and not just a small area around the Cleddau Estuary. The original location for the station was to be in the centre of Pembrokeshire's administrative town, Haverfordwest. Following problems in securing premises in Haverfordwest, a suitable building was found at the Old School Estate in Narberth (pictured) - some 9 miles to the east of Haverfordwest near the border with neighbouring Carmarthenshire.

After seven months of planning, building studios and training staff the station was finally launched on 14th July 2002. The station voice since 2002 has been Trish Bertram.

Ownership & Management changes

On August 21, 2006 it was reported in the press that Keri Jones, Managing Director, along with all the remaining local directors and shareholders was to leave Haven FM (Pembrokeshire) Ltd which Keri Jones founded with local businessman Stephen Cole in November 2000. Keri Jones has since moved to the Scilly Isles and has launched his own community radio station, Radio Scilly. The shares of Jones and the other local directors in "Haven FM (Pembrokeshire) Ltd" were sold to Town & Country Broadcasting Ltd.

The company now owns and operates five local radio stations across south Wales including:
*Bridge FM
*Swansea Bay Radio
*Scarlet FM
*Radio CarmarthenshireAs well as a South Wales Regional station named Nation Radio

Martin Mumford (formerly of Brunel FM in Swindon) is the group managing director.

Presenters

Presenters:

*James Bruce
*Toby Ellis
*Ed Goddard (Programme Manager)
*Sarah Miller
*Will Prichard
*BB Skone
*Ruth Davies
*Gareth Morris
*Rev Peter Lewis

Reporters & Producers:

*Jim Hughes
*Gareth Morris

Newsreaders:

*Sara Andrew

Awards

In the first five years following its launch, Radio Pembrokeshire won a string of high-profile industry awards including...

2003

Sony Radio Academy
*Silver Award in Wales

2004

Sony Radio Academy
*Silver Award in Wales

2005

Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards
*Commercial station of the year (under 300,000 TSA)

2006Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards
*Commercial station of the year (under 300,000 TSA)

ee also

*Radio Carmarthenshire
*Pembrokeshire

External links

* [http://www.videomajic.co.uk/RadioPembs/LaunchChapter2.htm Video documentary of Radio Pembrokeshire's launch in July 2002]
* [http://www.townandcountrybroadcasting.com Town & Country Broadcasting]
* [http://www.radiopembrokeshire.com Radio Pembrokeshire]
* [http://www.radiocarmarthenshire.com Radio Carmarthenshire]
* [http://www.thisispembrokeshire.net The Western Telegraph (local newspaper)]