Belfast CityBeat

Infobox Radio Station
name = Citybeat 96.7FM/102.5FM


location = Belfast
area =Greater Belfast on FM & Northern Ireland on DAB
branding =
slogan = "More Music More Variety"
airdate = 6 April 1990
relaunch date = 30 September 1996
frequency = 96.7 MHz Greater Belfast

102.5 MHz

(North Belfast,

Newtownabbey,

Carrickfergus)

Bangor DABNorthern Ireland Wide

[http://www.citybeat.co.uk Online]
share = 8.5%
share as of = March 2008
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
format = Adult Contemporary
power = 600W (96.7)
erp =
class =
callsign_meaning =
owner = CN Group
website = [http://www.citybeat.co.uk Citybeat's Official Website]

Belfast CityBeat (commonly referred to as just "Citybeat") is a Northern Irish radio station. It broadcasts to Greater Belfast on 96.7 MHz FM and on DAB Digital Radio across all of Northern Ireland. From April 5th, 2007 Citybeat became available on 102.5FM for north Belfast, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus. As of 2nd November 2007, Citybeat launched a 3rd FM transmitter also broadcasting on 102.5FM for Bangor. Citybeat plays a mixture of songs from the 1980s, 1990s, and later, as well as local news, sport and information.

uccess

In 2007 the station scooped gongs on a local, national and international level and was the only station from Northern Ireland to receive nominations and subsequent wins at the 'Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards' and 'The New York Radio Festival'. Citybeat continues to enjoy listener growth in Belfast attracting a weekly audience of 146,000 listeners in the capital alone.

Young Star Search

Since 2007, the radio station has been home of 'The Young Star Search', Northern Irelands biggest ever talent search for kids. The contest was developed and is hosted by Stuart Robinson. Judges in 2008 included Jessy, Mickey Modelle, Gerard McCarthy, Rachel Tucker and Brian Kennedy. Young Star Search is also televised on Belfast TV station NVTV. The TV segments are hosted by Stuart McQuitty.

Current Presenters

* Stuart Robinson 1995 - today
* Paul Orr 1995-1999; 2005 - today
* Owen Larkin 1998 - today
* Robin Elliott 2001 - today
* Andy Pugh 2004 - today
* Mark Lima 2004 - today
* Neal McClelland 1999; 2004 - 2005; 2006 -today
* Suzy Caddell 2005 - 2006; 2008-today
* Paul Francis 2002- 2005; 2006- today
* David Coleman 2007 - today
* Natalie Miller 2007 - today
* Vicky Pitchers 2008 - today
* Emma Fitzpatrick 2008 - today
* Owen Beers 1991 - 1997; 2000; 2008-today

Awards

Citybeat has won more Sony Radio Academy Awards than any other commercial radio station in Northern Ireland along with a number of other top awards. Recent awards include:

*Sony Gold 2002
*Sony Gold x2 2003
*Sony Gold x2 2004 + Sony Silver
*NTL Station of the Year 2003
*Stephen Nolan - Best presenter Irish Entertainment Awards 2003
*Joe Ferguson (radio presenter) - Best presenter Irish Entertainment Awards 2004
*Marc & Dave - Best Irish Breakfast Show Irish Entertainment Awards 2006
*IPR Award - News Broadcaster of the Year Marc Mallett 2007
*PANI Award - The One That Got Away / Production Award - Keith Law 2007
* Marc & Dave - Best Irish Breakfast Show Irish Entertainment Awards 2007
* Irish radio station of the year - Irish Entertainment Awards 2007
* Bronse New York Festival - News Programme 'Belfast Tonight' 2007
* Arqiva UK Commercial Radio Station of the Year 2007
* Stuart Robinson P&M Awards Nomination 2007
* Stuart Robinson Arqiva UK Commercial Radio Awards Nomination 2008
* Stuart Robinson & Work Experience Boy - Best presenter Irish Entertainment Awards 2008
* PPI Awards- Mark and Vicki - Best Irish Breakfast Show

Affiliates

Under the ownership of Owen Oyston, CityBeat had a couple of short lived affiliate stations on AM, namely Goldbeat 828 (Formerly Townland Radio) in Cookstown, and Heartbeat 1521 (formerly Radio 1521) in Craigavon. Citybeat handed back the licences to the Radio Authority just two years after buying the stations due to lack of commercial viability.Fact|date=April 2007 Heartbeat was on the air from 1996 to 1999 and Goldbeat broadcast between 1995 and 1999. The licence for Craigavon has to date never been re-advertised however Cookstown was re-advertised on FM in 2002 and was ironically granted back to Citybeat (by now under new ownership of CN group) in February 2003 Mid FM was launched as the local radio station for Mid-Ulster (from the same building and studio as Townland/Goldbeat broadcast). In 2006 Citybeat sold the station to Northern Media (owners of Ballymena 7fm) they rebranded the station to Six FM.

From 2000 to 2004, Citybeat also broadcast RSL stations Castle FM in Carrickfergus and Bangor FM in Bangor to support local festivals. In August 2000 Citybeat also provided Fast FM in Irvinestown as a trial broadcast for the pending commercial licence for Omagh and Enniskillen. The licence was later awarded to Q Network Radios Q101.2.

BCR (1990-1996)

Prior to its relaunch in 1996, Citybeat was known as BCR or Belfast Community Radio, a community focused station which failed to attract listener interest. BCR launched at 7.30am on 6th April 1990 and managed to stay on the air for six years. BCR presenters prior to the 1996 relaunch included Rick Nugent, Maurice Jay, Mal Reynolds, Stuart Robinson, Phil Doyle, Paul Orr and Stephen Nolan. At the time of its demise, BCR was pulling in little over 30,000 listeners. Stuart Robinson was the last presenter on BCR when it switched to Citybeat at midnight on 30th September 1996.

The station broadcast from the basement of Russell Court Complex on Belfast's Lisburn Road. In 1997 (as Citybeat) the station moved to Stranmillis before moving in 2006 to Ormeau Road.

Rick Nugent was the first presenter on BCR who launched the station with "Maira O'Connell" and "Feet of a Dancer". Nugent left when Citybeat started in 1996 but returned as Nolan's replacement in 2003 before leaving again in 2005.

General Station Info

*96.7FM has now been transmitting across Belfast daily for 18 years, first as BCR, later as Citybeat.

*The Citybeat news jingle from 1998 is heard in the film Divorcing Jack. The lead character is heard listening to Stephen Nolan, Chris Buckler & Christine Bleakley, who were Citybeat presenters at the time.

*The last presenter to broadcast on BCR was Stuart Robinson at midnight on 30 September 1996. The last song to be played on BCR was "Sacrifice" by Elton John. The Station Relaunched as Citybeat with new breakfast presenters Dave Stevens and Caroline Bartley. Robinson, is now Citybeats longest serving presenter ever and was also the last voice heard on Citybeat's sister station Radio 1521 (Heartbeat) in Craigavon in August 1999.

*The first song played on Citybeat was at midnight on 1st November 1996 and was Starship with We Built This City.

* Belfast born Brian Kennedy was the choice to open the stations new studios in 2006. Kennedy, a Citybeat fan, credits the Belfast station as playing a huge part in his success.

*Citybeat's FM transmitters are based on the Black Mountain transmitting station for 96.7FM, Carnmoney Hill for 102.5FM in Newtownabbey and Bryansburn Road, Bangor Town Centre for 102.5FM in North Down. Programmes are broadcast from modern studios located on the Ormeau Road close to Belfast city centre.

*From October 2001, Citybeat has been available on the Northern Ireland Digital Multiplex - giving the station province wide coverage. The 6 digital transmitter sites are Black Mountain (Greater Belfast), Colinward (North Belfast/South East Antrim), Limavady (North Coast), Sherrifs Mountain (Londonderry / North West), Strabane (The West) and Brougher Mountain (Fermanagh & Tyrone).

*Citybeat's newer transmitters broadcasts on 102.5FM and delivers the station to areas previously sheltered by the Cavehill, such as North Belfast, Newtownabbey, Glengormley and Carrickfergus. Another transmitter also on 102.5FM provides coverage for Bangor and North County Down.

*Citybeat's main 96.7 MHz FM transmitter on Black Mountain has a power output of 600W with mixed polarisation.

Competition

Citybeat regularly attracts the largest market share of all commercial radio in Belfast. It's current audience is 146'000 listeners weekly in Belfast, however the station also attracts additional audience on DAB radio across Northern Ireland, as well as online listening which is not included in this figure.

Its main competition is Bauer Radio owned Cool FM. Other main local stations Downtown Radio and U105 also add to the mix but have fewer listeners than Citybeat in Greater Belfast.

The local BBC station is BBC Radio Ulster. In addition all national BBC, RTE and UK/ROI national commercial stations can be received in Belfast. Some pirate stations (mainly operating along the Armagh border) along with a selection of regular RSL stations and 4 full time community stations can also be heard in the Citybeat area. A selection of national digital stations are also available on the Northern Ireland DAB multiplex and Queens Student Radio in Belfast also broadcast on MW/AM.

Outside of Belfast there are 6 smaller local stations and an opt-out for BBC Radio Ulster for the North West known as BBC Foyle.

Past Presenters

* Lisa McCormick 2002; 2005 - 2008
* David Gordon 2006 - 2008
* Marc Mallett 1997 - 2007
* Dave McGeagh 2004 - 2007
* Tierna Magee 2006 - 2007
* Lauren Hood 2006 - 2007
* Maurice Jay 1993 - 1997; 2001 - 2005
* Johnny Glover 2004 - 2005
* Stevie Robinson 2003 - 2006
* Kenny Tosh 1995 - 2005
* David Johnson 1994 - 2004
* Phil West 1992 - 1995; 1997 - 2005
* Stephen Nolan 1995 - 2003
* George Seth 2006 - 2007
* Kenny Davis 1999 - 2006
* Bob Lea 2005 - 2007
* Andrew Gold 1997 - 2004
* Gayle Hunter 1998 - 2004
* Nick Richards 1997 - 2001
* Nigel Skuce 1998-1999; 2000
* John Byrne 1999 - 2000
* Sam McFerrin 1998 - 2001
* Jimmy Leavy 2005
* Noel Hyndman 1990 - 2000
* Ross Mawhinney 1999 - 2003
* Lisa Flavelle 1993 - 1997
* Olive Melville 1995 -1996
* Dave Stephens 1996
* Davy Cunningham 1994 - 1997; 1998
* Phil Doyle 1995 - 2000
* Davy Cash 1995 - 2000
* Eddie West 1998 - 1999
* Justin McCartney 2002 - 2004
* Derek Flood 2001
* Mary Johnston 1990 - 1996; 1998
* Rick Nugent 1990 -1996; 2003 - 2005
* Ronan Kelly 1990 -1991; 2003
* Joe Ferguson (radio presenter) 2004 - 2005
* Denise Watson 1995 - 1999
* Christine Bleakley 1995 - 1998
* Chris Buckler 1997 - 2001
* Nigel Ringland 1997 - 2000
* John Rosborough 2000 - 2004
* Mark Somerville 1995 - 1996; 2001 - 2004
* Mal Reynolds 1990 - 1996
* Neil McLeod 2005

External links

* [http://www.citybeat.co.uk Official citybeat.co.uk] - Official site.
* [http://citybeatradio.org/ Citybeat Radio] - Often confused with "Citybeat".