107.8 Arrow FM

Infobox Radio Station
name = 107.8 Arrow FM


city =
area = Hastings & Bexhill
branding =
slogan = Radio for 1066 Country
airdate = 10 April 1998
frequency = 107.8 MHz
share = 7.4%
share as of = September 2007
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
format = Popular Music
power = Not enough!
erp = 100w
class = omni polarisation
callsign_meaning =
owner = Local Radio Company
website = [http://www.arrowfm.co.uk www.arrowfm.co.uk]

107.8 Arrow FM is the first licensed radio station in Hastings, England.

History

The history of the station dates back to 1992 when two local radio entrepreneurs, Mark Briggs and Matthew Wheeler, conducted several highly successful pilot broadcasts in Hastings (HLR) using Restricted Service Licences. And two in Eastbourne 'ELR' and 'Sovereign' which broadcast from the bridge of the "Earl OF Zetland" a floating restaurant at Sovereign Harbour. A third trial broadcast to Hastings "Splash FM" took place in June 1993, the licence holder was local DJ Terry James and the station manager was Terry Kane.

The group disbanded a year before the Radio Authority advertised a licence for one or more services in East Sussex, leaving well respected local businessman Bill Uttley-Moore CBE to assemble a consortium of local investors and existing radio operators.

Permanent licence

His company, Conqueor Broadcasting Ltd, was awarded the licence for Hastings in the summer of 1997. Founder Mark Briggs joined as Managing Director and successfully launched the station on Good Friday, August 10th 1998.

The station was programmed by Peter Quinn, who also presented the breakfast show (Mon-Fri, 6-10am) with a side-kick known as 'Clive'. Other presenters from the launch days included Leon Jackson (10-2pm), Kevin Dyball (known then on Arrow FM as Kevin Marshall, 2-6pm), 1066@6 (news/interview sequence), Rob Wilson (6:30-10pm), Ambrose Harcourt with a love song show called "Cupid's Arrow" (10-12am). The slot was later called "The Radio Lounge" (easy-listening), presented by Terry Kane. Weekend and cover-jocks Terry James and Gavin Lawrence also featured regularly in the early days. The News Editor was Mike Buxton, who is still at the station, as Station Manager.

By 2000 the station became part of a larger radio company which also had interests in nearby stations. This group went on to become Local Radio Company which continues to own and operate the station.

External links

* [http://www.arrowfm.co.uk Arrow FM official website]
* [http://www.thelocalradiocompany.com The Local Radio Company]