Hallam FM

Radio station
name = Hallam FM


slogan = "Your Station, Your Music"
airdate = October 1, 1974
frequency = 97.4 MHz (Sheffield),
102.9 MHz (Barnsley and Rotherham),
103.4 MHz (Doncaster),
DAB, [http://www.hallamfm.co.uk Online]
share = 13.9%
share as of = March 2008
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
area = South Yorkshire and the North Midlands
format = Contemporary
owner = Bauer Radio
webcast = [http://www.whatson.com/hallamfm/ Listen Live]
website = [http://www.hallamfm.co.uk/ www.hallamfm.co.uk]

Hallam FM is an independent local radio station broadcasting to South Yorkshire and the North Midlands. Its output is principally contemporary pop, and hits from the 80s and 90s. It is owned by Bauer Radio and is part of their Big City Network of stations. The station is based in Sheffield.

History

The station started broadcasting on 1548kHz/194m AM, 95.2 and 95.9 MHz FM under the name of Radio Hallam from its studios at Hartshead in Sheffield City Centre in October 1974 [http://www.jeffcooper.co.uk/hallam/indexLander.html] . The first presenter heard on air was ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Moran, the first record he played was "I've Got the Music in Me" by Kiki Dee, which stuck after a minute and a half.

In 1987, Hallam merged with neighbouring Yorkshire station Pennine Radio to form the Yorkshire Radio Network.

The frequencies were changed in the 80s to 96.1 FM for Rotherham, 97.4 FM for Sheffield, 102.9 FM for Barnsley, and 103.4 for the remainder of South Yorkshire. After a take-over of the parent company YRN by the Metro Radio group the AM frequency became Great Yorkshire Gold. The Rotherham transmitter was turned off in the 90s as part of Hallam's licence agreement and is now used by Rother FM. Hallam also moved buildings to 900 Herries Road, just minutes from Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground. The office space at Hartshead is now used by The "Sheffield Star" newspaper [http://www.mediauk.com/the_knowledge/i.muk/Hallam_FM] .

For a time, Hallam used the overnight sustaining service The Superstation.

As the Metro Radio group was bought by EMAP, Hallam FM also became part of the Big City Network.

Broadcasting

Hallam FM has a 26% reach in its broadcast area. [ [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php RAJAR quarterly listening figures published December 2007] ] Its main competitors are BBC Radio 1, Galaxy Yorkshire & Real Radio. Other local competing stations include; BBC Radio Sheffield, Peak FM, Rother FM, Dearne FM & Trax FM.

The station broadcasts on analogue frequencies on 97.4 FM (Tapton Hill), 103.4 FM (Clifton, near the M18) and 102.9 FM (Ardsley) in Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley respectively. Almost the whole region is covered on 103.4 FM. The station also broadcasts via DAB on the Bauer Radio multiplex, and on the internet.

Current presenters and shows

John Harrison (known as 'Big John'), currently presents the station's breakfast show on weekdays and "The Church of Big John" on Sunday mornings. The daytime schedule also includes Michelle Dignan, Ollie Hayes and Kam Kelly.

From 7 p.m. onwards, programming is networked with other Big City stations, and includes "In Demand with Rich and Luce" which originates from Key 103 on weekdays and "The Confessional", a mainly talk-based show which is broadcast from Hallam's studios but is also simulcast on 96.3 Radio Aire and 96.9 Viking FM. Overnights from 1am - 6am is networked from Manchester and is hosted by Nicksy on weekdays, and Dominic Walker at the weekend. [ [http://www.hallamfm.co.uk/programming.asp Current schedule] ]

Weekend output includes "Floorfillers" with Gav Richards and Richie Pearson on Saturday evenings (both are simulcast on 96.3 Radio Aire), and the networked chart show "Hit 40 UK" on Sunday afternoon. Jim Coulson, Matt Mackay and Patrick Billington also host weekend shifts.

Past presenters

Notable past presenters include:

* Jon Culshaw
* Matt Jagger - Presented Evenings under the name Phoneboy, now at BFBS
* Daryl Denham - Presented Breakfast in the late 90s, later returning to mid-mornings. Now at Real Radio (Yorkshire)
* Nick Margerrison - Presented Lates "Nick At Night", now at Kerrang Radio
* Scottie McClue - Presented Lates
* Tom Binns - Presented Lates
* Current and former hit40uk presenters Lucio Buffone and Simon Hirst both previously worked at Hallam FM
* Tim Shaw - Presented Lates
* Martin Kelner
* Keith Skues
* Graham Mack
* Diana Luke - Presented Lates
* Dixie - Presented Evenings, now at Real Radio (Yorkshire)
* Dave Bethell - Presented Drive
* Matt Foister - Presnented Drive with Emma, now at SGR FM
* Emma Wasden - Presented Drive with Matt, now at Tower FM
* James Piekos - Presented Overnights, now at 96.9 Viking FM
* Kelly Temple
* Johnny Moran
* Debbie Mac
* Bill MacDonald
* Martin Kelner
* Vicky Locklin
* Gerry Kersey
* Roger Moffatt
* James H Reeve
* Dave Ellis - Presented mid-mornings and did cover, now on Key 103 (Manchester), Magic 1152 (Manchester) and The Hits (UK wide)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.hallamfm.co.uk Hallam FM]
* [http://www.geocities.com/thehotw/aircheck_UKYorks.htm History of local radio in Yorkshire.]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/clifton.asp Clifton transmitter.]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/sheffield.asp Tapton Hill/Crosspool transmitter.]