Lite FM 106.8

Infobox Radio station
name = Lite FM 106.8 - Hear the Difference airdate = July 24 1999 frequency = 106.8 MHz area = Peterborough
format = Contemporary
owner = Forward Media Group
website = [http://www.lite1068.com/ www.lite1068.com]

Lite FM 106.8 is a United Kingdom radio station based in Peterborough. Serving Peterborough, Chatteris, March, Wisbech & Stamford. The Radio Station is currently based in Church Street, Peterborough on the third floor of the Northern Rock Building Society.

Station History

The brain child of Wayne Fitzgerald, the owner of the commercial production firm CAP Media, the station initially trialed as a restricted service licence (RSL) station, broadcasting on the 106.0 MHz FM frequency. During the first 3 RSL's, the station was based in temporary studios in the garage of the Fitzgerald family. In the first half of 1997 the station moved to Church Street, where it broadcast it's 4th RSL. Also during this time the station was simulcast on the Local Channel, as well as the cable FM hook-up (106.3 MHz), via the local cable companies system (Bell Cable Media originally).

The station launched on a permanent FM licence (106.8 MHz) at 10:00am on Saturday 24 July 1999. At the same time a live outside broadcast in Cathedral Square, hosted by Wayne Fitzgerald, Stuart Francis and various local dignitaries, was also held. The first official song played was 'So Good' by Boyzone. This was played by Andy Grahamme, who was the stations first live presenter when the station launched (Wayne Fiztgerald was the first voice on the station, although this was a short recording). The first scheduled programme was Saturday Sport, with Keith Hazelton & Neil Evans.

Original Line-up

Monday to Friday

* 6am-10am - Andy Grahamme
* 10am-1pm - Jo Redding
* 1pm-4pm - Keith Dalton
* 4pm-8pm - Nigel Kerr
* 8pm-12am - Matt Jarvis

Saturday

* 7am-10am - Keith Dalton & Claire Todd
* 10am-12pm - Nigel Kerr
* 12pm-2pm - Wayne Fitzgerald
* 2pm-6pm - Keith Hazleton, Neil Evans & Andy Baxter
* 6pm-10pm - Malcolm James
* 10pm-2am - Michael Faulkner

Sunday

* 7am-10am - Matt Jarvis
* 10am-12pm - Stewart Francis
* 12pm-2pm - John Bradley
* 2pm-5pm - Tom Hooper
* 5pm-8pm - Peter Tee
* 8pm-10pm - Ian Grey
* 10pm-1am - Kelvin Scott

During all other times the station used its ENCO Digital Audio Delivery system to provide automated programming.

News Presentation

Simon Potter and Sharon McAllister were the original newsreaders and served the station for six years before changes within the station saw a variety of different people reading bulletins. Simon Potter rejoined the station on a part-time basis in December 2007 to compile and read the breakfast news.

National & International news is provided to the station by IRN.

Line-up Changes & Current Presentation

Arguably one of Lite FM's failures has been a constantly changing line up, within months of launch Breakfast, Morning and Drivetime presenters were removed as part of a radical shake up of the station output, this also saw the departure shortly afterwards of several weekend presenters. At present only three of the original line up still present at the station with others having moved to competitors or out of the industry altogether.

In September 2006, presenter Kev Lawrence joined Lite FM from rival station Hereward FM having battled constantly to give Lite FM an audience share to rival their competitors. He was however never able match the listening figures he achieved at Hereward with Lite FM, pulling in an average breakfast audience share.

The Station is now Programmed by Gregg Nunney.

As of 9th June 2008 the schedule is:

Monday to Friday

*6am-9am The Early Morning Wake-Up with Keith Dalton
*9am-10am Ian Sharpe's Golden Years
*10am-2pm Talking Peterborough with Gregg Nunney
*2pm-3pm Flashback with Gary Ball
*3pm-7pm Gary Ball at Drivetime
*7pm-10pm Mike Clarke (Talking Sport 7-8pm Wednesday)
*10pm-12am Love till Midnite

Saturday

*7am-10am Gary Ball's Saturday Decades
*10am-2pm Keith and Claire
*2pm-6pm Steve McNeill
*6pm Saturday Night Party

Sunday

*7am-11am Mike Clarke
*11am-3pm Garry Capon
*3pm-4pm Best of the Early Morning Wake Up
*4pm-7pm Hit40UK
*7pm Sayeh Stone's Sing-a-long Classics
*10pm-12am Love till Midnite

Station Studios

The station has three studios consisting of two identical broadcast studios (Studios 1 & 3) and a talks studio for guests (studio 2), initially it was thought the DJ's would alternate between studios 1 and 3 but this was never put into action and hot-swapping between programmes remains. The stations music output is controlled by an ENCO Digital Audio Delivery system which allows for extensive automation, this is backed up by a variety of traditional CD and MiniDisc players mounted in moveable pods within the studio desk. Final output is controlled by the presenter through a customised RPL studio console which has 2 PPM Peak meters and a combined Mono output meter.

Connect FM and Lite FM now operate out of the same building in Peterborough. All on air studios have had a massive upgrade.

Restricted Service Licence Periods

* 17 September 1995 - 14 October 1995
* 17 March 1996 - 13 April 1996
* 27 October 1996 - 23 November 1996
* 20 June 1997 - 17 July 1997

Station Ownership

The station was originally owned by GP Broadcasting Limited, and was almost sold to GWR, for £2 million, in 2000, before finally being bought by Forward Media Ltd in March 2001.

External links

* [http://www.lite1068.com/home.htm Lite FM 106.8]
* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/d.allen43/Trans_sub_pages/gunthorpe.htm Gunthorpe transmitter.]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gunthorpe/index.php MB21 - Gunthorpe mast]