Bath FM

Radio station


name=107.9 Bath FM
airdate= 15 November 1999
frequency=107.9 MHz
share = 4.8%
share as of = March 2008
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
area= Bath
slogan= Your City, Your Station
format = Contemporary
owner = Laser Broadcasting

Bath FM is a local radio station based at the former Weston (Bath) railway station in Bath, England.

Programming

Around 4 hours of programming is pre-record or 'Automated' during weekdays. Evening, Night Time and some Weekend programmes are 'networked' in line with the rest of the TLRC group of stations. However, Bath FM broadcasts live at least 18 hours weekdays, 17 hours Saturdays and 15 hours a day on Sunday from its own premises.

The station received its biggest and best RAJAR figures in the first half of 2002 long before the time of presenters James Carpenter and Karl Bennett, who both presented the breakfast show during their time at Bath FM.

Things were a bit ropey between 2005 - 2006 and in January 2007 there was a well deserved shake up. Breakfast legend Ian 'Knocka' Dore took over brekkers from Roger Noble. John 'ramrod' Watson was promoted to head of news and the new PC and drive jock, Tim Lewis joined 3 months later. After a 12 month period they had ( along with the rest of the Bath FM team )increased the RAJAR figures an astonishing 60%

The team also received their first major nomination in the Nation and Region awards missing out to BBC Guernsey. Other highlights throughout 2007 were a staggering 98 outside broadcasts and becoming the first radio station to broadcast live from the top of Bath Abbey.

Ownership

In February 2006, Bath FM was taken over by The Local Radio Company or TLRC as it is known [http://www.mediauk.com/radio/news/18/bath-fm] . The TLRC group owns many stations in the UK though they have just sold 6 in this particular patch. This includes Bath FM, 3TR, Brunel FM, Vale FM and Ivel FM due to the stations not being profitable. Prior to this take over, Bath FM was an independent local radio station which launched in November 1999 as an alternative to GWR, a rival station serving Bath. In June 2008 TLRC sold Bath FM along with Brunel FM and 3TR FM to Laser Broadcasting. So far there have been no redundancies.

Technical

Bath FM's signal is broadcast from a transmitter based at Bathampton Down, next to the University of Bath [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/bath.shtml] .

In November 2007 ( against everyones will, save for senior management of TLRC ) Bath FM moved their studio's to Swindon. Some 35 miles away from their broadcast area, after Ofcom agreed to a request from The Local Radio Company to co-locate Bath FM with Brunel FM. It came as no shock that this move did nothing but hamper the efforts of the Station and almost killed it dead. It cost TLRC thousands and gained them nothing.

However on 9th of September under Laser Broadcasting, Bath FM moved BACK INTO Station House and once again broadcast from the City. They are the only commercial radio station to do so as GWR are actually based in Bristol!

Previous presenters

Tim Manns, Lee Wardle, Jonathan Fido (Philips), Simon Parkin, Paul James, James Carpenter, Geoff Barker, Trevor Reid, Graham Godwin, Imogen Sellars, Steve Collins, Ben Williams, Chris Wood, Nigel Richards, Roger Noble.

External links

* [http://www.iandore.co.uk www.iandore.co.uk] - Brekkers host site.
* [http://www.bathfm.com www.bathfm.com] - Official site.
* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/ccr/bathfm/bathfm.pdf further reading on TLRC takeover] - Ofcom.
* [http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2499 Bath FM moves out of town to Swindon] - Ofcom.