- Ridings FM
Radio station
name = Ridings FM
airdate =October 3 1999
frequency = 106.8 MHz
share = 5.8%
share as of = September 2007
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
area =Wakefield
sister_stations =Dearne FM
format = Contemporary
webcast = [http://meta.as34763.net/content/649.asx 64kbit/s]
owner =Lincs FM Group Ridings FM is the
Independent Local Radio station servingWakefield and the Five Towns area sinceOctober 3 1999 . It is based on "Monckton Road" in Wakefield near the A636 bridge over theRiver Calder and is owned by theLincs FM Group .Transmitters
The transmitter is at Birkwood Farm, near Stanley Ferry, close to the
River Calder . Although the transmitter is not particularly high, but reasonably powerful for the area (compared to many Lincs FM Group stations) it covers, since July 2001 it has been on theEMAP Leeds DAB multiplex, which has expanded its listenership considerably. This service may not be continued as it is a significant cost and covers areas outside of Wakefield with a uneconomically small potential audience.FM licence
By the closing date of
September 8 1998 , three companies had [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/rau/newsroom/news-release/98/pr94.htm applied] for the Wakefield licence to the Radio Authority. The other bidders were WF 107 Ltd (based in Wakefield) and Henna FM Ltd (based inBatley providing Asian music). Ridings FM was awarded the licence onJanuary 7 1999 .Programming
The Breakfast show is presented by Kev Wilson, who took on the role after leaving
Kingstown Radio inKingston upon Hull . While [http://www.johntolson.com John Tolson] hosts the drivetime show and Andy Hoyle presents the late show.Other presenters include Chris Johnson, Joe Sentance, Rachel Bailey, Steve Orchard and Richard Shaw-Wright.
Former presenters on the station include Gareth Webb, Danny Lacey, Phil Butler, Dave Parker, Paul Stead, Steve White, Jamie Fletcher and Chris Hubbard.
According to a [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/formats/formats/fc/ridings.pdf memorandum] sent to
Ofcom , the station has never made a profit although being a technical success. Similar to combining the twoTrax FM stations inDoncaster , Lincs FM Group have [http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/Ridings-FM-moves-out-of.4018883.jp decided] to move Ridings FM to the studios nine miles away forDearne FM at Barugh, even though Ridings FM has a listenership twice that of Dearne FM.News and sport
Ridings FM's news team has won a Sony Bronze award in May 2000, and is made up of Holly Emery, May Norman and Beth Rhodes. The flagship news bulletin is "Report at Five". At off peak times the station uses the feed from
Independent Radio News .As well as news, Ridings FM covers local sports teams from the
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats ,Castleford Tigers andFeatherstone Rovers in rugby league, toOssett Albion ,Ossett Town ,Frickley Athletic andWakefield F.C. in football.For every home game in the 2006 National League One season, Ridings FM has had a column in the Castleford matchday programme.
External links
* [http://www.ridingsfm.co.uk Ridings FM]
* [http://wm.virginradio.co.uk/RidingsFm?MSWMExt=.asf Listen live]
* [http://www.geocities.com/thehotw/aircheck_UKYorks.htm History of local radio in Yorkshire]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/birkwood-farm.php Birkwood Farm transmitter]
* [http://www.thestudentwiki.org/wiki/index.php/Ridings_FM The Student Wiki]
* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/rau/newsroom/news-release/99/pr005.htm Receiving the licence in January 1999]
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