Wessex FM: Difference between revisions

Wessex FM
Broadcast area	Weymouth, Dorchester & Bridport
Frequency	FM: 96.0, 97.2 MHz
Programming
Format	Contemporary
Ownership
Owner	The Local Radio Company; (UKRD Group)
History
First air date	4 September 1993
Links
Website	www.wessexfm.com

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Revision as of 07:56, 8 February 2015

50°42′50″N 2°26′17″W / 50.71377°N 2.43806°W / 50.71377; -2.43806

Wessex FM is a local radio station for the Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport areas of Dorset. All content is broadcast from its studios in Dorchester. It broadcasts on 97.2FM in Weymouth and Dorchester (from Bincombe Hill transmitter), and on 96.0FM in Bridport (from Bridport Transmitter).

Early days

A group of local radio enthusiasts had been campaigning to have an Independent Local Radio (ILR) station in Dorset for some time, and eventually the Radio Authority issued the license early in 1993 (This was probably one of the last totally independent commercial radio stations in the country). Stephen Oates was appointed as Managing Director, with Roger Kennedy as Programme Manager.

Having found a suitable premises in the centre of Dorchester, studio construction began while Roger started recruiting the on-air team and deciding on the programme format. Roger also suggested the station's on-air name - Wessex FM - and the original strapline - "From the Heart of Dorset"

The station went on the air at 10am on 4 September 1993, Roger Kennedy presenting the first programme, with several special guests including veteran presenter Tony Blackburn.

Wessex FM now

With its very wide range of music, as well as lots of local feature content and regular Outside Broadcasts, the station proved very popular from the outset, becoming the Number 1 station in the area.

Current Managing Director Steve Bulley joined the station in 2006 as Regional Programme Controller covering 8 stations in the South West. Following the UKRD takeover he became MD and in October 2014 successfully moved the radio station after 21 years in Trinity Street to new purpose built premises on the outskirts of Dorchester. Poundbury House, Poundbury West Ind Estate, Dorchester, DT1 2PG.

Presenters

James O'Neill (Weekday Breakfast 6-10am, Saturday Breakfast 6-8am)
Steve Bulley (Weekday Mornings/lunchtime 10am-2pm and Sunday Breakfast 6am-9am)
Maria Greenwood (Unplugged on Sunday 5-7pm) also news editor and reader
Dave Goulden (Afternoons 2pm-7pm including Drive Time from 4pm)
Kieran Williams (Weekday Evenings 7pm-midnight)
DJ Owen (Sunday night legends 7pm-midnight)
Carl Ashwin (Early breakfast 4-6am and Saturday Night Disco 6pm-midnight, Sunday Request Show 1-5pm)
Mike Brown Saturday 1pm-6pm

Notable past presenters

Roger Kennedy (Weekday Mid-Mornings) Roger came from Metro Radio to help set up the station as Programme Manager, after 4 years returned to the NE to join Century Radio as Phone-in presenter and Features Producer.
Phil Stocks
Jason Herbert (Weekday Breakfast, Dance Party) Left 13 Aug 2010 after 12 years at Wessex FM^[1] and started presenting the Breakfast show on Midwest Radio^{[disambiguation needed]} (Shaftesbury and Blandford) from 23 Aug 2010.^[2]

Other past presenters

Paul Evans
Maria Ferguson
Stuart McGinley
Martin Lee
Stewart Smith
Geoff Carter
Ian Timms
David Hollister
Glen Mitchell
Ray King
Andy Freeman
Nicky Stewart
Eric Peters
Jane Soule
Kevin Wilson
Emma Clements
David Woollatt
Phil Allen
Dan Lodge
Dave Luck
Iain Meadows
Mark Samways
Wendy Barker
Chris Giles
Dave Webster
Tony Adams
Julian Smith
Mark Guy
Paul Chivers
Del Thompson

External links

References

This article about a radio station in the United Kingdom is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] ttp://www.wessexfm.com/On-Air/jasonherbert.php

[2] ttp://www.farehampeople.co.uk/news/lsquo-truth-radio-closure-rumours-rsquo/story-6412341-detail/story.html

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 | owner = [[The Local Radio Company]]<br><small>([[UKRD Group]])</small>
 | website = [http://www.wessexfm.com www.wessexfm.com]
-| Twitter = [@WessexFM]
+| Twitter = [@WessexFM] }}
-}}
 '''Wessex FM''' is a local radio station for the Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport areas of Dorset. All content is broadcast from its studios in Dorchester.  It broadcasts on 97.2FM in Weymouth and Dorchester (from Bincombe Hill transmitter), and on 96.0FM in Bridport (from Bridport Transmitter).