Wessex FM
50°42′50″N 2°26′17″W / 50.71377°N 2.43806°W
 | |
| 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 |
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.
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.
Presenters
- James O'Neill (Weekday Breakfast 6-10am)
- 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)
Mike Brown (Saturday and Sunday afternoons) Saturday 1pm-6pm Sunday 1pm-5pm
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
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