2-Ten FM

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2-Ten FM

Broadcast area	Reading and Basingstoke
First air date	8 March 1976
Frequency	97.0 MHz, 102.9 MHz and 103.4 MHz
Format	Contemporary
Owner	GCap Media
Website	www.2-tenfm.co.uk

2-Ten FM is an Independent Local Radio station serving Berkshire and North Hampshire with studios in Reading. Originally called Radio 210 (Two-One-Oh) it commenced broadcasting in March 1976 on its medium-wave frequency of 210 metres (210m/1431 kHz).

1 History
2 1987 Schedule
3 Split frequencies
4 Slogans
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History

The original parent company, Radio Kennet had won the licence to broadcast as far back as 1974, however plans for the station to float on the Stock Market as soon as it commenced broadcasting failed as it didn't raise enough cash. Radio Kennet returned in 1976 as Thames Valley Broadcasting. Radio 210 first broadcast on March 8th 1976 at 6am. Former Radio Two DJ Paul Hollingdale played the Carpenters record "We've Only Just Begun". Amongst the early presenters was Steve Wright, Mike Read, Tony Fox (dec'd) David Addis, Steve Crozier, Mike Mathews, Tony Holden and Steve Wood. Some of these early DJ's went on to gain national recognition. Radio 210 initially only served Reading, however that changed as it soon opened up another frequency of 102.9 VHF/FM at midday 1 January 1987 to serve a wider area of Berkshire and North Hampshire, with a Henley-on-Thames relay added in 1997.

[edit] 1987 Schedule

Radio 210 first became popular with listeners in the mid to late 70s with its dual DJ format - a partnership under the title of Read and Wright (Mike Read and Steve Wright). Working in a friendly partnership they had great banter and a good repartee together. They later became famous in separate careers on national radio.

In 1987, you could hear Graham Ledger with the breakfast show between 5:30 and 8:00, before David Hamilton came on at 8:00 with the morning show (he had just left BBC Radio 2 because he thought it was too middle-of-the-road, though ironically he is now on PrimeTime Radio). Radio 210 Sport was 'first with the action' with a regular sports bulletin 7 days a week: 8:30, 13:30 and 18:30 Monday to Friday and SportScene on Saturday afternoon with local and national fixtures. Results and reports at 16:40 and a sport check at 16:55. Keith Butler presented the weekend Tea-Time slot from 17:15 on Saturday and from 17:30 on Sunday.

[edit] Split frequencies

In the early 1993 Radio 210 split frequencies (as required then to do so by Government due to a radio act recently passed to end simulcasting) to provide two services - Radio 210 FM and 210 Classic Gold Radio, today known as 2-Ten FM and Classic Gold 1431/1485.

Radio 210 claimed to be 'the only comprehensive travel service in the Thames Valley and North Hampshire'. It had news bulletins on the hour every hour and also regional news during certain points throughout the day. 2-Ten FM is now owned by GCap Media.