Power FM

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103.2 Power FM

Broadcast area	South Hampshire
First air date	4 December 1988
Frequency	103.2 MHz FM
Format	Adult Contemporary
Owner	GCap Media
Website	www.powerfm.com

1 Overview
2 History
3 New Studios
4 The launch of Power FM
5 Mergers, takeovers and relaunches
6 Power FM today
7 Presenters
8 The Breakfast Show
9 Other Shows
10 FM and AM Transmitters
11 Slogans
12 References
13 External links
14 External links

[edit] Overview

Power FM (or 103.2 Power FM) is an Independent Local Radio station owned by GCap Media (formerly by Capital Radio Group) and based in South Hampshire, England, UK. Broadcasting on 103.2 MHz FM, the station is part of GCap Media's One Network, and is one of the South of England's most popular radio stations. The station is based in Segensworth, near Fareham in Hampshire, along with its sister stations, Ocean FM and Capital Gold (Hampshire). Power FM also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio and online [1].

[edit] History

Ocean Sound's predecessor, Radio Victory provided the first local radio service in the South of England in 1975, with its small transmission area around Portsmouth. The station was disliked by many listeners and when the Independent Broadcasting Authority re-advertised the Portsmouth licence to include Southampton and Winchester, it lost out to a new consortium called Ocean Sound Ltd. Ocean Sound proposed an expanded coverage area taking in Southampton. Radio Victory ceased operations in 1985, a couple of weeks earlier than the expiry date of its franchise, with a test transmission informing listeners of the unprecedented situation. Ocean Sound took over programme provision in 1986 from a new purpose-built broadcast unit in a business park outside Fareham, Hampshire.

Ocean Sound debuted on 12 October 1986, initially with two services - Ocean Sound (West), covering Southampton and Winchester, and Ocean Sound (East) serving Portsmouth and the surrounding area. Ocean Sound (West) used 103.2 MHz FM and 1557 kHz AM. Ocean Sound (East) used 97.5 MHz FM and 1170 kHz AM. The East service underwent a change of frequency which was inherited by Radio Victory (from 95.0 MHz to 97.5 MHz FM). Both services shared daytime output with specialist programmes broadcasting uniquely on each service - for instance on Saturday afternoons, an Isle of Wight programme with Jean-Paul Hansford would air on Ocean Sound (West), while an alternative would air on Ocean Sound (East).

On 6th December 1987, a separate service was provided for Winchester and the surrounding areas on 96.7 MHz FM, entitled Ocean Sound (North) - The Light FM. It had its own programmes from 6am-2pm (later, the 5-9pm show was also separate) but relayed the Ocean Sound East service at other times. This was prior to the enforced termination of simulcasting programmes on FM and AM, which would see all the services transformed.

The reason that two stations launched, rather than an expanded solo station is that then Managing Director David Lucas identified two potential audiences: one familiar with commercial radio (in the East area), and one largely acquainted with the BBC (the West area, of which the majority of local listening was to BBC Radio Solent). Ocean Sound (East) therefore sounded livelier that its West counterpart, which took on a more softer sound.

The new stations were a refreshing change, as listeners to Radio Victory had lamented its lack of professionalism and a coherent, agreeable sound, both of which were greatly improved. The slogan used at the time - "We're on your wavelength" suggested this.

[edit] New Studios

Once the franchise was won, Ocean Sound needed brand-new state of the art studios in Segensworth West, a district outside Fareham, beside the M27 motorway in Hampshire. This move to base themselves outside the two major cities of Southampton and Portsmouth was a strategic one, so as not to appear sounding biased in favour of either city and to remove any lingering associations with Radio Victory, a poorly received radio station primarily focused on Portsmouth.

The following is an excerpt of an 1982 interview with then Managing Director David Lucas in an Independent Broadcasting Authority publication:

"The original plan was to have studio buildings and offices in both Portsmouth and Southampton,' says Lucas. 'But that is an unnecessarily complicated way of doing the job. The important thing is for the programmes themselves to provide a strong and relevant local identity. Contribution studios have been established in both Portsmouth and Southampton to provide direct city-centre access to the airwaves for interviewees and guests."

"...But Lucas, like some other radio managers, wonders whether the high standards of IBA studio specifications are always necessary. 'A significant proportion of studio costs comes in sound-proofing them'; says Lucas. 'Would it really matter if the listener heard the occasional lorry rumbling past outside? With most stations operating on close mic techniques anyway, peripheral noise can be minor'".

Once the studios were complete, staff needed to be hired - almost from scratch. Sales managers and a Head of News were all recruited, ironically from Radio Victory. Construction of the new studios took under a year and finished in time for the station's launch in 1986.

[edit] The launch of Power FM

1987 saw Ocean Sound undergo a massive reorgansation of its frequencies and services, coinciding with the IBA's demand to end simulcasting on FM and AM. The main changes were:

Ocean Sound (West) on FM would become The Power FM
Ocean Sound (East) on FM would become FM-only and simply renamed Ocean Sound
Ocean Sound on AM would become The Gold AM

with a new addition:

Ocean Sound (North) on FM to be known as The Light FM.

Power FM launched on Sunday 4 December 1988 at 10 am. Power FM was designed as a direct competitor to BBC Radio 1 in the area, with a heavy rotation of chart and Top 40 pop and mainstream dance, with quick hourly news and information. With Ocean Sound there would be significantly more speech, coupled with slightly older adult contemporary music. Power FM would be the opposite, with a music-intensive approach designed to get at the emerging demand for chart music which wasn't available locally. The opening presenter line-up included Pete Wardman, Bernie Simmons, Chris Kelly, Adrian Lovett, Chris Pearson and Judy Jones.

[edit] Mergers, takeovers and relaunches

Sussex radio station Southern Sound looked upon Ocean Sound as a potential takeover target, citing its location in a prosperous and commercially attractive area of England. So in 1992 a merger was agreed forming Southern Radio plc, which would see further changes to Ocean Sound:

Power FM would continue
Ocean Sound and The Light FM would unite as Ocean Sound - Classic Hits (later abbreviated just to Ocean FM)
The Gold AM would merge with Southern Sound's AM frequencies to create South Coast Radio.

In 1994 Capital Radio, looking for expansion possibilities, opted to purchase Southern Radio plc, which included Power FM. This led to more changes, this time to the on-air sound rather than name changes. Whilst sister-station Ocean FM would take on a softer sound, Power FM took on Capital FM's long-established, successful and highly-polished sound, with news bulletins at the top of the hour finishing with the sentence "And that's the way it is at <time check>".

[edit] Power FM today

103.2 Power FM remains a popular radio station, despite South Hampshire having a higher proportion of adults, rather than its target 18-25 age range. Now part of the One Network group of stations, it still has the high-energy sound listeners have come to expect, but with additional resources for programming - regularly linking up with nearby 2CR FM in Bournemouth and 2-Ten FM in Reading, along with the rest of the GCap "One Network" for Entertainment Weekly (formerly Seven), chart show Hit40UK and Late Night Love with Graham Torrington.

Power FM went digital in 2003, airing on DAB digital radio in South Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, along with sister stations Ocean FM, Capital Gold, Capital Disney and XFM.; competitors Wave 105, The Saint, and BBC Radio Solent.

[edit] Presenters

Power FM's current presenter lineup as of 2007 comprises of:

Rick Jackson (Power's longest-serving presenter)
Donna Alos
Maximum Bob
'Handy Andy The Producer'
Dan Morrissey
Claire Anderson
Lloydie
Katie Mattin
Graham Torrington
Danielle Perry
Sarah Oakley
Alex Duffy
Ben Glover

[edit] The Breakfast Show

The Power FM Breakfast Show is presented by Rick Jackson, Donna Alos and Maximum Bob every morning from 6am to 9am. It is Power's flagship programme and is only one of two programmes to feature live traffic reports. This previously took place from the Flying Eye sponsored by O2, which flew at 2500 feet above the South of England in a light aircraft based at Southampton Airport. Traffic reports are broadcast every fifteen minutes from the Power FM "Travel Centre" by Donna Alos (delivering the reports on the Breakfast Show) and Katie Mattin (who does the same for Lloydie's Drivetime Show). Information comes from sources such as the AA and the Power FM Roadcrew - a group of drivers who follow the same route to work every morning and afternoon, calling in to alert listeners of any problems. The Roadcrew's reports are often broadcast live over the radio.

Another regular member of the team is Handy Andy the Producer. An "expert" guitar player, he even organised an unofficial song for England during Euro 2004, sold in shops across Hampshire.

[edit] Other Shows

Dan Morrissey hosts the mid-morning show. Dan originally joined Power in 2003 to present the evening show and Power Select, giving listeners the opportunity to select what they want to hear throughout the entire show.

Claire Anderson was a regular replacement presenter on Power before joining the Afternoon Show in 2005, replacing (Red Hot) Emma Scott.

Lloydie presents the Drivetime Show on Power, and replaced Rik Scott. He enjoys Jack Daniel's and in November 2005, was allegedly taken off the air for saying something he shouldn't have done.

Ben Glover was Dan Morrissey's replacement and presents Power's Evening Show and the HMV Power Countdown on Saturday morning. He has a habit of saying "Hello Sexy" on air.

[edit] FM and AM Transmitters

Chillerton Down, Isle of Wight: 103.2 MHz FM (2 kW) directional transmitter - covering Southampton, South-West Hampshire and most of the Isle of Wight (Power FM)