Delta FM
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| Delta FM | |
| Broadcast area | East Hampshire South West Surrey North West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.1, 101.6, 101.8 and 102.0 MHz |
| First air date | November 22, 1992 |
| Format | Hits from last 5 decades |
| Audience share | 8.1% (September 2007, [1]) |
| Owner | Tindle Radio Group |
Delta FM is a United Kingdom local radio station.
Broadcasting to East Hampshire, Southwest Surrey and Northwest Sussex from its studio centre in Bordon, Delta FM is a local radio station providing local news, community information, and specialist music programming to the towns of Alton, Petersfield, Haslemere, Liphook, Bordon and Four Marks as well as the surrounding area.
The station broadcasts 24 hours a day from its studio centre in Bordon, Hampshire. These studios were opened at the end of 2005 and are equipped with the latest broadcasting technology. Delta originally operated two separate studios, one in Prospect Place, Alton, and another in Weyhill, Haslemere.
The original Delta Radio first broadcast in January 1990. It was the brainchild of County Sound CEO, Mike Powell who successfully lobbied the Radio Authority for permission to put separate programming for the Haslemere district on what was originally intended to be a relay transmitter for Guildford's County Sound. The station was launched by County Sound's Terry Mann, formerly Programme Director of Radio 210, Reading.
After County Sound merged with Radio Mercury to form Allied Radio, Delta Radio was closed down by its new owners in 1994 and the transmitter went back to being a relay. However, when Mike Powell's UKRD Group won the Guildford licence (after it came up for renewal), Delta Radio was relaunched in 1996. Meanwhile, Wey Valley Radio had been operating as a full time service in nearby Alton and Four Marks since 1992 this station was launched as a "community" station by David Way and Paul Mann after years of campaigning for such a licence and is still the licence holder today,it was acquired by UKRD in 1994,the decision to to merge the two stations together operationally was made in 1998 and the Wey Valley service was re named Delta. In 2000, the Haslemere licence (which had previously been a part of the Surrey and Northeast Hampshire franchise) was merged with the Alton licence to finally form a single radio station.
Due to the geographical conditions, Delta FM uses five transmitters to cover its transmission area, which broadcast on four separate frequencies.
The 97.1 FM transmitter is situated at the Holy Cross Hospital in Haslemere and serves Haslemere and the surrounding area.
Two transmitters operate on 101.6 FM. The first of these is situated in Medstead which is close to Four Marks. This transmitter covers the West of the Delta FM transmission area and has been heard as far south as the New Forest and the Isle of Wight! The second transmitter on 101.6FM operates from the Hindhead crossroads on the A3 and operates as in "in-fill" between the service areas of the 97.1 and 102 transmitters.
A transmitter on 101.8 serves Petersfield and the surrounding area. This transmitter was added in 2003 after many years of campaigning.
The final transmitter, on 102, operates from Holybourne near to Alton. This transmitter can be heard from Farnham to Four Marks and also covers Bordon.
Delta FM prides itself on providing high quality specialist programmes presented and produced by local people. September 2007: Greg Williams, Julie Cottrell, Chas Byrne, Keith Woodhouse, Mark Stanley and Paul Redman still present specialist music programmes on Delta FM.
The ethos of the station is to really be a part of the community in as many ways as it can and supports local events and organisations and local business in the area. Delta FM provides a wide selection of music and information and is the home of the ever popular Stuart Clark Breakfast Show.
The station can be heard online via its website.
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