| Broadcast area | Exmouth, Devon, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Community Radio in the Heart of Exmouth |
| Frequency | 107.09 MHz FM; online via website |
| Format | Community Radio, Chat, Retro and Mix Music |
| Language | English language |
| Owner | Mr Andy Green, Mrs Julie Green |
| Website | www.bayfm.co.uk |
Bay FM (Exmouth UK) is a community radio station, based in Exmouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
The station was launched on 11 September 2006 with a month-long trial FM broadcast, followed by a continuing series of annual trial FM broadcasts in the Exmouth area, coinciding with the Exmouth festival.
On 12 June 2010, Bay FM began a regular weekend online service. This has now been increased to cover all weekday evenings. The station’s online reach is worldwide. For the week 10-18 September 2011, the station's online coverage was extended with full daytime and evening shows. The extended coverage coincided with the Tour of Britain, the fifth stage of which finished in Exmouth on Thursday 15 September.
Contents |
Bay FM’s daytime online schedule comprises music from the 1950s-1980s, plus community issues. Specialised music programmes (evenings from 6pm) include Country music, folk, jazz, blues, 1940s-60s nostalgia, rock, soul, disco, Motown, Northern soul, funk, reggae, Garage rock, 1960s Psychedelic rock, Progressive rock and Punk rock. The station also features music by local artists and bands, frequently broadcasting live acts on air. The Gig Guide (a show focusing on local artists, bands and comedians) was launched in August 2010.
Bay FM – its name reflects the fact that there are views across Lyme Bay from Exmouth, and Sandy Bay is nearby – is not a commercial venture. It is run by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. Nearly 50 volunteers are involved in the station, including presenters, journalists, researchers and technical staff.
Bay FM started broadcasting on Monday 11 September 2006. This was a 28-day trial broadcast on 107 MHz FM. Since then, there have been five annual 14-day trial broadcasts and one seven-day trial broadcast on a pilot Restricted Service Licence (RSL), issued by the regulator, the Office of Communication (Ofcom).
Bay FM's trial broadcasts:
2006: Monday 11 September – Sunday 8 October on 107 MHz FM
2007: Monday 14 May – Sunday 28 May on 107 MHz FM
2008: Monday 19 May – Sunday 1 June on 107.9 MHz FM
2009: Monday 18 May – Sunday 31 May on 107.9 MHz FM
2010: Monday 24 May – Sunday 6 June on 107.9 MHz FM
2010: Saturday 18 December – Friday 24 December on 107.9 MHz FM
2011: Saturday 21 May – Friday 3 June on 107.9 MHz FM
In 2006 Bay FM applied to Ofcom for a full five-year Community Radio licence [1], but was unsuccessful [2]. On 21 April 2010, Ofcom requested potential applicants to submit “expressions of interest” in its third round of community radio licensing [3]. Bay FM submitted an “expression of interest”, followed by a completed application.
In January 2010 Bay FM moved into new studios on the outskirts of Exmouth [4]. The facilities include a main studio and a news booth. Studio 2 – a training studio, pre-record facility and back-up for the main studio – is planned for 2011. The studios are built to a high professional standard, using an Ots Labs playout system. There is an hourly feed from Sky News, followed by local weather and local news.
The new studios were ready in time for the station’s 2010 two-week FM trial [5][6]. British TV and radio presenter and personality Gloria Hunniford visited the station on Monday 24 May 2010 [7]. Hunniford toured the new studios and was interviewed on air. "Somebody said you've got to come to this fab new station," she said. "I think it's amazing that you've put this together so quickly, so I wish you well."
Following its 2010 FM trial, Bay FM launched a regular Saturday and Sunday online service on 12 June 2010 [8], which was extended on 16 July 2010 to cover Friday evenings, and has now been increased to cover most weekday evenings. The station’s online reach is worldwide, with listener feedback from around the UK, Europe and America. The schedule comprises Bay FM's regular daytime mixture of 1950s-80s pop music and community issues, plus specialist music programming in the evenings. A youth show is presented on Saturday mornings by students from the Exmouth Community College.
Bay FM’s funding is a mixture of private donation, Town Council grants and advertising revenue from local businesses. In 2006, Bay FM’s first trial broadcast cost £5,000. This sum – and the cost of the 2007 broadcast (£3,000) – was funded by Andy Green and Julie Green. In 2008, Bay FM received a £400 grant from Exmouth Town Council and £500 from the Town Management. These grants, together with advertising revenue and donations, paid for that year’s broadcast. On 1 June 2009, Bay FM approached the Town Council for further financial support. The funding met difficulties [9][10], but was resolved when the Town Council agreed a £500 grant for the station [11]. Donations and advertising revenue from the 2010 FM trial broadcast and online service are helping to pay for the most recent RSL licence (around £3,000), the cost of the new studio build and general running costs.
Registered as: Bay FM Radio: Limited By Guarantee: Not For Profit.
Founders: Mr Andy Green, Mrs Julie Green Directors: (Chair) Andy Green, Julie Green, Paul Whittaker.