1548 Forth 2

1548 Forth 2 is a Scottish radio station owned by Bauer Radio.

Forth 2 broadcasts to Edinburgh, The Lothians and Fife and is based in Forth Street in Edinburgh’s city centre.

History

Radio Forth was launched on 22 January 1975 by current chairman Richard Findlay. His opening speech included "This, for the very first time is Radio Forth". The late Steve Hamilton was the first on-air presenter, hosting the breakfast show.

In 1990, Forth was forced to create a new station on its AM frequency. Before this, Radio Forth was broadcast as a single station on both FM and AM frequencies. The FM station was renamed Forth FM with Donny Hughes broadcasting the first Breakfast Show from the newly revamped Studio F in Forth House. The new AM station became "Max AM" which was later renamed Forth AM to match its sister station.

In 2000, both stations were relaunched as 97.3 Forth One and 1548 FORTH2. Many changes occurred at this time including new presenters and a new jingles package. Forth 2 was redesigned as an adult contemporary music station while Forth One continued to play Top 40 songs for the 35s and under.

Radio Forth was owned by Scottish Radio Holdings until 23 June 2005 when British media group EMAP took over. In January 2008, EMAP Radio was sold to Bauer. The radio division was renamed Bauer Radio.

A new programming schedule was introduced on Monday 15 June 2009, consisting mostly of programming simulcast with Bauer's other AM stations in Scotland - Clyde 2 from Glasgow, Northsound 2 from Aberdeen, Tay AM from Dundee and West Sound from Ayr. Forth 2 local programming is now restricted to breakfast shows, news bulletins and some specialist programming although the station also produces networked output on weekday evenings and Sunday mornings.

News, Sport and Travel

Forth News and Sport broadcasts bulletins regularly throughout the day (simulcast on sister station Forth 1). Paul Robertson is currently the Head of News and Sport at Radio Forth as well as being a regular newsreader. Max Steele is deputy editor alongside broadcast journalists Ryan Gilbert & Clare Reilly and political editor Colin Mackay (shared with Radio Clyde).

Travel news bulletins are broadcast during Breakfast and Drivetime shows. The station also co-produces news bulletins for Radio Borders.

Programming