Academy FM (Thanet)
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| Broadcast area | Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Birchington, Westgate-on-Sea and villages |
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| Slogan | Thanet's Better Music Mix |
| Frequency | 107.8 MHz and online |
| First air date | 5 April 2010 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 51°21′02″N 1°23′33″E / 51.3505°N 1.3924°ECoordinates: 51°21′02″N 1°23′33″E / 51.3505°N 1.3924°E |
| Website | www.academyfmthanet.com |
107.8 Academy FM (Thanet) is a non commercial community 24-hour local radio station based in Ramsgate, Kent and serving the Isle of Thanet. It launched on 5 April 2010, Easter Monday.[1]
107.8 Academy FM (Thanet) is based within The Marlowe Academy, Ramsgate. The station manager is Pete Willson, who was instrumental in setting up and launching TLR 107.2 (now KMFM Thanet) in 1998.
107.8 Academy FM have two purpose-built studios as well as an Outside Broadcast Radio car. The station broadcasts on 107.8 FM and also online as well as via its own app via the tune in website. The station has Twitter and Facebook pages.
Academy FM have a variety of experienced broadcasters who have worked in commercial radio including Nick Bateman of "Nasty Nick" Big Brother fame and Radio Caroline pirate Johnny Lewis. The team bring the experience they have to the students at The Marlowe Academy who are encouraged to get involved with the station and are responsible for some of the station output. Local bands and singers are encouraged to produce music for broadcast. Many of the current and past presenters worked together on Thanet Local Radio those include Mike Stevens, Doc Atherton, Howard Evans Horace, Paul Rutters, Nigel Harris, Patrick Foster, Glen Thompsett and Bob Mower.Marcus Bentley the Geordie voice of Big Brother is a regular on Sunday Night Live.
Since its launch the station has been supporting a variety of events in the area. The station provides an open access to community groups, charities and non profit organisations as well as local bands and musicians.
Academy FM produce local news in weekday breakfast and drivetime shows and broadcast national headlines on the hour and at other times from Sky News as well as broadcasting a traffic and travel service and information on local events as well as a dedicated Saturday sport programme. Local organisations and groups are given access via community action spots and invited to talk on air.
The station supported local teenager Luke Lucas, a contestant on X Factor 2011. Luke reached the semi final stage at Gary Barlow's house.
107.8 Academy FM Thanet is the only radio station that broadcasts from Thanet to Thanet providing 100% local programming. The music range played on air is taken from a large playlist which contains over 9000 songs from the late 1950s to the present day and its strap line is "Thanet's Better Music Mix".
Presenters
- Pete Willson
- Mike Stevens
- Andy Theoff
- Tom Brooks
- Horace
- Howard Evans
- Chris Jordan
- Jack Sayer
- Zach Webb
- Doc Atherton
- Paul Rutters
History
The licence for the station, along with sister station Academy FM (Folkestone), was granted by OFCOM on 17 June 2009.[2]