Jack FM 2

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Jack FM 2
Broadcast area Oxford
Slogan Playing What You Want
Frequency 107.9 MHz, DAB and online
First air date (original) 14 February 1997, (as Jack FM 2) 20 August 2013
Format Contemporary
Audience share 1.2% (October 2013, )
Owner Passion Radio (Oxford) Limited
Website http://www.jackfm2oxfordshire.co.uk/

Jack FM 2 Oxfordshire (referred to on-air as 'Jack 2') is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom on FM, the Oxfordshire DAB multiplex and online. It is aimed at "under 30 professionals" with a "female skew", and is a music-heavy station with only limited speech and seven hours per week of specialist music as required by Ofcom.[1] Jack FM 2 competes with Heart Thames Valley, BBC Oxford, OX105FM and sister station Jack FM Oxfordshire, as well as some online Community Radio stations in Oxfordshire.

Previously known under a variety of names since its inception in 1997 (see history), most recently Glide FM, the station launched in its current incarnation on 20 August 2013.[2]

The station is based at 270 Woodstock Road in north Oxford, formerly the site of Six TV - The Oxford Channel and shared with Jack FM Oxfordshire.

History

The logo of Oxford's FM 107.9

The origins of the station lie in a student radio station, Oxygen 107.9 which was trialled in November 1995 and launched at 1.07pm on Valentine's Day 1997[3] and was later acquired in late 2000 by Fusion Radio Holdings, which rebranded the station as Fusion 107.9.[4] Fusion merged with the Milestone Group in 2003[5] and the station was relaunched as Passion 107.9 (and is still legally known as Passion Radio), but was sold to Absolute Radio International [6] in 2006, leading to another rebrand as Oxford's FM 107.9 which lasted until August 2010. Following an attempt at a format change in 2010 (see below) and sinking ratings, the station relaunched as Glide FM on 18 August 2010.

The station has a wide playlist which can be influenced by visitors to the website who can request and vote for tracks to be played, then be e-mailed when they are broadcast.[2]

Publicity Stunts

In September 2006, former Big Brother contestant Eugene Sully (who also worked for the unassociated Sussex-based station Passion Radio) 'took over' the station's output and played The Muppets' 'Mahna Mahna' non-stop for six hours until Passion FM managers came round to his way of thinking that better music should be played on the station, and to be hired as a chief engineer there. This was supposedly a stunt to highlight the relaunch of the station.

The logo of Glide FM

On 16 August 2010 the station became Glee FM, playing only music from the US TV series, Glee.[7] The stunt attracted media attention from across the country and even in America, with stories appearing on Digital Spy,[8] Sky News,[9] The New York Post[10] and even "celebrity blogger" Perez Hilton noting the station's launch.[11] For "legal reasons" the station ceased broadcasting at 5pm on 18 August, relaunching as Glide FM shortly afterwards.[12]

Proposed rebrand

In February 2010, the station's owners lodged a request with Ofcom to change the station's format to one for over 45-year-olds.[13] The station argued the "transient" nature of students makes it commercially difficult to market a radio station to an audience that leaves the city each year.[14] Several fans of late night "specialist" shows responded to Ofcom's public consultation as well as local business owners. Ofcom considered this, but the Radio Licensing Committee has rejected this proposal.[15] The station responded by saying that changes it had made meant the format change had become less necessary.[16]

Awards

Won while under the branding of FM107.9.

  • Finalist: Rising Star Award - 2009 Sony Awards
  • Finalist: Best Newcomer - 2009 Arqiva Awards
  • Finalist: Best Speech Programme - Girls Talk 2008 Sony Awards

Present DJs and shows

  • Trevor Marshall (breakfast host)
  • Caroline Verdon (breakfast co-host and news presenter)

Past DJs

  • Ali Marchant (left March 2010)
  • Sarah Clarke (Weekend presenter)
  • Mark Devlin (specialist show presenter)
  • Kid Fury (specialist show presenter)
  • James Ussher (specialist show presenter)
  • Thom Weller (specialist show presenter)
  • Spex (specialist show presenter, now with OX105FM)
  • Keith T (Keith Thomson) (specialist show presenter)
  • Rosie Tratt (freelance presenter and news)
  • Jason Staveley (Glide's Morning Glory Breakfast Show)
  • Rich Smith (voicetracked "Chillout" Glide Chilled show, usually referred to on-air as "work experience Rich")
  • Sophie Law (The Glide Home Drive time show)

References

  1. ↑ Ofcom Format
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/08/listen-to-the-launch-of-jackfm-2-oxford/
  3. ↑ Oxygen student radio comes alive `on air'
  4. ↑ Ofcom
  5. ↑ BrandRepublic
  6. ↑ RadioToday
  7. ↑ Oxford gets Glee FM on 107.9
  8. ↑ Digital Spy
  9. ↑ Sky News
  10. ↑ NYPost.com
  11. ↑ PerezHilton.com
  12. ↑ Glee FM becomes Glide FM
  13. ↑ RadioToday
  14. ↑ Ofcom
  15. ↑ Digital Spy
  16. ↑ FM107.9 Format change declined - Radio Today

External links

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