Pirate FM
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| Broadcast area | Cornwall |
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| Branding | Pirate FM |
| Frequency | 102.2 MHz, 102.8 MHz |
| First air date | 3 April 1992 |
| Format | Hot AC |
| Audience share | 12.2% (September 2013, ) |
| Owner | UKRD Group |
Pirate FM is one of the Independent Local Radio stations for Cornwall, playing a range of music from the 1960s to the present day.
Background
The station was launched in 1992 under the name of Pirate FM 102 with the voice of breakfast presenter Roger Day (a well-known ex-pirate DJ from Radio Caroline and Radio North Sea International). The station's launch Chief Executive was Mike Powell who specified digital technology so advanced at the time that it was featured on the BBC science programme, Tomorrow's World.
Much of the early success of the station was due to the technical expertise of the first managing director Richard Lawley, who was also a graduate electronic engineer. He was succeeded by the station's initial sales director Joseph Swain. The station has also won numerous awards including 'Station of the Year' (in the 300,000 to 1 million TSA category) at the 2003 Sony Radio Academy awards.
In September 2005, the station's branding changed from The Southwest's Pirate FM to Cornwall's Pirate FM. Listenership appears to have increased in Cornwall following the move, however it reduced their audience in West Devon (including Plymouth, where Pirate FM had a separate office and studio prior to the rebrand). From "Quarter 4" 2006 Pirate FM's survey area (TSA) was reduced by removing Plymouth & most of West Devon, thus reducing the potential audience significantly but focusing on the core Cornish audience. Pirate FM remains as the number one station by audience reach despite the increased competition.
The Pirate Trust is the charitable arm of Pirate FM that raises thousands of pounds yearly for good causes in Cornwall with their 'Cornwall in Need Appeal'. Yearly fundraisers include the 'Garden Party' and the all day on air & on line auction known as 'Radiothon'. Radiothon [2007] and Radiothon [2008] were both run in collaboration with free classifieds website itsmymarket.com
Presenters
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News service
Pirate FM produces local news bulletins from its Redruth studios between 6am and 6pm on weekdays and between 7am and 2pm on weekends and certain bank holidays. Bulletins are broadcast every hour on the hour with headlines on weekdays at 6.30am, 7.30am and 8.30am.
National news bulletins from Sky News Radio in London are broadcast on the hour at all other times.
News staff
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Editor |
Deputy Head of News |
Broadcast Journalists |
Transmission Details
Pirate FM's two transmitters broadcast separate opt-outs for advertising. The Redruth transmitter on 102.8 MHz FM includes commercials for the mid and west of the county of Cornwall, and the Caradon Hill transmitter (on 102.2 MHz FM) covers advertising for the East and North of the county, as well as Plymouth and West Devon. However, all other output, including news, talk and music is identical on both transmitters.
Branding
Pirate FM has 2 current on air straplines. "Real Music Variety" and "Love Cornwall Love Pirate FM".
Its current imaging voiceovers are Natalie Miller and Guy Harris. Its jingle package is a creation of Wise Buddah
Pirate FM's original jingles were sung by JAM productions, Dallas in 1992, which included the famous "Tamar Bridges" Cornwall theme tune, which used to be played after midnight and before 6am every day. That image song was a cut from a package called "Yours Truly". The original Pirate FM jingle package was a selection of cuts from two packages originally created for Detroit's Q95.5. The packages were Q Cuts and Right On Q. In addition, Pirate FM also bought a couple of cuts from the Turbo Z package originally produced for Z100 in New York.
In the late 1990s, Pirate FM returned to JAM to update their package. That time, they used cuts from the Hi Qume, Uni-Que and Quick Q's packages produced for Detroit's Q95.5, as well as a couple of cuts from Breakthrough, which JAM produced for WPJL/Power 95.5 in New York.
A new jingle package was first aired in December 2005, made by jingle production company IQ Beats. It was a re-recording of a previous package made for Heart 106.2 in London.
Previous Pirate FM straplines are "More music for Cornwall", "Real music variety", "Better variety, more music", "The world's greatest music", "Greatest memories, latest hits" and "The latest technology, and the best records too".
Expansion
Pirate FM was one of the two stations that applied for the licence to serve Plymouth after the licence was handed back by Macquarie's Diamond FM. The UKRD plan to extend Pirate's service under the name Plymouth's Pirate FM lost out to Radio Plymouth.[1]