96.3 Radio Aire

96.3 Radio Aire

Broadcast area	Leeds
Frequency	96.3 MHz
First air date	1 September 1981
Format	CHR/Pop
Audience share	6.5% (December 2012, )
Transmitter coordinates	53°44′08″N 1°34′42″W / 53.7356°N 1.5782°W / 53.7356; -1.5782Coordinates: 53°44′08″N 1°34′42″W / 53.7356°N 1.5782°W / 53.7356; -1.5782
Owner	Bauer Radio
Sister stations	Magic 828
Webcast	whatsON
Website	96.3 Radio Aire

96.3 Radio Aire is the main Independent Local Radio station for Leeds and West Yorkshire. It is the sister station of Magic 828. The station is owned & operated by Bauer Radio and forms part of Bauer's Place Network of stations.

History

Radio Aire's original logo

Radio Aire's studios, shared with Magic 828 in Burley, Leeds

The station was launched on 1 September 1981 by presenter Graham Thornton and the first song played was Pilot of the Airwaves by Charlie Dore. Radio Aire originally broadcast on 362 metres medium wave (828 kHz AM) and 94.6 VHF but was moved to 96.3 FM (VHF) in 1986.

Radio Aire is situated on Burley Road (Kirkstall Road) next to Yorkshire Television's studios and was the first Independent Local Radio station to have studios specially built for the purpose of radio transmission. In the late 1980s, the studios were used for The James Whale Radio Show, which was a late night TV show, broadcast on ITV, Radio Aire and Red Rose Radio.

On 17 July 1990, Radio Aire split frequencies, forming Aire FM and Magic 828. In 1992, the name was changed to Radio Aire FM and then, 96.3 Aire FM in 1995. A change of format in 1996 saw another station name change to The New 96.3 Aire FM before The New was dropped in 1998. By March 2001, Radio Aire had reverted to its original name.

The station, together with Magic 828 was bought by EMAP in 1995 and it became part of their Big City Network of stations and has maintained a generic branding with sister stations across Northern England since about 2000. Following the acquisition of EMAP Radio, the station is now part of Bauer Radio.

Presenters

News team

The dedicated news team at 96.3 Radio Aire are based at their studios in Leeds on weekdays.^[1]

At weekends, news bulletins are produced regionally for Viking FM and Hallam FM as well as Radio Aire. The journalists from each station are on a rota to produce these weekend bulletins and one journalist produces all three.

Transmitter information

The station's FM transmission is radiated at the Tingley site in Morley, close to the A653 and junction 28 of the M62. The adjacent mast, known as Morley, is former home of the station's FM transmissions. It continues to broadcast sister station Magic 828, on medium wave, and the Leeds DAB multiplex.

Former presenters

References

External links

• 96.3 Radio Aire
• Radio Aire Archive (The history of Radio Aire)
• History of local radio in Yorkshire. (Archived 2009-10-19)
• Tingley transmitter information
• Morley transmitter information