KCFM (FM)
 | |
| Broadcast area | Kingston upon Hull & East Riding |
|---|---|
| Slogan | "The Difference is the Music!" |
| Frequency | FM: 99.8 MHz |
| First air date | 1 August 2007 |
| Format | Contemporary |
| Audience share | 5.4% (June 2013, RAJAR) |
| Owner | Lincs FM Group |
| Sister stations |
Compass FM Dearne FM Lincs FM Ridings FM Rother FM Rutland Radio Trax FM |
| Website | www.kcfm.co.uk |
KCFM is an Independent Local Radio station based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. This new licence was advertised by Ofcom in 2006. It is owned by the Lincs FM Group
Background
KCFM was run by a local consortium - under the name of Planet Broadcasting Limited. In June 2009 a share exchange was agreed with the Lincs FM Group.[1]
Tim Jibson who was a member of the team that acquired the original Ofcom licence, was the Launch Director and was also the Director of Programmes until May 2009, has now moved on to the role of Managing Director of Adventures in Radio Ltd. Tim had previously worked for 96.9 Viking FM, and Viking Gold - subsequently known as Classic Gold, Great Yorkshire Gold and Great Yorkshire Radio (now Magic 1161), and BBC Radio Humberside. Ann Marie Pearcey, one of the original launch-team, is now on the station's management team. Sean Dunderdale is the Group Programme Director and Sam Brennan is the Group S & P Manager.
KCFM 99.8 provides full coverage of sport – including Hull City and the two Super League teams - Hull KR and Hull, along with rugby union, ice hockey, amateur rugby league, football, boxing– and many other local sports.
Launch
The station carried out a full month of test transmissions before launching at 6:00 a.m. on 1 August 2007. The first voice heard on-air was that of Steve Jordan who then introduced the Director of Programmes Tim Jibson. Steve Jordan then played the first music track "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles.The Planet House studio building was then officially opened by the England Football Manager Steve McClaren.
Programming
KCFM plays a wide variety of music, ranging from the 1960s to current chart hits. Programme Manager is Sam Heywood, previously with 96.9 Viking FM
The current daytime line up is Matt Hutchinson, Al Booth and Ross Carrick.
Sport
Sports bulletins are broadcast at 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am during weekday breakfast and then in the afternoon at 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm.
News
The current news team are Kat Boyden, Gemma Benefer and Michael Gaffney.
During the station's final trail broadcast as KC107.3, the Hull Daily Mail complained to Ofcom claiming that news bulletins were lifted from them without their permission. A war of words were exchanged between the paper and KC Stadium chairman Adam Pearson, this culminated in the mail publishing a front page entitled "The Facts" which went into further details in a substantial spread within the paper.[2]
Technical
Transmission
The station broadcasts on 99.8 MHz FM. Its transmission area covers the City of Kingston Upon Hull and the neighbouring towns of Beverley, Driffield and Goole in East Yorkshire and Barton On Humber in North Lincolnshire - from a transmitter mast on top of the Humber Bridge's north pier.
Studios
A purpose built studio complex was constructed at "Planet House" on Hedon Road in the East of the City. Studio Design was carried out by Bob Corn of the Corn Tarrant Partnership[3] - Technical Installation by Radio Studio Services[4] - which is headed up by Richard Lawley.
Branding
KCFM's first jingle package were resings of a KVIL package produced by radio ident company TM Studios in Dallas, Texas, USA.[5] A custom made news jingle was also commissioned.
In late 2010, KCFM aired new jingles made by the UK based jingle company S2Blue. These jingles match the ones by used by the other stations in the Lincs FM Group.
Presenters
Current
- Matt Hutchinson (Presenter)
- Sam Heywood (Presenter)
- Rob Langley (Presenter)
- Ross Carrick (Presenter)
- Darren Lethem (Presenter)
- Stu Miller (Presenter)
- Paul Woodford (Presenter)
- James Clark (Presenter)
- Amy from 'The Late Night Love Affair' (Presenter)
- Sally Elkington (Presenter)
- Richard Allen (Presenter)