Penwith Radio
 | |
| Broadcast area |
Worldwide: Internet Radio Penwith, Cornwall: FM |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Local Radio for West Cornwall |
| Frequency | 96.5 and 97.2 FM.[1] |
| First air date |
1 May 2009 (internet) 30th August 2014 (FM) |
| Format | Freeform |
| Language(s) | English |
| Webcast | Live Stream |
| Website |
www |
Penwith Community Radio is a voluntary community radio station based in Penzance, Cornwall, England. It contains a combination of local news, weather, music and talk.
The station began with pre-recorded podcasts, the first played on 26 January 2008.[2] The station's official title is 'Penwith Community Radio CIC'.[3] Live internet broadcasts began on 1 May 2009,[4] and the station now broadcasts material continuously. The first presenter to broadcast live on the station was Steve West.[5]
Monetary backing is provided by advertisements and sponsorship from local businesses and organisations, as well as national grant funding.[6]
The studios are based in Wharfside Shopping Centre, Penzance.[7]
Programming
Penwith Radio features a wide variety of programming predominantly produced by its volunteers; these feature morning shows, lunchtime music shows, request programmes, afternoon magazines, drivetime shows, speciality music and local information programme
Shows include "Good Morning Penwith" with Steve West, "Quintessentially Quayle with Pat Quayle", ex Classic FM presenter Sally Peterson with "Mellow Midweek", Cosmopolitan Cornwall with John Pestle, "Lewis Nicholls' Entertainment Fix", "Gabriel Lucas-Green", "The Mixdown with Col Ford", "Penwith Gold with Nick Dent", "Ska-ing West with Duke Man T", "The PM Show with Kevin Godden", "What's Ahead with David Hackett", "Monday Afternoon 2 to 4" with Dave Pascoe" That Thursday Thing with Ade and Jules" and "80s Recall with James Cherry".[8]
The station is freeform, meaning all programming has no set format and the station's presenters largely have control over the format of their programme.
History
Live internet launch
The station's live internet launch was on Friday 1 May 2009 at 7am (GMT), with the breakfast show, presented by Steve West, followed by ex Classic FM presenter Sally Peterson. The launch received a large listenership. "We had almost 22,000 hits on our website over the first few days of May, and I believe that about 5,000 people logged on to us at some time or other from as far afield as Australia" Julian Horner, the original station manager commented.[9]
FM license and on-air frequencies
On 4 May 2012, it was announced on Ofcom's official website that the radio station had successfully secured a full FM licence.[10] On 22 March 2014, Penwith Radio announced its FM frequencies. A statement on the radio station's website said "The station will broadcast on 96.5 FM to Penzance and the surrounding area, including Hayle and towards The Lizard, and for St Just, Pendeen, Sennen and the surrounding rural area on 97.2 FM."[11]
Olympic Torch Relay coverage
On 19 May 2012, from 6:00 am, there was a special 'Good Morning Penwith with Martin Holland' with live reports from Sally Peterson at the historic start of the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay from Land's End. Presenters reported live from along the route and for the first time, Penwith Radio collaborated with two other Cornish community radio stations, The Source FM and Radio St Austell Bay to cover more of the torch relay. Penwith's coverage was simulcast on both other community stations. This was one of the first times the station had broadcast live coverage of a local event.
FM launch
The station started broadcasting test transmissions on 14 August 2014 and officially launched onto FM on Saturday 30 August 2014 at 10am.[12] Steve West hosted a pre-launch warm-up show from 8am, and Nick Dent took over from Steve for the FM launch party until 2pm.[13]
References
- ↑ "We’re coming soon to an FM radio near you!".
- ↑ "Penwith Radio launched-First Podcast". newlyn.info.
- ↑ "Penwith Radio launched-First Podcast". This Is Cornwall. This Is Cornwall.
- ↑ "Community radio station live on internet". This Is Cornwall. This Is Cornwall.
- ↑ "Now the world is listening to us, says new radio station". This Is Cornwall. May 7, 2009.
- ↑ "Penwith Radio | Sponsors".
- ↑ "Penwith Radio | About".
- ↑ "Penwith Radio Schedule".
- ↑ "Now the world is listening to us, says new radio station". This Is Cornwall. May 7, 2009.
- ↑ "Community radio passes 250 mark".
- ↑ "We’re coming soon to an FM radio near you!".
- ↑ "We’re coming soon to an FM radio near you".
- ↑ "We’re coming soon to an FM radio near you".