Radio Ceredigion

Radio Ceredigion
Broadcast area Ceredigion
Frequency Aberystwyth: 103.3 MHz, South East Ceredigion: 96.6 MHz, Cardigan: 97.4 MHz
First air date 14 December 1992
Format Bilingual
Owner Town & Country Broadcasting
Website radioceredigion.co.uk

Radio Ceredigion (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈradjɔ kɛrɛˈdɪɡjɔn]) is a British bilingual local radio station that serves Ceredigion in West Wales.

History

From its launch on 14 December 1992, the station broadcast a bilingual schedule with roughly half-and-half proportion of English and Welsh output, much of it community-oriented, from studios and offices at the Old School in Aberystwyth.

On 9 March 2010, Radio Ceredigion's owners Tindle Newspapers announced Radio Ceredigion would be sold off to the Welsh radio group Town and Country Broadcasting.[1] At 9am on 19 April 2010, the station ended broadcasting from its Aberystwyth studios and began transmission from Town and Country's West Wales studios in Narberth, Pembrokeshire (also the base for Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM).[2] Following a short transition period, a daytime programming service was launched.[3]

Automated evening and overnight programming is provided in Welsh while news bulletins incorporate live updates from Sky News Radio and local headlines every hour. The station also broadcasts live overnight rally coverage for local events including the Cambrian Road Rally, Rali Bro Caron, Rali Bro Preseli and Rali Bro Teifi.

Attempts to reduce Welsh language broadcasting

In 2011, Town and Country Broadcasting proposed that provision of Welsh-language songs on Radio Ceredigion should be cut to 10% from 50%.[4] A row ensued with many local residents voicing concerns regarding Town and Country Broadcasting's track record of systematic anglicisation of other local radio stations within Wales, including 97.1 Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM. Ultimately, the proposal was rejected following a consultation conducted by the telecommunications regulatory authority Ofcom.[5]

Coverage

Radio Ceredigion has a TSA of 74,000 people, and can be heard from Bangor through to Cross Hands, including parts of Powys, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The main transmitter is at Blaen Plwyf near Aberystwyth on 103.3FM, but also has relay sites at Mynydd Pencarreg near Lampeter on 96.6FM and Penwaun near Cardigan on 97.4FM.

Presenters

  • David Baker (Drivetime, Sunday Afternoon)
  • Marvin Humes (The Vodafone Big Top 40)
  • Gareth Morgan (Saturday Breakfast, Sunday Bruch, Y Rhaglen Gymraeg)
  • Matthew Morrissey (Sunday Brunch)
  • Will Pritchard (Farming)
  • Kat Shoob (The Vodafone Big Top 40)
  • James Southon (Weekday Afternoons)
  • Jay Curtis (Weekday breakfast)
  • Ollie Cole (West Wales Sport)
  • Emyr James (Saturday Brunch)
  • Gareth Morris (Daytimes)
  • Toby Ellis (Cover)
  • Matthew Morrisey (Cover)
  • Anthony Crowdie (Cover)

News staff


Former Presenters

Aled Haydn Jones
Mark Simon
Meinir-Ann Thomas
Myfanwy Jones
Steve Edge
Danny Fields
Chris Pryse
Dave Lewis
Jonathan Lewis
Phil Olyott
Dave Gould (Radio Plymouth)
Colin Hopton Pugh (Colin the Chef)
Eifion Williams (Bodyshaker)
Sarah Bowen (Sazzy B)
Gerraint Davies
Ed Underwood
Jamie Hughes
Ed Goddard
Mikey J
Dafydd Edwards
Owen Andrew
Rob Wagstaff
Corey Styles
Sam Christie
Andrew Whittle
Paul Woodham
Jamie Clark
Neil Dodd
Niall King
Toni Barker

References

  1. ↑ Radio Today - Changes planned for Ceredigion, 9 March 2010
  2. ↑ Radio Today - Changes planned for Ceredigion, 9 March 2010
  3. ↑ Radio Ceredigion public file
  4. ↑ Wales Online Article "Language row erupts over radio station's bid to cut Welsh broadcasting"
  5. ↑ Wales Online Article "Ofcom rejects local radio station’s bid to cut Welsh language programming"

External links

See also