Ridings FM

Ridings FM
Broadcast area Wakefield
Frequency FM: 106.8 MHz
First air date 3 October 1999
Format Contemporary
Audience share 8.1% (June 2013, RAJAR)
Owner Lincs FM Group
Sister stations Compass FM
Dearne FM
KCFM
Lincs FM
Rother FM
Rutland Radio
Trax FM
Website www.ridingsfm.co.uk

Ridings FM is the Independent Local Radio station serving Wakefield and the Five Towns area of West Yorkshire since 3 October 1999. It is owned and operated by the Lincs FM Group.

Following a memorandum sent to Ofcom, which stated that the station has never made a profit although being a technical success, Ridings FM was moved to the Dearne FM studios at Zenith Park on Whaley Road, Barugh Green, in the north-west of Barnsley (although Dearne FM has since vacated these premises and moved to Doncaster).[1] This move comes after the group also combined the premises of its two Trax FM stations in Doncaster.

Transmission

The station's transmitter is located at Birkwood Farm, near Stanley Ferry, close to the River Calder. Ridings FM broadcasts on 106.8 FM on 500 watts of power. From July 2001, it was made available on the Bauer Leeds DAB multiplex. This service was discontinued in 2013 as it was a significant cost and covered areas outside of Wakefield with an uneconomically small potential audience. Ridings FM also streams online via its website.

FM licence

Prior to being awarded the Wakefield licence, the station ran a trial service which ran from 11 October 1997 on 87.7 FM.[2]

By the closing date of 8 September 1998, WF 107 Ltd (based in Wakefield), Henna FM Ltd (based in Batley providing Asian music) and Ridings FM had applied to the Radio Authority for the licence.[3] Ridings FM was later awarded the licence on 7 January 1999.

Programming

The station's weekday breakfast show is presented by John Tolson. Former presenters on the station include Danny Lacey, Phil Butler, Dave Parker, Paul Stead, Steve White, Tony Collins, Rachel Bailey, Andy Hoyle, Jamie Fletcher and Chris Hubbard. Ridings FM is an affiliate of The Vodafone Big Top 40 (broadcast every Sunday at 16:00).

The station currently uses the strapline "The difference is".

News and sport

The station's news team won a Sony Bronze award in May 2000, and is made up of Holly Emery, May Norman, Suzy Lawson and Sarah Maine. At off peak times the station uses the feed from Independent Radio News.

As well as news, Ridings FM covers local sports teams from the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers in rugby league, to Ossett Albion, Ossett Town, Frickley Athletic and Wakefield F.C. in football.

References

  1. ↑ wakefieldexpress.co.uk
  2. ↑ geocities.com
  3. ↑ ofcom.org.uk

External links