Ridings FM
| 200px | |
| 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 the Wakefield District of West Yorkshire since 3 October 1999. It is owned and operated by the Lincs FM Group.
The station was originally based at Thornes Office Park in Wakefield before co-locating with sister station Dearne FM at Zenith Park on Whaley Road, Barugh Green, in the north-west of Barnsley in 2009.
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 Doncaster where it shares a building with Trax FM, Dearne FM and Rother FM.
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 and mobile app.
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.[1]
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.[2] Ridings FM was later awarded the licence on 7 January 1999.
Programming
The station's weekday breakfast show is presented by John Tolson. Other presenters include Lucy Doxey, Gareth Webb, Andy Fenton, Will Chalk, Steve Orchard, Esme Fallows, Stewart Nicholson and Paul Blundell. Former presenters on the station include Dave Rhodes, Paul Bromley, Danny Lacey, Phil Butler, Dave Parker, Paul Stead, Steve White, Tony Collins, Rachel Bailey, Andy Hoyle, Vicky Norton, Kev Wilson, 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 "For the Wakefield District".
News and sport
The station's news team won a Sony Bronze award in May 2000, and is made up of Tina Masters, Rachel-Louise Gerrish, Jemma Hall, Will Chalk and Joe Bearsdall. 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
External links
- Official website
- History of local radio in Yorkshire
- Birkwood Farm transmitter
- The Student Wiki
- Receiving the licence in January 1999
