Radio Broadland

Infobox Radio station

name=Radio Broadland


airdate= 1 October 1984
frequency=102.4 MHz
share = 11.6%
share as of = September 2007
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
area= Norfolk and North Suffolk
format =Contemporary
owner = Global Radio
website= [http://www.radiobroadland.co.uk/ www.radiobroadland.co.uk]

Radio Broadland (formerly "Broadland 102") is part of the GCap Media national radio network, which has been acquired by the Global Radio group. It is the Independent Local Radio station for the Broadland area of Norfolk and North Suffolk, including Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

tation history

On 1 October 1984 a new independent local radio station called "Radio Broadland" was launched by a local group with experience in newspapers and television but little in radio.

A number of people with experience were brought in to start the station. Russell Stuart arrived from Gwent Broadcasting in Newport as MD, Mike Stewart from Radio West (Bristol) as programme controller and Robb Young moved from Radio Orwell in Ipswich as sales manager.

Stewart put together the first team of presenters. Nick Risby joined from Red Rose in Preston, Tony Gillham came from Chiltern and BBC Bedfordshire, Dave Brown from Radio Tees, Rob Chandler from Radio Orwell and Adrian Finighan from Radio Gwent. Rob Chandler remains after more than 20 years as breakfast presenter. Bob Harris, who lived in Norfolk , presented in the mid 80s.

For the first two years, Radio Broadland went off air at 10pm and started at 6am next morning. The station simulcast on 97.6FM and 1152AM for three years but in 1987, due to national changes in local radio frequencies, moved to 102.4FM. Broadland at the end of the 80s, was achieving a 50% audience reach and weekly listening of up to 17 hours, some of the best in the UK.

In 1990, Broadland took over Radio Orwell in Ipswich and Saxon Radio in Bury St Edmunds. The two Suffolk stations were renamed SGR and to reflect the addition of these new stations, the group became East Anglian Radio. Later in 1993, SGR launched a sister station in Colchester after successfully applying for the licence. Initially, Radio Broadland played both classic hit music and current chart hits, but in 1995 the decision was made by the East Anglian Radio Group to make better use of the AM slot. Amber Radio was created in Norfolk and Suffolk, playing 60's and 70's music whilst Broadland 102 focused more on current and recent chart hits. The EAR group continued to be run by the Broadland management team.

In 1996, the GWR Group bid for the entire East Anglian Radio Group, which now consisted of Broadland 102, the SGR stations, and Amber Radio. After resistance, the takeover happened and there were changes to the station including the addition of networked programming and a new strapline "Today's Better Music Mix". Amber Radio was renamed Classic Gold Amber and local programming was cut. The original management remained but had all left by 2003.

In 2007, the station reverted to Radio Broadland, adapting 'More Music Variety' to reflect an emphasis on classic hits in place of chart material. Also that year, as with all of GCap's One Network, the station gained a new logo and website and Classic Gold Amber became Gold. GCap shareholders accepted £375 million for the group in spring 2008 from Global Radio UK, owner of Heart FM and LBC in London and Galaxy stations. All GCap's senior management departed. The takeover is now being assessed by the Office of Fair Trading.

2008/09 Rebrand

Radio Broadland, along with most of The One Network, will be rebranded as Heart in the next 12-18 months. From October 1st 2008, Radio Broadland is adapting the tagline "The heart of Norfolk & North Suffolk" as part of the transition.

External links

* [http://www.radiobroadland.co.uk Radio Broadland]
* [http://audio.musicradio.com/tuner.asp?station=norfolk Listen to Radio Broadland]
* [http://www.geocities.com/radiointheuk/broadland102.html Unofficial website]
* [http://www.mediauk.com/radio/25 Media UK]
* [http://www.geocities.com/thehotw/aircheck_UKNorfolk.htm History of local radio in Norfolk]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/shx.php Stoke Holy Cross transmitter]