Mercia (radio station)
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| Mercia | |
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| Broadcast area | Coventry |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.0 MHz, 102.9 MHz |
| First air date | May 23, 1980 |
| Format | Top 40 |
| Audience share | 8.9% (March 2009, [1]) |
| Owner | Orion Group |
| Website | www.mercia.co.uk |
Mercia is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting from Coventry. There are two frequencies: 97.0 and 102.9. It was part of Global Radio's The One Network, however in May 2009, the station was sold to a company backed by Lloyds TSB Development Capital and Phil Riley[1].
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[edit] Technical
The 97.0 FM signal is by far the strongest, from the transmitter at Shilton, near the M6/M69 junction, and is for Coventry, and the much weaker signal 102.9FM for Leamington Spa. However, in some parts of the Midlands, the 97.0 signal is blotted out by 96.9 Chiltern FM from Bedfordshire.
It began as Mercia Sound on 23 May 1980. The station launched at 0700 BST with a welcoming announcement by Programme Director Ian Rufus, followed by breakfast presenter Gordon Astley and a news bulletin read by Mike Henfield. In its first year of operation it boasted the highest weekly reach of any commercial radio station in England and Wales, a record that still stands to this day.
The station broadcasts from studios in Hertford Place, just outside Coventry City Centre.
[edit] History
In 1987, the station moved FM frequencies, along with most ILR stations at the time to 97.0 FM. Shortly after this a new transmitter on 102.9 FM was created to serve South Warwickshire.
In 1989, along with BRMB in Birmingham, the AM frequency was split from the FM transmissions to create a new radio station called Xtra AM which played music from the 60's and 70's.
In 1993, the station's owners, Midlands Radio plc, sold the station to Capital Radio who, shortly afterwards sold it to GWR, who re-branded it in-line with their "Today's Best Mix" slogan from 1994 onwards. During this period numerous presenters from other GWR stations joined Mercia, including Craig Strong (Trent FM, Ram FM, Leicester Sound FM) Tim Gough (Trent FM) Rachel Hopper (Ram FM) and Sean Goldsmith (Trent FM). From 2002 onwards, the slogan was "Playing the best mix of the 80's, 90's and today". In 2007, it reverted back to the old slogan of "Today's Best Mix".
However on 13 August 2007, the 'FM' was dropped from the station's name, and it is now known on air as 'Mercia'.
[edit] Presenters
[edit] Current
- Andy Goulding.
- Dan Morrissey.
- Richard Neale.
- Chris Radley.
[edit] Past
- Mark Keen (now hosting breakfast at Proud FM, Preston).
- Craig Beck (AKA 'Beck', now hosting breakfast at Century North East).
- Shaun Tilley (Now at hosting drive at KCFM, Hull).
- Clive Skelhorn.
- Gary Hines.
- Andrew Lloyd.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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