Connect Radio 106.8
Encyclopedia
Connect Radio 106.8 is a United Kingdom
radio station based in Northamptonshire. Serving Peterborough
, Chatteris
, March
, Wisbech
& Stamford
.
presenter and producer. Initially, the station first broadcast on 106 FM from the Fitzgerald family garage using a Restricted Service Licence
for the first 3 broadcasts. In the first half of 1997 the station moved to Church Street, where it broadcast its 4th RSL. Also during this time the station was simulcast on the Local Channel, as well as the cable FM hook-up (106.3 MHz), via the local cable
companies system (Bell Cable Media originally).
The dates of the restricted service licence broadcasts were:
Ltd in March 2001. In 2009 Adventure Radio
purchased the station.
and Southend Radio
which are all owned by the same group. All programming is unique for Connect FM apart from the Vodafone Big Top Forty.
. The news is currently edited by Carlo Fiorentino.
The station has three studios consisting of two identical broadcast studios (Studios 1 & 3) and a talks studio for guests (studio 2), initially it was thought the DJ's would alternate between studios 1 and 3 but this was never put into action and hot-swapping between programmes remains. The stations music output is controlled by an ENCO Digital Audio Delivery system which allows for extensive automation, this is backed up by a variety of traditional CD and MiniDisc players mounted in moveable pods within the studio desk. Final output is controlled by the presenter through a customised RPL studio console which has 2 PPM Peak meters and a combined Mono output meter.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
radio station based in Northamptonshire. Serving Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, Chatteris
Chatteris
Chatteris is a civil parish and one of four market towns in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely...
, March
March, Cambridgeshire
March is a Fenland market town and civil parish in the Isle of Ely area of Cambridgeshire, England. March was the county town of the Isle of Ely, a separate administrative county between 1889 and 1965, and is now the administrative centre of Fenland District Council.The town was an important...
, Wisbech
Wisbech
Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
& Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
.
Temporary broadcasts
The brain child of Wayne Fitzgerald, the owner of the commercial production firm CAP Media and a former Hereward FMHereward FM
102.7 Heart Peterborough was an Independent Local Radio station for Peterborough, Boston, King's Lynn, Cambridgeshire, south Lincolnshire and west Norfolk...
presenter and producer. Initially, the station first broadcast on 106 FM from the Fitzgerald family garage using a Restricted Service Licence
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
for the first 3 broadcasts. In the first half of 1997 the station moved to Church Street, where it broadcast its 4th RSL. Also during this time the station was simulcast on the Local Channel, as well as the cable FM hook-up (106.3 MHz), via the local cable
Cable
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry...
companies system (Bell Cable Media originally).
The dates of the restricted service licence broadcasts were:
- 17 September 1995 – 14 October 1995
- 17 March 1996 – 13 April 1996
- 27 October 1996 – 23 November 1996
- 20 June 1997 – 17 July 1997
Full time
The station was awarded a permanent FM licence on 106.8 MHz and launched at 10:00am on Saturday 24 July 1999 with a live outside broadcast in Cathedral Square, hosted by Wayne Fitzgerald, Stuart Francis and various local dignitaries, was also held. The first song played was 'Back For Good' by Take That. This was a pre - recorded piece produced by Wayne Fitzgerald the night before broadcast. The first scheduled programme was Saturday Sport, with Keith Hazelton & Neil Evans.Ownership
The station was originally owned by GP Broadcasting Limited, and was almost sold to GWR, for £2 million, in 2000, before finally being bought by Forward MediaForward Media
Forward Media is a media company based in Stockport, Merseyside which operated radio stations.-History:Forward Media Ltd was established in 1998 primarily to acquire and operate Lite FM in Peterborough and Connect FM in Kettering. Forward Media also previously owned Dune FM in Southport, which it...
Ltd in March 2001. In 2009 Adventure Radio
Adventure Radio
Adventure Radio is a UK based media company based in Southend-on-Sea which operates radio stations in Essex, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.*Chelmsford Radio 107.7 serves Chelmsford and mid-Essex....
purchased the station.
Rebranding
On January 4, 2010 Lite FM rebranded as Connect Radio 106.8 in line with sister station Connect Radio 97.2 & 107.4. The station now shares resources with the other Connect FM, Chelmsford RadioChelmsford Radio
Chelmsford Radio is the local radio station for Chelmsford and mid Essex, broadcasting from studios in Southend, and owned by the Adventure Radio Group.- History :...
and Southend Radio
Southend Radio
Southend Radio is a local adult contemporary radio station broadcasting to Southend on Sea, in Essex, England from studios in The Icon Building on Southend Seafront, owned by the Adventure Radio Group....
which are all owned by the same group. All programming is unique for Connect FM apart from the Vodafone Big Top Forty.
News
Simon Potter and Sharon McAllister were the original newsreaders and served the station for six years before changes within the station saw a variety of different people reading bulletins. Simon Potter rejoined the station on a part-time basis in December 2007 to compile and read the breakfast news. National and international news is provided to the station by IRNIndependent Radio News
Independent Radio News provides a service of news bulletins, audio and copy to commercial radio stations in the UK and beyond.The managing director of IRN is Tim Molloy, who succeeded long-term MD John Perkins in November 2009...
. The news is currently edited by Carlo Fiorentino.
Studios