Imagine FM
Encyclopedia
Imagine FM is an Independent Local Radio
station based in Stockport
broadcasting to South Manchester
and Cheshire
in the North West of England.
, initially as a pirate local radio station
based in Stockport
and broadcasting to the South Manchester
/North Cheshire
area on 94.2 mHz and then on 1017 kHz.
KFM ran during the 1980s and then relaunched legitimately as one of the first 'incremental' local commercial stations in 1990, set up to provide more localised and specialised programming.
Stoke-on-Trent
based Signal Radio assumed control of the station, following difficulties in its latter incarnation, and KFM became memorable almost solely for its 7:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. Night-time KFM output. This combined local and global new indie music with innovative DJing.
Presenters on air at this time include Craig Cash
, Caroline Aherne
http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/77/77820_how_a_love_affair_ended_laughter_at_the_buzz_club.html, Jon Ronson
, Terry Christian
http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/broadcasters5.html and Neil Cossar, all of which have all gone on to forge successful careers in the media and performing arts.
KFM was succeeded by Signal Cheshire.
Imagine FM is now trading as an independent radio station since it was bought from UTV Radio
in January 2009.
In 2000, Imagine FM became the new rebranded service on 104.9 and 96.4, and when the 104.9 frequency was readvertised, the then-owners of both stations, The Wireless Group, decided that the 96.4 transmitter should return to Signal One.
The station uses the tag line Cheshire's No.1 More Music Station and prides itself on updating the area on local news and information.
The transmitter is based close to Stockport town centre.
rejected a request by UTV to co-locate the station to Warrington
alongside three of its stations. As a result of Ofcom's decision, UTV placed Imagine FM up for sale in June 2008, stating that if a buyer cannot be found by 30 June 2008 then the stations licence would be handed back to Ofcom. The station was sold by former Imagine owners UTV Radio
in January 2009 and now trades as Imagine FM Limited.
After 20 years of the 104.9 wavelength being based at Regent House, Stockport, Imagine FM moved to Waterloo Place, Stockport in November 2010. The transmitter was also re located from Romiley to Stockport centre at the same time.
&
Broadcast Journalist
Chris Prince
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station based in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
broadcasting to South Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
in the North West of England.
History
The station began its life as KFMKFM Radio
KFM was an unlicenced radio station based in Stockport, Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom.-History:KFM originally broadcast on 94.2 MHz FM from a studio on Middle Hillgate, with the transmitter and aerial at Goyt Mill in Marple from November 1983 to February 1985 while it was...
, initially as a pirate local radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
based in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
and broadcasting to the South Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
/North Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
area on 94.2 mHz and then on 1017 kHz.
KFM ran during the 1980s and then relaunched legitimately as one of the first 'incremental' local commercial stations in 1990, set up to provide more localised and specialised programming.
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
based Signal Radio assumed control of the station, following difficulties in its latter incarnation, and KFM became memorable almost solely for its 7:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. Night-time KFM output. This combined local and global new indie music with innovative DJing.
Presenters on air at this time include Craig Cash
Craig Cash
Craig Cash is an English comedy actor, BAFTA award-winning writer and also a director.-Biography:Cash is best known for playing slightly dull and dopey working-class northern men, particularly Dave Best in the hugely successful BBC sitcom The Royle Family, which he co-wrote with Caroline Aherne...
, Caroline Aherne
Caroline Aherne
Caroline Mary Aherne is an English comedian and BAFTA winning writer and actress, best known for Mrs Merton and The Royle Family.- Background :...
http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/77/77820_how_a_love_affair_ended_laughter_at_the_buzz_club.html, Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson is a Welsh journalist, documentary filmmaker, radio presenter and nonfiction author, whose works include The Men Who Stare At Goats. His journalism and columns have appeared in British publications including The Guardian newspaper, City Life and Time Out magazine...
, Terry Christian
Terry Christian
Terry Christian is a British television and radio presenter whose credits include Channel 4's late night Youth Entertainment show The Word and ITV1 moral issues talk show It's My Life...
http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/broadcasters5.html and Neil Cossar, all of which have all gone on to forge successful careers in the media and performing arts.
KFM was succeeded by Signal Cheshire.
Imagine FM is now trading as an independent radio station since it was bought from UTV Radio
UTV Radio
UTV Radio is a UK media company, and owner of several radio stations in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It is a growing branch of UTV Media....
in January 2009.
Signal Cheshire
In 1990 a new service was launched, in Cheshire, on 96.4 FM called Echo 96. In 1991, this was renamed Signal Cheshire upon the acquisition of the KFM 104.9 transmitter. Based in Stockport, Signal Cheshire targeted the surrounding area of South Manchester and much of Cheshire, opting into networked programming from the Stoke-on-Trent site by night. There was a further change of identity in 1997 to Signal FM.In 2000, Imagine FM became the new rebranded service on 104.9 and 96.4, and when the 104.9 frequency was readvertised, the then-owners of both stations, The Wireless Group, decided that the 96.4 transmitter should return to Signal One.
The station uses the tag line Cheshire's No.1 More Music Station and prides itself on updating the area on local news and information.
The transmitter is based close to Stockport town centre.
Sale
On Wednesday 21 May 2008, OfcomOfcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
rejected a request by UTV to co-locate the station to Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
alongside three of its stations. As a result of Ofcom's decision, UTV placed Imagine FM up for sale in June 2008, stating that if a buyer cannot be found by 30 June 2008 then the stations licence would be handed back to Ofcom. The station was sold by former Imagine owners UTV Radio
UTV Radio
UTV Radio is a UK media company, and owner of several radio stations in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It is a growing branch of UTV Media....
in January 2009 and now trades as Imagine FM Limited.
After 20 years of the 104.9 wavelength being based at Regent House, Stockport, Imagine FM moved to Waterloo Place, Stockport in November 2010. The transmitter was also re located from Romiley to Stockport centre at the same time.
Presenters
- Simon James
- Paul Willett
- Fiona Sadler
- Paul Taylor
- Terry Christian
- Kev McLean
- Andy Stevenson
- Bradley Maguire
- Chellce AJ
- Kay Whyld
News staff
News Editor&
Broadcast Journalist
Chris Prince
External links
- History of local radio in Cheshire (Archived 19 October 2009)
- History of KFM
- Imagine FM website
- Imagine FM Facebook page