Manx Radio
Encyclopedia
Manx Radio is the national commercial radio
station for the Isle of Man
.
The station began broadcasting on 29 June 1964, almost ten years before commercial radio was licensed in the United Kingdom
. The Isle of Man, having its own government
and laws, was not subject to the rules prohibiting commercial broadcasting in the UK
. However, the Manx Government
still had to apply to the UK's General Post Office for a frequency and for permission to broadcast. First requested in 1960, a licence was eventually, and somewhat begrudgingly, granted.
The station was allocated an FM
frequency of 89.0 MHz and a comparatively low power. In October 1964, an additional frequency of 1600 kHz AM
was allocated to the station to provide greater coverage.
Manx Radio broadcasts mainly in English
with a few hours a week devoted to broadcasting in Manx
. During the Isle of Man TT
some programmes are broadcast in other European languages, such as French
and German
.
) for the north of the island; 97.2 MHz FM (from Douglas
/Carnane) for the south of the island; and 103.7 MHz (from Jurby
) for the island's hills. An additional low-power transmitter covers Ramsey
on a frequency of 89.5 MHz.
. It was originally run by the Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission, a state-owned body, under the name Isle of Man Broadcasting Company. In 1980 the company was moved to an arms-length operation using the name Radio Manx Limited (the on-air name did not change). Since 1994, the shares in Radio Manx Limited have been held by the Manx Radio Trust, further distancing the station from Tynwald
. Nevertheless, the company remains responsible to Tynwald and its operations are reviewed annually.
races, the 1368 kHz frequency becomes Manx Radio TT, providing news and results on the races.
Marian Kenny
New Media Editor
Graham Bell
Sports Editor
Tim Glover
Broadcast Journalists
Howard Caine
Beth Espey
James Davis (also Agenda Monday presenter)
Edward Oldham
News Journalists
John Moss (also presents Mandate AM & Perspective)
Jason Roberts
Sports Journalist
Chris Kinley (also presents The Morning Show & Saturday Live)
Commercial broadcasting
Commercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
station for the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.
The station began broadcasting on 29 June 1964, almost ten years before commercial radio was licensed in the United Kingdom
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...
. The Isle of Man, having its own government
Isle of Man Government
The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...
and laws, was not subject to the rules prohibiting commercial broadcasting in the UK
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...
. However, the Manx Government
Isle of Man Government
The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...
still had to apply to the UK's General Post Office for a frequency and for permission to broadcast. First requested in 1960, a licence was eventually, and somewhat begrudgingly, granted.
The station was allocated an FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
frequency of 89.0 MHz and a comparatively low power. In October 1964, an additional frequency of 1600 kHz AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
was allocated to the station to provide greater coverage.
Manx Radio broadcasts mainly in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
with a few hours a week devoted to broadcasting in Manx
Manx language
Manx , also known as Manx Gaelic, and as the Manks language, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, historically spoken by the Manx people. Only a small minority of the Island's population is fluent in the language, but a larger minority has some knowledge of it...
. During the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
some programmes are broadcast in other European languages, such as French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
Current frequencies
Manx Radio now broadcasts on 1368 kHz AM to the whole island; 89.0 MHz (from SnaefellSnaefell
Snaefell is the highest mountain and the only summit higher than on the Isle of Man, at above sea level. The summit is crowned by a train station, cafe, and several communications masts.- Views :...
) for the north of the island; 97.2 MHz FM (from Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
/Carnane) for the south of the island; and 103.7 MHz (from Jurby
Jurby
Jurby is a parish in Micheal Sheading in the Isle of Man and has, according to the 2006 census 659 , residents.It is largely an agricultural district on the north-north-western coast of the island but also has an industrial park on the old RAF Jurby Airfield.The parish is one of three divisions of...
) for the island's hills. An additional low-power transmitter covers Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
on a frequency of 89.5 MHz.
Company structure
Manx Radio is the island's public service broadcasterPublic broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
. It was originally run by the Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission, a state-owned body, under the name Isle of Man Broadcasting Company. In 1980 the company was moved to an arms-length operation using the name Radio Manx Limited (the on-air name did not change). Since 1994, the shares in Radio Manx Limited have been held by the Manx Radio Trust, further distancing the station from Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
. Nevertheless, the company remains responsible to Tynwald and its operations are reviewed annually.
Radio TT
During the Isle of Man TTIsle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
races, the 1368 kHz frequency becomes Manx Radio TT, providing news and results on the races.
English language presenters
- Alex Brindley (Alex in the Afternoon: Weekday afternoons, The Radio Cafe: Saturday mornings)
- Jim Caine (Sweet and Swing)
- David CallisterDavid CallisterDavid Alexander Callister MHK is a Manx politician and broadcaster, who is a current member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man. He defeated Pamela Crowe in 2008., He is also known as a former broadcaster on Manx Radio....
(New Country Cool, Saturday Sunrise) - Simon Clarke (Country Side)
- Paul Corkish (Triple Gold)
- Ian Cottier (Time for Brass)
- Terry Cringle (The History Man, Today's Paper)
- Bob Harrison (Evening Extra, Moghrey Jedoonee)
- John Hines (Sunday Daybreak)
- Geraldine Jamieson (The GJ Interview)
- John Kaneen (The Folk Show)
- John Kennaugh (Country Side)
- Chris Kinley (The Morning Show)
- Judith Ley (Praise, Sundown)
- Stu Peters (Talking Heads, Saturday Rock)
- Ben Hartley (The Late Show)
- Mike Reynolds (Reynolds on the Radio)
- Ernie Thorn (The Opera Hour)
- Ashlea Tracey (Travel news editor, Presenter of Connections and Co-presenter of Alex in the Afternoon)
- Roger Watterson (Perspective, Sunday Opinion, Mannin Line)
- Chris Williams (Wake Up to Williams, Carnaby Street)
Manx language presenters
- Maralyn Brown (Shiaght Laa)
- Bob Carswell (Claare Ny Gael)
- Fiona McArdle (Shiaght Laa)
- Brian StowellBrian StowellBrian Stowell is a Manx radio personality, linguist and author. He is considered one of the primary people behind the revival of the Manx language. While a student he became fluent in the language, and made tape recordings of its elderly speakers. He became fluent in Irish and used his fluency to...
(Moghrey Jedoonee)
Manx Radio news
Manx Radio employs ten broadcast journalists, responsible for hourly news bulletins and the flagship thrice-daily programme Mandate, broadcast at breakfast (7:30-8:30am), lunchtime (1-1:15pm) and drivetime (5:30-6pm).News staff
News EditorMarian Kenny
New Media Editor
Graham Bell
Sports Editor
Tim Glover
Broadcast Journalists
Howard Caine
Beth Espey
James Davis (also Agenda Monday presenter)
Edward Oldham
News Journalists
John Moss (also presents Mandate AM & Perspective)
Jason Roberts
Sports Journalist
Chris Kinley (also presents The Morning Show & Saturday Live)
External links
- Manx Radio
- UK Radio History
- The MHP (closedown announcement)