Q97.2
Encyclopedia
Q97.2 "Causeway Coast Radio" is a radio station
based in Coleraine
, County Londonderry
. It broadcasts on FM 97.2 to the north coast. Part of the Q Radio network which also owns a number of other stations in Northern Ireland
. Q97.2FM broadcast from a building located on the Cloyfin Road in Coleraine at the junction of the Cloyfin Road and entrance to the Ballysally estate. Q97.2 broadcasts on F.M. across the Coleraine area reaching Portstewart, Portrush, Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Armoy, Garvagh, Kilrea, and as far as Ballymena, Antrim and Magherafelt. Q97.2 transmitter is located at Maddeybenney More which is situated between Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart. The current on air strap line for Q97.2FM is "Q97 Playing the Causeway Coasts best music."
Q97.2FM was bought by the Northern Media Group (NMG) in June 2006, since the take over by NMG, Q97.2FM has seen a number of changes. Several presenters & other staff were made redundant, news is now recorded at Seven FM in Ballymena and distributed to the NMG stations, networking of programmes is a 'norm' now with most of the weekend schudule coming from either a live presenter from Q102.9FM or recorded, the week days also have a lot of networking including the lunch-time period 12 noon to 2pm coming from Q102.9FM. Evenings from 7pm are networked from Q102.9FM. The Saturday and Sunday Sport show are now broadcast from Seven FM in Ballymena where only one four show now on a Saturday and Sunday comes from Coleraine. The Sunday Sports show has now been extended from 1pm to 6pm this from October 2009.
Q97.2FM used to be involved with several huge events in the North coast of Northern Ireland.
The biggest event which Q97.2FM covered was the International North West 200 motorcycle race. In 2006 the Q Radio Network dedicated website northwest200.fm attracted some 1 million hits. Other events were the Portrush raft race, Northern Ireland International air show and the Ford Mini Rally around the North Coast.
During the summer months, Q97 used to have several competitions and events, this during an influx of tourists to the area. Sunday afternoons were broadcast from different shops around the Portstewart/Portrush areas and competitions included the 'Dash For Cash' where a clue was given to the whereabouts of the Q Voucher hidden somewhere in the North coast, the winner received a cash amount.
Q97.2FM licence ends on 25 January 2012, and will be up to OFCOM to either renew the licence or advertise it.
Previous presenters include: Alan Jenkins, Caroline Fleck (Downtown radio), Mark Cunning (Cool FM, i102104), Natasha Millar, Christopher Ward, Sam McFerran, Holly Audley, Andrew Boyce, John Wright, Denis McNeill, Neil Sweeney, Hector Wishart and David Gordon.
CURRENT Q97.2FM SCHEDULE
Monday - Friday:
7.00am-12.00noon - Breakfast with Adrian Johnston (from Seven FM in Ballymena)
12.00noon-2.00pm - From Q102.9FM With Mike Henry
2.00pm-7.00pm - Drive with Barrie Owler (from Seven FM in Ballymena)
7.00pm-7.00am - from Q102.9FM
Saturday:
All day is from Q102.9FM in Londonderry
Sunday:
All day (apart from 9-11am), programming comes from Q102.9FM in Londonderry
During August 2010 - programming has been networked from Seven FM in Ballymena during the Q Drive afternoon show. This a cost cutting exercise for the NMG and once again taking the localness out of local radio in Northern Ireland.
Moving out of the current Coleraine building and transferring all broadcasts from Seven FM in Ballymena has also been rummoured.
Programming is bland with no listener interactivity whatsoever, competitions take place on a network-wide basis over six radio stations, presenters cannot play requests for listeners.
The Q97.2FM building is now up for sale from Spring 2010. All six NMG radio stations broadcast an advert about the sale of the property.
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 Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. It broadcasts on FM 97.2 to the north coast. Part of the Q Radio network which also owns a number of other stations in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Q97.2FM broadcast from a building located on the Cloyfin Road in Coleraine at the junction of the Cloyfin Road and entrance to the Ballysally estate. Q97.2 broadcasts on F.M. across the Coleraine area reaching Portstewart, Portrush, Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Armoy, Garvagh, Kilrea, and as far as Ballymena, Antrim and Magherafelt. Q97.2 transmitter is located at Maddeybenney More which is situated between Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart. The current on air strap line for Q97.2FM is "Q97 Playing the Causeway Coasts best music."
Q97.2FM was bought by the Northern Media Group (NMG) in June 2006, since the take over by NMG, Q97.2FM has seen a number of changes. Several presenters & other staff were made redundant, news is now recorded at Seven FM in Ballymena and distributed to the NMG stations, networking of programmes is a 'norm' now with most of the weekend schudule coming from either a live presenter from Q102.9FM or recorded, the week days also have a lot of networking including the lunch-time period 12 noon to 2pm coming from Q102.9FM. Evenings from 7pm are networked from Q102.9FM. The Saturday and Sunday Sport show are now broadcast from Seven FM in Ballymena where only one four show now on a Saturday and Sunday comes from Coleraine. The Sunday Sports show has now been extended from 1pm to 6pm this from October 2009.
Q97.2FM used to be involved with several huge events in the North coast of Northern Ireland.
The biggest event which Q97.2FM covered was the International North West 200 motorcycle race. In 2006 the Q Radio Network dedicated website northwest200.fm attracted some 1 million hits. Other events were the Portrush raft race, Northern Ireland International air show and the Ford Mini Rally around the North Coast.
During the summer months, Q97 used to have several competitions and events, this during an influx of tourists to the area. Sunday afternoons were broadcast from different shops around the Portstewart/Portrush areas and competitions included the 'Dash For Cash' where a clue was given to the whereabouts of the Q Voucher hidden somewhere in the North coast, the winner received a cash amount.
Q97.2FM licence ends on 25 January 2012, and will be up to OFCOM to either renew the licence or advertise it.
Previous presenters include: Alan Jenkins, Caroline Fleck (Downtown radio), Mark Cunning (Cool FM, i102104), Natasha Millar, Christopher Ward, Sam McFerran, Holly Audley, Andrew Boyce, John Wright, Denis McNeill, Neil Sweeney, Hector Wishart and David Gordon.
CURRENT Q97.2FM SCHEDULE
Monday - Friday:
7.00am-12.00noon - Breakfast with Adrian Johnston (from Seven FM in Ballymena)
12.00noon-2.00pm - From Q102.9FM With Mike Henry
2.00pm-7.00pm - Drive with Barrie Owler (from Seven FM in Ballymena)
7.00pm-7.00am - from Q102.9FM
Saturday:
All day is from Q102.9FM in Londonderry
Sunday:
All day (apart from 9-11am), programming comes from Q102.9FM in Londonderry
During August 2010 - programming has been networked from Seven FM in Ballymena during the Q Drive afternoon show. This a cost cutting exercise for the NMG and once again taking the localness out of local radio in Northern Ireland.
Criticism
Q97.2 has received bad reviews over the past year's as it tends to play more advertisements than music also fewer live programmes now come from Q97 weeknights at 7pm they cross over to sister station Q102.Moving out of the current Coleraine building and transferring all broadcasts from Seven FM in Ballymena has also been rummoured.
Programming is bland with no listener interactivity whatsoever, competitions take place on a network-wide basis over six radio stations, presenters cannot play requests for listeners.
The Q97.2FM building is now up for sale from Spring 2010. All six NMG radio stations broadcast an advert about the sale of the property.