Radio Wave 96.5
Encyclopedia
Radio Wave 96.5 is a British
Independent Local Radio
station that serves the Blackpool
and Fylde coast
areas of Lancashire
. The station's output is broadcast from a specially-constructed transmitter aerial which is situated atop Blackpool Tower
. The station was originally called Radio Wave and has also been known as The Wave 96.5.
The quarterly listening figures for the station for the period ending June 2008 from RAJAR
(Radio Joint Audience Research Limited) give a 17% market share in its survey area of a total of 240,000 adults (aged 15 and over). The station is listened to by 75,000 (31%) people each week with each listener tuning in an average of eleven hours every week.
for a distinct Independent Local Radio
(ILR) licence for the Blackpool and Fylde area. The licence was awarded in 1992 and Radio Wave first broadcast at 7am on 25 May 1992 with an introduction from its founder, John Barnett. The first presenter was Neil Sexton (now on www.gaydarradio.co.uk ) the first record played was Simply the Best by Tina Turner and the official launch took place on a specially erected stage in front of a live audience on the promenade
by Blackpool Tower and featured Les Dawson
and Derek Batey
together with other local celebrities. This was also the radio station where Jon Culshaw
started his climb to stardom, and many of his impressions appeared in his show. The Original daytime line up was Neil Sexton, Simon Tate, Jon Culshaw, John Peters, Ceri Glen, Basil Soaper and Andy Mitchell
In its first year of broadcasting the station won a Sony Radio Academy Awards
Gold Award and was commended in the Local Station of the Year category.
In August 1996, Radio Wave was confirmed by RAJAR as the most listened-to radio station in the area, ahead of fourteen other stations which were available including BBC Radio 1
, which had half the amount of listeners locally. In 2000 Barnett received an M.B.E. for services to radio broadcasting. He is now the station's chairman.
area of Blackpool. The station can be heard from Fleetwood
in the Wyre
district, in the northwest corner of the Fylde, Preston to the east and Southport
, 14.8 miles (23.8 km) west-southwest of Preston.
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...
Independent Local Radio
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 that serves the Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
and Fylde coast
The Fylde
The Fylde ; Scandinavian: "field") is a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England. It is roughly a 13-mile square-shaped peninsula, bounded by Morecambe Bay to the north, the Ribble estuary to the south, the Irish Sea to the west, and the Bowland hills to the east...
areas of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The station's output is broadcast from a specially-constructed transmitter aerial which is situated atop Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower Eye is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. . Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 518 feet & 9 inches . The tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers...
. The station was originally called Radio Wave and has also been known as The Wave 96.5.
The quarterly listening figures for the station for the period ending June 2008 from RAJAR
RAJAR
RAJAR was established in 1992 to operate a single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United Kingdom. RAJAR is jointly owned by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the RadioCentre...
(Radio Joint Audience Research Limited) give a 17% market share in its survey area of a total of 240,000 adults (aged 15 and over). The station is listened to by 75,000 (31%) people each week with each listener tuning in an average of eleven hours every week.
History
In the late 1980s local businessman John Barnett started lobbying the radio industry regulatorIndependent Broadcasting Authority
The Independent Broadcasting Authority was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television - and commercial/independent radio broadcasts...
for a distinct Independent Local Radio
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:...
(ILR) licence for the Blackpool and Fylde area. The licence was awarded in 1992 and Radio Wave first broadcast at 7am on 25 May 1992 with an introduction from its founder, John Barnett. The first presenter was Neil Sexton (now on www.gaydarradio.co.uk ) the first record played was Simply the Best by Tina Turner and the official launch took place on a specially erected stage in front of a live audience on the promenade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
by Blackpool Tower and featured Les Dawson
Les Dawson
Leslie "Les" Dawson was a popular English comedian remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife.-Life and career:...
and Derek Batey
Derek Batey
Derek Batey is a former British television presenter and television executive.Batey was educated at the White House School, Brampton, and after appearing in clubs as a ventriloquist he made his first TV appearance in 1958 as an interviewer for the BBC...
together with other local celebrities. This was also the radio station where Jon Culshaw
Jon Culshaw
Jonathan Peter Culshaw is an English impressionist and comedian. He was educated at St Bede's RC High School, Ormskirk and St John Rigby College, in Orrell, Wigan....
started his climb to stardom, and many of his impressions appeared in his show. The Original daytime line up was Neil Sexton, Simon Tate, Jon Culshaw, John Peters, Ceri Glen, Basil Soaper and Andy Mitchell
In its first year of broadcasting the station won a Sony Radio Academy Awards
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
Gold Award and was commended in the Local Station of the Year category.
In August 1996, Radio Wave was confirmed by RAJAR as the most listened-to radio station in the area, ahead of fourteen other stations which were available including BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, which had half the amount of listeners locally. In 2000 Barnett received an M.B.E. for services to radio broadcasting. He is now the station's chairman.
Transmission Area
Radio Wave broadcasts from studios based on Mowbray Drive in the LaytonLayton, Blackpool
Layton is a district of the town of Blackpool on the Fylde coast in the county of Lancashire, England.-Geography:Located roughly in Blackpool's geographical centre Layton accounts for a relatively large part of the town's total area...
area of Blackpool. The station can be heard from Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
in the Wyre
Wyre
Wyre is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Poulton-le-Fylde.The district is named after the River Wyre, which runs through the district...
district, in the northwest corner of the Fylde, Preston to the east and Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, 14.8 miles (23.8 km) west-southwest of Preston.
External links
- Official website
- Part One video of the launch of Radio Wave on 25 May 1992
- Part Two video of the launch of Radio Wave on 25 May 1992