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...a
timeline to the creation of a radio station JUST for Erewash...
-
 January
1997: Radio group created using
a nucleus of an experienced locally based team of broadcasters.
-
July 1997-August 2002: Six short-term
28-day FM trial broadcasts as Pride FM in Derby including:
-
Christmas 2000: Pride FM is one of only 25 radio stations to be granted
a special events licence to broadcast over the Millennium from 1999-2000.
With support from advertisers and sponsors, Pride FM goes down in history as
the first match sponsor of the new Millennium at Derby County's Pride Park
Stadium.
-
Summer 2002: Pride FM ceases operations as Derby's Official Jubilee
Radio Station - commemorates 25 years of City Status, 50 years of Derby
Cathedral and 75 years of HM The Queen's reign, culminating in live coverage
of Pride Park Stadium pageant in the presence and honour of HM The Queen.
Many rate station coverage above other radio stations. Radio Authority
commends Pride FM in annual report.
-
2003: Derby County's SKY satellite
delivered football radio station - RAMPAGE - ceases trading and
transmissions after parent company and club contractor ceases trading.
The radio group enters into negotiations with Derby County with proposal
for AM match-day-only radio station to be known as Pride Park Radio.
Preparations for launch mutually abandoned upon departure of then Chairman
Lionel Pickering.
-
Christmas 2004:
After many months building natural
links in the Erewash Community, the Erewash Sound name launches at an
Ockbrook's Redhill School Christmas Fayre.
-
January - July 2005:
Erewash Sound website launches and plans
are made for a Summer 2005 short-term broadcast designed to cover as much of
the borough as possible within guidelines. Presentations given to
business consortiums. Further links with the community are built.
Roadshow promotes station aims across the borough. Erewash MP Liz
Blackman and other local councillors throw their weight behind the radio
station. 7,000+ marketing packs distributed to local businesses.
Temporary studio base identified in central Ilkeston.
-
 Saturday
16th July - Friday 12th August 2005:
Backed by Erewash businesses, local
Councillors and other members of the community, the transmitter of Erewash
Sound breaks the silence on the local airwaves on 87.9FM at an output of
15watts transmission power, and broadcasts for 28 days using a short-term
restricted licence. The borough finally had its very own radio
station.
-
“Erewash
sometimes gets squeezed out by its positioning between two very large urban
areas, i.e. Nottingham and Derby,
therefore doesn’t make
the radar screen and a radio station just for Erewash will correct that
problem”
"Erewash Sound will dedicate
its time, its chat and its music just for Erewash people, and that is very
important."
Erewash MP Liz
Blackman speaking at the launch of Erewash Sound.
-
Mrs Blackman signals wish to see 28-days
extend into a permanent licence and encourages both businesses and listeners
to get behind the station saying:
“...this
is your voice too”.
-
Erewash Sound gives away a £400
holiday accommodation package,
courtesy of
Winter Sunshine Holidays of
Draycott, and first class rail
tickets to London from Midland Mainline.
-
Friday 12th August 2005:
Exactly 28-days
after it started, at midnight, under the terms of its short-term licence,
the station closed down. Deluges of e-mails, letters and telephone
calls arrive pleading for the station not to go off the air, listeners
telling presenters what they thought of the radio station they had been
waiting for, for so long, and urging its return.
-
Saturday 13th August 2005:
Roadshow
presenters, just hours after transmissions ceased, are visited by a steady
stream of satisfied, but saddened listeners, who had liked what they'd heard
so much, but who were already missing it tremendously.
-
2006:
Erewash Sound sufficiently and successfully
lobbies the broadcast regulator OFCOM to grant the station 25w of
transmission power for any future short-term broadcasts. Plans are
made to prepare to make an application for a full-time 5-year community
radio as soon as an opportunity arises with the 'BACK THE BID' campaign,
designed to generate support for and raise awareness of station aims.
-
 January
2007: Acting as a showcase and taster
of what Erewash Sound can offer on a full-time basis, and to offer a
full-time service on available platforms now,
Erewash
Sound At The Weekend is launched over the internet specifically
targeted at Erewash residents, ex-pats and Armed Forces personnel from the
area Output includes a dedicated hourly news service at weekends plus
a full schedule of programmes, whilst during weekdays, an automated service
airs comprising of community news and information, public service
announcements and more, plus music which can be chosen via a web-site
jukebox called 'The Music Mix Selector'.
-
October 10th 2007:
OFCOM began inviting applications for
community radio licences across the Midlands. Erewash Sound
management had already begun planning the application.
-
January 15th 2008: 5:00pm:
The deadline by which community radio
licence applications had to be submitted for the Midlands. Erewash
Sound submitted an application in good time before the deadline.
-
Thursday 24th April 2008:
The broadcast regulator - OFCOM
- officially announces a decision to award Erewash Sound a full-time 5 year
FM community radio licence, having sifted through a total of 31 application
from groups wishing to cover their respective areas across the Midlands and
Lincolnshire.
-
TODAY: Erewash Sound
is continuing to prepare for the next stage in the station's development - for
launch the station on FM just
for Erewash - significantly underserved by existing
broadcasters - "squeezed out" between the two major neighbouring
cities. You can still play your part in helping to get Erewash Sound
on the air - full time. Find out how by
selecting 'Get Involved' from the website menu, or select 'Contact
Us' to get in touch.
In the meantime, our
on-line radio service - Erewash Sound At The Weekend - will continue until
further short-term 28-day licences are operated, or until full-time
transmissions begin.
The internet radio service is available via PCs, laptops, home
media centres, and
wi-fi radio. Click
the image above right to visit our sister website and start listening NOW!
You don't have to wait to listen to Erewash Sound!
Thanks for visiting the website for the radio
station JUST for Erewash - Erewash Sound! |
