Fun Kids

Fun Kids is a national children's and pop digital radio station in the United Kingdom with associated websites, YouTube and podcast channels. It has previously been the winner of the Sony and Arqiva Digital Radio Stations of the year. It is operated by Children's Radio UK Ltd. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio across the UK as well as online and mobile.

Fun Kids
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
FrequencyDAB: 11A Sound Digital
Programming
FormatChildren's Radio
Ownership
OwnerChildren's Radio UK Ltd
History
First air date
May 2005 (2005-05)
Links
WebcastRadioplayer
Websitewww.funkidslive.com

Background

Fun Kids (formerly Fun Radio) was created by GCap Media, Hit Entertainment and the children's radio campaigner Susan Stranks.[1] It went on-air in May 2005 and then was acquired in September 2008 by Folder Media.[2]

Fun Radio was initially launched on DAB digital radio in London and some areas of the South East alongside being broadcast on digital television. In January 2008, the line ups of a number of local digital multiplexes changed, with Fun Radio being removed as a service from those outside London.

Broadcasting Nationwide

In summer 2009, Fun Kids launched temporarily on the national Digital One multiplex from 27 June until 3 October.[3] Fun Kids was removed from Virgin Media channel 926 on 1 December 2009 and also from Sky channel 0171 on 16 December 2009.

In February 2016 it was announced that the station would start broadcasting nationwide by joining Sound Digital's national DAB digital radio multiplex.[4] It launched, alongside the multiplex's other radio stations on 29 February.[5]

Presenters

Fun Kids has been a training ground for many young radio presenters including James Barr, Tim Dixon, James Beckingham, Frankie Vu, Matt Kot and Luke Franks.

Its current[6] presenter line-up includes: Sean Thorne, Robyn Richford, Josh Divney, Bex Lindsay, Dan Simpson, Anna-Louise Walter and George Butler.

Alexis Weller, 11 year old winner of the 2019 BBC Rising Talent Young Audio Award presents a short segment called "Lexi's Showbiz News" on George Butler's Sunday afternoon show.

Fun Kids' Spin Off Channels

In January 2020, Fun Kids launched eight spin off channels[7] - Fun Kids Animals, Fun Kids Classics, Fun Kids Classical, Fun Kids Party, Fun Kids Pop Hits, Fun Kids Naps, Fun Kids Silly and Fun Kids Soundtracks. It's classical music station, Fun Kids Classical, has concert pianist Lang Lang as its ambassador[8].

References
  1. Carter, Meg (8 June 2005). "New station bids for a chance to switch children on to radio". The Guardian. London.
  2. Plunkett, John (23 September 2008). "Folder Media buys GCap's Fun Radio". The Guardian. London.
  3. "Fun Kids goes nationwide on DAB". Radio Today. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  4. "Fun Kids to go national as DAB+ radio service – RadioToday".
  5. "A national radio station for children is launching – with DJs from The Beano". 3 February 2016.
  6. "Schedule". Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  7. "Fun Kids launches eight new radio stations". Radio Today.
  8. "Fun Kids Classical radio station to get young into Mozart". The Times.


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