Wessex FM

Wessex FM was a local radio station for the Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport areas of Dorset, originating from studios in Dorchester. It broadcast on 97.2 MHz in Weymouth and Dorchester (from the Bincombe Hill transmitter), and on 96.0 MHz in Bridport (from the Bridport transmitter).

Wessex FM
Broadcast areaWeymouth, Dorchester, Bridport & North Dorset
Frequency96.0, 97.2 MHz
Programming
FormatContemporary
Ownership
OwnerBauer Radio
History
First air date
3 September 1994 (1994-09-03)
Last air date
31 August 2020 (2020-08-31)

History

Early days

A group of local radio enthusiasts had been campaigning to have an Independent Local Radio (ILR) station in Dorset for some time, and eventually the Radio Authority issued the licence early in 1993. This was probably one of the last totally independent commercial radio stations in the country.

Having found a suitable premises in the centre of Dorchester, studio construction began while Roger Kennedy started recruiting the on-air team and deciding on the programme format. Roger also suggested the station's on-air name - Wessex FM - and the original strapline - "From the Heart of Dorset".

The station went on the air at 10am on 4 September 1993, with several special guests including veteran presenter Tony Blackburn.

Wessex FM before its closure

Until its closure on 31st August 2020, it had a reach percentage of 42%.[1]

Programming

All of Wessex FM's programming was produced and broadcast from its Dorchester studios. Presenter-led programming aired from 6am – midnight on weekdays, 6am – 6pm on Saturdays and 8am – 4pm on Sundays. All other output was automated.

Closure

Wessex FM was purchased by Bauer Media in 2019 along with other stations in the UKRD Group.[2] On 27 May 2020 it was announced that Wessex FM will become Greatest Hits Radio from early September 2020. The station went through a transitional period where its playlist was changed over to the 70s, 80s and 90s era and jingles changed to reflect the station playing "greatest hits". Wessex FM was finally rebranded to Greatest Hits Radio at 6:00am on 1 September 2020.

V2 Radio

In Sussex, V2 Radio was set up to fill the gap vacated by both Wessex FM and Spirit FM, with test transmissions starting in West Sussex in December 2020, and the new service launching fully on 18 January 2021.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

References
  1. "RAJAR". www.rajar.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  2. Waterson, Jim (27 May 2020). "Dozens of local radio stations to vanish across England". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  3. https://www.v2radio.co.uk/
  4. https://www.v2radio.co.uk/on-air/how-to-listen-to-v2-radio/
  5. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/12/v2-radio-launches-test-transmissions-in-west-sussex/
  6. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2021/01/launch-date-set-for-spirit-fm-replacement-v2-radio/
  7. https://www.v2radio.co.uk/
  8. https://media.info/radio/stations/v2-radio
  9. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/v2-radio-sussex
  10. https://www.chichester.co.uk/business/consumer/former-spirit-fm-presenters-brought-board-new-chichester-based-radio-station-3017327
  11. https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/v2-radio-will-give-back-west-sussex-community-3060353


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