Gateway 97.8
Encyclopedia
Gateway 97.8 is a community radio
station; serving the areas of Basildon
and East Thurrock
, England
. Since forming in 2006 as 'Gateway FM' the station has broadcast six 28-day restricted service licence
broadcasts on 87.7FM
, as well as on line webcasting.
The company was officially formed on 29 June 2006, and is a Community Interest Company (CIC). The station launched as a re-branded 'Gateway 97.8
' on the 25th of September 2010. Since the launch, the station has expanded, gaining more members and more appraisal in the local community.
The station provides a publicity spot for local bands
looking to gain airtime. Some notable local bands were Kuda Bux, C.O.D.A (Now ProRata), and Minus IQ. The station also formed a good relationship with 2010 UK Eurovision entrant Josh Dubovie
, through his appearances at several roadshows, presented by the station. Gateway 97.8 also provides radio training courses for local disabled people, children and the general public all free of charge after the payment of a yearly £1 membership fee.
Pat Sharp
, and Tony Blackburn
have presented shows on the station.,
level 1, and level 2 qualification in radio broadcasting.
. The station started its 28-day testing period on 28 August 2010 and launched on 25 September 2010. Since then the station has broadcast with essentially no interruption to its service, other than time out for engineering.
the 'Live & Loud' show on Sunday evenings. It provides airtime for local bands or musicians who want to get heard by a large audience, often with live performances in the studio.
who was in the area also opening the new Basildon
sporting village in the local Gloucester park. He also appeared on 'Good Afternoon' a programme hosted by the chair of the station, for around 10 minutes.
Moments prior to this he presented three Princess Diana 'award of excellence' certificates to three volunteers at the station - to add to the considerable amount of award holders already at the station.
Community radio in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Community Radio refers to a system of licensing small, micro-local, non-profit radio stations, which started in 2002. In its early days, the pilot scheme was known as Access Radio.-History:...
station; serving the areas of Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
and East Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Since forming in 2006 as 'Gateway FM' the station has broadcast six 28-day restricted service licence
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
broadcasts on 87.7FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
, as well as on line webcasting.
The company was officially formed on 29 June 2006, and is a Community Interest Company (CIC). The station launched as a re-branded 'Gateway 97.8
Gateway 97.8
Gateway 97.8 is a community radio station; serving the areas of Basildon and East Thurrock, England. Since forming in 2006 as 'Gateway FM' the station has broadcast six 28-day restricted service licence broadcasts on 87.7FM, as well as on line webcasting.The company was officially formed on 29...
' on the 25th of September 2010. Since the launch, the station has expanded, gaining more members and more appraisal in the local community.
The station provides a publicity spot for local bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
looking to gain airtime. Some notable local bands were Kuda Bux, C.O.D.A (Now ProRata), and Minus IQ. The station also formed a good relationship with 2010 UK Eurovision entrant Josh Dubovie
Josh Dubovie
Josh James Dubovie is a British singer. He represented the UK at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Oslo, Norway in May 2010, finishing last with his performance of "That Sounds Good to Me", written by writers and producers Mike Stock and Pete Waterman of Stock Aitken Waterman and Steve...
, through his appearances at several roadshows, presented by the station. Gateway 97.8 also provides radio training courses for local disabled people, children and the general public all free of charge after the payment of a yearly £1 membership fee.
Pat Sharp
Pat Sharp
Pat Sharp is a British radio and television presenter and disc jockey. In the UK, he is known mainly for his work on the children's television programme Fun House, his former mullet and his radio shows as well as his support of Arsenal...
, and Tony Blackburn
Tony Blackburn
Tony Blackburn is an English disc jockey, who broadcast on the "pirate" stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s and was the first disc jockey to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in 1967. In 2002 he was the winner of the ITV reality TV programme I'm a Celebrity.....
have presented shows on the station.,
Studio Locations
The station currently has three studio locations, several outside broadcast inject points, and a total of six actual studios, with four in the Eastgate Shopping Centre:- Kelting House, BasildonBasildonBasildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
- The Galleries, Third Floor, Eastgate Shopping CentreEastgate Shopping Centre (Basildon)Eastgate Shopping Centre, often simply referred to as Eastgate, is a shopping centre located in the heart of Basildon, Essex, with bus and train facilities all close by...
, BasildonBasildonBasildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford... - Basildon Lower AcademyBasildon AcademiesThe Basildon Academies is a network of schools located in Basildon, Essex, UK. In 2011 it consists of two secondary schools: the Lower Academy , and the Upper Academy ....
, BasildonBasildonBasildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
Opportunities
The station has the facilities to be able to host and teach the OCNOpen college network
The Open College Network is the commonly used term to describe one or more of the 11 regional bodies that together comprise the . NOCN is one of the United Kingdom Awarding Bodies that include Edexcel and City and Guilds....
level 1, and level 2 qualification in radio broadcasting.
Full Time Community Licence
On 24 February 2010, Gateway 97.8 was awarded a five-year community broadcasting licence by OfcomOfcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
. The station started its 28-day testing period on 28 August 2010 and launched on 25 September 2010. Since then the station has broadcast with essentially no interruption to its service, other than time out for engineering.
Specialist Shows
Gateway 97.8 is known locally for its specialist shows, with content suitable to some minority groups. Examples of these in the past have been the Polish Show, African show, and School's Out.the 'Live & Loud' show on Sunday evenings. It provides airtime for local bands or musicians who want to get heard by a large audience, often with live performances in the studio.
Awards and Commendations
The station has received many accolades, mainly that of the Princess Diana 'award of excellence', and for other contributions to the community.Royal Visit
On May 17th 2011, the station was visited by HRH Duke of GloucesterDuke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester is a British royal title , often conferred on one of the sons of the reigning monarch. The first four creations were in the Peerage of England, the next in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the last in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; this current creation carries with it the...
who was in the area also opening the new Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
sporting village in the local Gloucester park. He also appeared on 'Good Afternoon' a programme hosted by the chair of the station, for around 10 minutes.
Moments prior to this he presented three Princess Diana 'award of excellence' certificates to three volunteers at the station - to add to the considerable amount of award holders already at the station.