Goldbeat
Encyclopedia
Goldbeat was a mediumwave radio station broadcasting on 828 kHz in Cookstown
, Northern Ireland
. It was launched in 1995 as Townland Radio, but was purchased in 1997 by media tycoon Owen Oyston
who had already bought and relaunched Belfast Community Radio
in 1996 (now Belfast CityBeat). The Oyston group relaunched Townland Radio as Goldbeat 828, but the station folded in 1999 along with sister station Heartbeat 1521 AM (formally Radio 1521) in Craigavon. Both AM licences where handed back to the then UK regulater The Radio Authority (now Ofcom
). At the time only one other radio licence in the UK had ever been handed back to the regulator.
After years of campaigning by locals for the re-advertising of a radio licence for Mid-Ulster, Ofcom
awarded an FM licence for the area to Belfast CityBeat
(now owned by CN group) in 2002. Belfast CityBeat launched Mid FM from the same premises previously occupied by Townland Radio/Goldbeat at Park Avenue, Cookstown
in County Tyrone
. In 2006 Belfast Citybeat
sold their majority stake in Mid FM to Northern Media, owners of 7FM in Ballymena
.
Mid FM was rebranded to 6FM in 2006 and changed name again to Q106/7 FM in November 2011.
Cookstown
Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It was launched in 1995 as Townland Radio, but was purchased in 1997 by media tycoon Owen Oyston
Owen Oyston
Owen John Oyston is a controversial self-made multimillionaire English businessman who is the majority owner of Blackpool F.C.. He was convicted of rape in 1996 and served three years of a six-year sentence in prison....
who had already bought and relaunched Belfast Community Radio
Belfast Community Radio
Belfast Community Radio or BCR, was a radio station that broadcast to Belfast between 1990 and 1996. The station broadcast from the basement of Russell Court Complex on Belfast's Lisburn Road. It was replaced by Belfast CityBeat.-History:...
in 1996 (now Belfast CityBeat). The Oyston group relaunched Townland Radio as Goldbeat 828, but the station folded in 1999 along with sister station Heartbeat 1521 AM (formally Radio 1521) in Craigavon. Both AM licences where handed back to the then UK regulater The Radio Authority (now Ofcom
Ofcom
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...
). At the time only one other radio licence in the UK had ever been handed back to the regulator.
After years of campaigning by locals for the re-advertising of a radio licence for Mid-Ulster, Ofcom
Ofcom
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...
awarded an FM licence for the area to Belfast CityBeat
Belfast CityBeat
Belfast CityBeat is a two-time Arqiva 'Station Of The Year' and multi-Sony Award winning Northern Irish radio station. It broadcasts to Greater Belfast on 96.7 MHz FM and on DAB Digital Radio across all of Northern Ireland. From 5 April 2007, Citybeat became available on 102.5FM for North Belfast,...
(now owned by CN group) in 2002. Belfast CityBeat launched Mid FM from the same premises previously occupied by Townland Radio/Goldbeat at Park Avenue, Cookstown
Cookstown
Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
. In 2006 Belfast Citybeat
Belfast CityBeat
Belfast CityBeat is a two-time Arqiva 'Station Of The Year' and multi-Sony Award winning Northern Irish radio station. It broadcasts to Greater Belfast on 96.7 MHz FM and on DAB Digital Radio across all of Northern Ireland. From 5 April 2007, Citybeat became available on 102.5FM for North Belfast,...
sold their majority stake in Mid FM to Northern Media, owners of 7FM in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
.
Mid FM was rebranded to 6FM in 2006 and changed name again to Q106/7 FM in November 2011.