Pirate FM
Encyclopedia
Pirate FM is one of the Independent Local Radio
stations for Cornwall
, playing a range of music from the 1960's to the present day.
(a well-known ex-pirate DJ from Radio Caroline
and Radio North Sea International
). The station's launch Chief Executive was Mike Powell
who specified digital technology so advanced at the time that it was featured on the BBC
science programme, Tomorrow's World
.
Much of the early success of the station was due to the technical expertise of the first managing director Richard Lawley, who was also a graduate electronic engineer. He was succeeded by the station's initial sales director Joseph Swain. The station has also won numerous awards including 'Station of the Year' (in the 300,000 to 1 million TSA category) at the 2003 Sony Radio Academy awards.
In September 2005, the station's branding changed from The Southwest's Pirate FM to Cornwall's Pirate FM. Listenership appears to have increased in Cornwall following the move, however it reduced their audience in West Devon (including Plymouth, where Pirate FM had a separate office and studio prior to the rebrand). From "Quarter 4" 2006 Pirate FM's survey area (TSA) was reduced by removing Plymouth & most of West Devon, thus reducing the potential audience significantly but focusing on the core Cornish audience. Pirate FM remains as the number one station by audience reach despite the increased competition.
The Pirate Trust is the charitable arm of Pirate FM that raises thousands of pounds yearly for good causes in Cornwall with their 'Cornwall in Need Appeal'. Yearly fundraisers include the 'Garden Party' and the all day on air & on line auction known as 'Radiothon'. Radiothon [2007]http://www.itsmymarket.com/auction/details.php?auction=7 and Radiothon [2008]http://www.itsmymarket.com/auction/details.php?auction=12 were both run in collaboration with free classifieds website itsmymarket.com
The news bulletins are broadcast every hour on the hour with additional bulletins at 6.30am, 7.30am, 8.30am and 5.30pm.
Tristan Hunkin
Broadcast Journalists
Emma Carton
Jodie King
Natalie Stanton
James Craig
Rachel Yates
and West Devon
as well. However, all other output, including news, talk and music is identical on both transmitters.
see also: Cornish media
Its current imaging voiceovers are Natalie Miller and Guy Harris. Its jingle package is a creation of Wise Buddah
Pirate FM's original jingles were sung by JAM productions, Dallas in 1992, which included the famous "Tamar Bridges" Cornwall theme tune, which used to be played after midnight and before 6am every day.
A new jingle package was first aired in December 2005, made by jingle
production company IQ Beats
. It was a re-recording of a previous package made for Heart 106.2 in London.
Previous Pirate FM straplines are "More music for Cornwall", "Real music variety", "Better variety, more music", "The world's greatest music", "Greatest memories, latest hits" and "The latest technology, and the best records too".
after the licence was handed back by Macquarie's Diamond FM. The UKRD plan to extend Pirate's service under the name Plymouth's Pirate FM lost out to Radio Plymouth
.
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
stations for Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, playing a range of music from the 1960's to the present day.
Background
The station was launched in 1992 under the name of Pirate FM 102 with the voice of breakfast presenter Roger DayRoger Day
Broadcaster Roger "Twiggy" Day Real name Roger Thomas currently presents on six BBC Local Radio stations across southern England.-Early career:...
(a well-known ex-pirate DJ from Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
and Radio North Sea International
Radio North Sea International
Radio North Sea International also known as Radio Nordsee International in German and Radio Noordzee Internationaal in Dutch, was a European offshore radio station, run by the Swiss firm Mebo Telecommunications, jointly owned by Swiss engineer, Edwin Bollier, and his business partner, Erwin Meister...
). The station's launch Chief Executive was Mike Powell
Mike Powell (UK radio entrepreneur)
Mike Powell is a former British newspaper and radio journalist who hosted shows on several UK music radio stations before transitioning to station management....
who specified digital technology so advanced at the time that it was featured on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
science programme, Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
.
Much of the early success of the station was due to the technical expertise of the first managing director Richard Lawley, who was also a graduate electronic engineer. He was succeeded by the station's initial sales director Joseph Swain. The station has also won numerous awards including 'Station of the Year' (in the 300,000 to 1 million TSA category) at the 2003 Sony Radio Academy awards.
In September 2005, the station's branding changed from The Southwest's Pirate FM to Cornwall's Pirate FM. Listenership appears to have increased in Cornwall following the move, however it reduced their audience in West Devon (including Plymouth, where Pirate FM had a separate office and studio prior to the rebrand). From "Quarter 4" 2006 Pirate FM's survey area (TSA) was reduced by removing Plymouth & most of West Devon, thus reducing the potential audience significantly but focusing on the core Cornish audience. Pirate FM remains as the number one station by audience reach despite the increased competition.
The Pirate Trust is the charitable arm of Pirate FM that raises thousands of pounds yearly for good causes in Cornwall with their 'Cornwall in Need Appeal'. Yearly fundraisers include the 'Garden Party' and the all day on air & on line auction known as 'Radiothon'. Radiothon [2007]http://www.itsmymarket.com/auction/details.php?auction=7 and Radiothon [2008]http://www.itsmymarket.com/auction/details.php?auction=12 were both run in collaboration with free classifieds website itsmymarket.com
Presenters
- Bob McCreadie (Bob McCreadie for Breakfast, Bob McCreadie's Sunday Lunch)
- Tristan Hunkin (Bob McCreadie for Breakfast)
- James Martin (Weekday mornings/lunchtime, James Martin's Sunday Breakfast)
- Neil Caddy (Doing the Decades, Weekday drivetime, Neil Caddy's Weekend Breakfast)
- James Dundon (Weekday evenings, Saturday afternoons, Sunday Early Breakfast)
- Rachel Brown (Saturday mornings/lunchtime)
- Sally Reader (Cover)
News service
Pirate FM has its own news centre which produces local and national bulletins between 6am and 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 7am to 2pm on weekends and certain bank holidays.The news bulletins are broadcast every hour on the hour with additional bulletins at 6.30am, 7.30am, 8.30am and 5.30pm.
News staff
EditorTristan Hunkin
Broadcast Journalists
Emma Carton
Jodie King
Natalie Stanton
James Craig
Rachel Yates
Transmission Details
Pirate FM's two transmitters broadcast different advertising output. The Redruth transmitter on 102.8 MHz FM includes advertisements for the mid and west of the county of Cornwall, and the Caradon Hill transmitter (on 102.2 MHz FM) covers advertising for the East and North of the county, as well as covering PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and West Devon
West Devon
West Devon is a local government district and borough in Devon, England. Towns in the district include Chagford, Okehampton, Princetown, and Tavistock, where the council is based....
as well. However, all other output, including news, talk and music is identical on both transmitters.
see also: Cornish media
Branding
Pirate FM has 2 current on air straplines. "Pirate FM, the Original More Music Station" and "More Music you Love"Its current imaging voiceovers are Natalie Miller and Guy Harris. Its jingle package is a creation of Wise Buddah
Pirate FM's original jingles were sung by JAM productions, Dallas in 1992, which included the famous "Tamar Bridges" Cornwall theme tune, which used to be played after midnight and before 6am every day.
A new jingle package was first aired in December 2005, made by jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
production company IQ Beats
IQ Beats
IQ Beats is a music production company specializing in radio jingles and library production music based in Seattle, Washington, composed of Michael Berlin , Steven Scalfati Kip Beelman , Patrick Napper , Dudley Taft and is represented in the UK and...
. It was a re-recording of a previous package made for Heart 106.2 in London.
Previous Pirate FM straplines are "More music for Cornwall", "Real music variety", "Better variety, more music", "The world's greatest music", "Greatest memories, latest hits" and "The latest technology, and the best records too".
Expansion
Pirate FM was one of the two stations that applied for the licence to serve PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
after the licence was handed back by Macquarie's Diamond FM. The UKRD plan to extend Pirate's service under the name Plymouth's Pirate FM lost out to Radio Plymouth
Radio Plymouth
Radio Plymouth is an independent commercial radio station broadcasting from the Devon city of Plymouth.-History:Radio Plymouth was launched at 10am on Sunday 28 February 2010 by television presenter Phillip Schofield, an investor in the station. The first song played was The Way It Is by Bruce...
.