QEFM
Encyclopedia
Quality Europe FM was a UK radio station transmitted across Europe via the Astra 1A
satellite in the early 1990s. QEFM was one of the first European radio stations to use Direct to Home reception as its primary method of delivery, despite the use of the acronym "FM" (a reference to FM broadcasting
) in its name.
(1991–1993). Quality Europe FM. started when Roy Litchfield came to me and suggested that we take up a short licence to cover the Cheltenham Festival of Music that year. We kitted out a Caravan and sold local advertising. The idea then formed to go Satellite and as I had space in the top floor of a large house I had built, we constructed our own studios. We had many local presenters join us and many celebraties climbe the stair wo our 2 studios. We played a full programme of music and covered many topics. We had many on air competitions which gained us a terrific following all over Europe. But sadly finance from advertisers meant that the tight budget we maintained was not viable.
It then moved to studios located next to the offices of HiTech Xtravision (a famous satellite decoder manufacturer at the time) in Albany Park, Camberley
, Surrey
, UK In 1993 which it later shared with its sister station Quality Country Music Radio (QCMR), Now known as Country Music Radio (CMR). The first broadcast from the new studios in Camberley was by Terry James. QEFM closed down in 1994 after a series of financial and management related problems. At its peak, QEFM boasted 23.8 million listeners a week over 26 countries. Had there been technology available to receive satellite radio in cars, that figure would have been far greater.
, who after leaving the BBC
in a much publicised split, briefly presented his independent commercial show via the station.http://ukonair.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-2401.html The station had a strong following within Germany and Holland. Requests came in from many other European Union countries. The Domestic Listener could have been larger however. Todd Slaughter President of the Official Elvis Presley Fan Club also broadcasted a very popular Elvis Show which He handed over to Mike Adams ex Radio One contributor and BBC Midlands presenter.
While QEFM was primarily a MOR and pop music
station, one of the few programmes to survive the stations closure in 1994 was Eric Wiltsher’s "Satellite Surgery" (later known as the "Media Zoo"), which having originally moved to QEFM from Euronet, transferred across to Country Music Radio
. This popular technology show focused on everything from satellite systems to internet access, at a time when such technology was far from common place.
Station personnel - in Cheltenham
Ray Pearson - Managing Director;
Roy Litchfield - Station Manager;
Clive Pearson - Station Assistant.
Astra 1A
Astra 1A was the first satellite launched and operated by SES . During its early days, it was often referred to as the Astra Satellite, as SES only operated one satellite originally....
satellite in the early 1990s. QEFM was one of the first European radio stations to use Direct to Home reception as its primary method of delivery, despite the use of the acronym "FM" (a reference to FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
) in its name.
History
The station first broadcast briefly from CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
(1991–1993). Quality Europe FM. started when Roy Litchfield came to me and suggested that we take up a short licence to cover the Cheltenham Festival of Music that year. We kitted out a Caravan and sold local advertising. The idea then formed to go Satellite and as I had space in the top floor of a large house I had built, we constructed our own studios. We had many local presenters join us and many celebraties climbe the stair wo our 2 studios. We played a full programme of music and covered many topics. We had many on air competitions which gained us a terrific following all over Europe. But sadly finance from advertisers meant that the tight budget we maintained was not viable.
It then moved to studios located next to the offices of HiTech Xtravision (a famous satellite decoder manufacturer at the time) in Albany Park, Camberley
Camberley
Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated 31 miles southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. The town lies close to the borders of both Hampshire and Berkshire; the boundaries intersect on the western edge of the town where all three counties...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, UK In 1993 which it later shared with its sister station Quality Country Music Radio (QCMR), Now known as Country Music Radio (CMR). The first broadcast from the new studios in Camberley was by Terry James. QEFM closed down in 1994 after a series of financial and management related problems. At its peak, QEFM boasted 23.8 million listeners a week over 26 countries. Had there been technology available to receive satellite radio in cars, that figure would have been far greater.
Presentation
On air QEFM had a very polished style and the studios in Camberley became home to some famous (or later famous) names. One such name was Dave Lee TravisDave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis , also known professionally as DLT and the Hairy Cornflake, is a British radio presenter, best known for his career on BBC Radio 1.-Early life:...
, who after leaving 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...
in a much publicised split, briefly presented his independent commercial show via the station.http://ukonair.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-2401.html The station had a strong following within Germany and Holland. Requests came in from many other European Union countries. The Domestic Listener could have been larger however. Todd Slaughter President of the Official Elvis Presley Fan Club also broadcasted a very popular Elvis Show which He handed over to Mike Adams ex Radio One contributor and BBC Midlands presenter.
While QEFM was primarily a MOR and pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
station, one of the few programmes to survive the stations closure in 1994 was Eric Wiltsher’s "Satellite Surgery" (later known as the "Media Zoo"), which having originally moved to QEFM from Euronet, transferred across to Country Music Radio
Country Music Radio
Country Music Radio was a radio station broadcast throughout Europe during the 1990s via satellite.- History :Originally called QCMR and based in the studios of sister station QEFM in Camberley, the station renamed and relocated to studios in Alton, Hampshire, UK in 1994 and then to Britannia...
. This popular technology show focused on everything from satellite systems to internet access, at a time when such technology was far from common place.
Station personnel - in Cheltenham
Ray Pearson - Managing Director;
Roy Litchfield - Station Manager;
Clive Pearson - Station Assistant.
Former Presenters
- Mike Adams.
- Chris Williams.
- Dave Lee TravisDave Lee TravisDave Lee Travis , also known professionally as DLT and the Hairy Cornflake, is a British radio presenter, best known for his career on BBC Radio 1.-Early life:...
. - Edward Cole R.I.P..
- Eric Wiltsher.
- Christopher Musk.
- Alan Roberts (as Paul Revere).
- Jonathan Cohen.
- Lee WilliamsLee WilliamsLee Williams is a Welsh actor and former model. Williams was the face of French Connection TV, CK Jeans, Sisley, and has worked as a model for designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Calvin Klein.- Early life :...
. - Neil FrancisNeil Francis (broadcaster)Neil Francis is a British DJ, and previously hosted the Friday evening slot on Absolute Radio and Absolute 80s.Francis's first big break in radio came in 1985 with a stint on North Sea pirate Radio Caroline and he has also worked as a presenter for Chiltern Radio in Herts/Beds/Bucks, Invicta FM in...
. - Nick Gurney.
- Simon Winyard.
- Stuart CameronStuart CameronStuart Cameron is Senior Lecturer at School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. He has been the first Director of Global Urban Research Unit....
. - Terry Boydell (as Terry James).
- Andy RobertsAndy RobertsAnderson Montgomery Everton "Andy" Roberts is a former West Indian cricketer. He was an excellent fast bowler, twice taking seven wickets in an innings of a Test match...
. - Neil Vincent.
- Emma Whittard.
- Nicky JamesNicky JamesNicky James was a British musician and songwriter.-Biography:Nicky James was born Michael Clifford Nicholls in Tipton, Staffordshire, England on 2 April 1943. He attended Park Lane School, and at age sixteen moved to Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire...
. - Roy Litchfield.
- Nick David.
- Gary Weston.
- Karl Bennett.
- Steve WilkinsonSteve WilkinsonSteve Wilkinson is a former professional football player who played as a striker for five different clubs in The Football League. He is now head of the football development centre at Loughborough College....
. - Keith LewisKeith LewisKeith D'Andre Lewis is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round in 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon....
External links
- Eric Wiltsher's Blog
- http://www.rapier-pr.co.uk/ Station MD & PR Consultant