Rutland Radio
Encyclopedia
Rutland Radio is a Independent Local Radio
station broadcasting since December 1998 from Knights Yard, Gaol Street (off Melton
Road) in Oakham to Rutland
on 107.2FM (Manton
) and Stamford
on 97.4FM (East Casterton
, which also carries NOW Peterborough
).
in Lincoln
.
It received the licence from the Radio Authority to broadcast to Rutland on 4 June 1998 (the day licences were awarded to the two nearby stations that have now become Oak FM
). The group of licences had been advertised en-masse, and two stations were proposed for the area. It turned out to be initially three.
Although eight stations had applied for the licence by 3 February 1998, only Rutland Radio had submitted proposals for Rutland - the other seven were for Leicestershire. Rutland
had only come back into existence a year before the station commenced.
The station has tried in the past to find a slot on a local DAB multiplex, but they would need to be on two as Rutland is covered by the Leicestershire license and Stamford by the Peterborough license.
's Sally Elkington has the half-hour farming programme from 7am on Sunday, at the same time and presenter as Lincs FM
. Rutland's weather forecasts are provided by MOD
meteorologists at RAF Cottesmore
. From its start, similar to Trax FM
, it has had a weekly cookery programme, unusual for commercial radio stations. This is broadcast by Sally Elkington one afternoon a week. There are two weekly podcasts - the Best Bits and one for the farming programme.
The stations local community involvement is both for Oakham, Uppingham
and Stamford. Much of the advertising is piggy-backed on Lincs FM content; Springfields shopping outlet in Spalding
makes a frequent appearance in adverts and sponsorship. Rutland has the highest average house-prices in the East Midlands
, so it has advertiser-friendly demographics. Within its small broadcast area are three well-known public schools: Oakham School
, Uppingham School
and Stamford School
(with Stamford High School
), although the station is officially aimed at people aged 25–54 year olds.
In early 2010 the station dropped the "Hits & Memories" format it had taken from launch in favour of a new "The Music You Love" format as part of the Lincs FM Group
. The format focuses more on new adult contemporary, easy-listening and oldies music rather than current chart pop and classic hits.
It is the only station to actually be local to the area, with closest rivals Heart 102.7 in Peterborough (formerly Hereward FM) taking most programes from London, and the rest with Heart 103 in Cambridge.
Nations & Regions Award for the East Midlands
. It also won this in 2008, and this award is for stations with a TSA (total survey area) of under 300,000. Coincidentally, Rob Persani is Chairman of the East Midlands branch of the Radio Academy. The station was also nominated at the 2009 Arqiva Commercial Radio awards for station of the year (TSA >300,00), which was a shortlist of only 3 stations in the whole UK.
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:...
station broadcasting since December 1998 from Knights Yard, Gaol Street (off Melton
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
Road) in Oakham to Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
on 107.2FM (Manton
Manton, Rutland
Manton is a village in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is situated southwest of Rutland Water.The village had a railway station, Manton Junction, situated to the south of the village. It closed in the 1960s and the station buildings are now used as a factory...
) and Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
on 97.4FM (East Casterton
Little Casterton
Little Casterton is a small village and civil parish in Rutland. It is about two miles north of Stamford on a minor road that runs to the south of the River Gwash between Great Casterton and Ryhall.The village has a church ....
, which also carries NOW Peterborough
NOW Peterborough
NOW Peterborough is a local commercial digital radio multiplex in the United Kingdom, which serves Peterborough and the surrounding area. NOW Peterborough is transmitted on frequency block 12D 229.072 MHz from trasmitters at Huntingdon , Peterborough and Stamford. It launched in November 2002...
).
Lincs FM ownership
The station is owned by the Lincs FM GroupLincs FM Group
The Lincs FM Group based in Lincolnshire, in the UK is the parent company of several Independent Local Radio stations.-History:The Lincs FM group started with just Lincs FM in Lincolnshire, UK but has won and acquired licences to operate other local radio stations across the UK's Midlands and...
in Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
.
Licence
Oak FM
Oak FM is a local radio station broadcasting across West Leicestershire as well as the town of Nuneaton in the English Midlands in the United Kingdom...
). The group of licences had been advertised en-masse, and two stations were proposed for the area. It turned out to be initially three.
Although eight stations had applied for the licence by 3 February 1998, only Rutland Radio had submitted proposals for Rutland - the other seven were for Leicestershire. Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
had only come back into existence a year before the station commenced.
The station has tried in the past to find a slot on a local DAB multiplex, but they would need to be on two as Rutland is covered by the Leicestershire license and Stamford by the Peterborough license.
Broadcasting content
LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
's Sally Elkington has the half-hour farming programme from 7am on Sunday, at the same time and presenter as Lincs FM
Lincs FM
Lincs FM is an Independent Local Radio station serving Lincolnshire and Newark, from the Humber to The Wash. It is the current holder of the licence which was advertised by the Radio Authority on 4 March 1991.-Background:...
. Rutland's weather forecasts are provided by MOD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
meteorologists at RAF Cottesmore
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Cottesmore was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, situated between Cottesmore and Market Overton. The station housed all the operational Harrier GR9 squadrons in the Royal Air Force, and No 122 Expeditionary Air Wing...
. From its start, similar to Trax FM
Trax FM
Trax FM is an Independent Local Radio station that broadcasts to Doncaster and Bassetlaw.-History:The station is owned by the Lincs FM Group...
, it has had a weekly cookery programme, unusual for commercial radio stations. This is broadcast by Sally Elkington one afternoon a week. There are two weekly podcasts - the Best Bits and one for the farming programme.
The stations local community involvement is both for Oakham, Uppingham
Uppingham
Disambiguation: "Uppingham" is the colloquial name for Uppingham SchoolUppingham is a market town in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England, located on the A47 between Leicester and Peterborough, about 6 miles south of the county town, Oakham.- History :A little over a mile to the...
and Stamford. Much of the advertising is piggy-backed on Lincs FM content; Springfields shopping outlet in Spalding
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Spalding is a market town with a population of 30,000 on the River Welland in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. Little London is a hamlet directly south of Spalding on the B1172 road....
makes a frequent appearance in adverts and sponsorship. Rutland has the highest average house-prices in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
, so it has advertiser-friendly demographics. Within its small broadcast area are three well-known public schools: Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
, Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
and Stamford School
Stamford School
Stamford School is an English independent school situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920.-History:...
(with Stamford High School
Stamford High School, Lincolnshire
Stamford High School is an English girls' Independent School situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England on .-Education:...
), although the station is officially aimed at people aged 25–54 year olds.
In early 2010 the station dropped the "Hits & Memories" format it had taken from launch in favour of a new "The Music You Love" format as part of the Lincs FM Group
Lincs FM Group
The Lincs FM Group based in Lincolnshire, in the UK is the parent company of several Independent Local Radio stations.-History:The Lincs FM group started with just Lincs FM in Lincolnshire, UK but has won and acquired licences to operate other local radio stations across the UK's Midlands and...
. The format focuses more on new adult contemporary, easy-listening and oldies music rather than current chart pop and classic hits.
It is the only station to actually be local to the area, with closest rivals Heart 102.7 in Peterborough (formerly Hereward FM) taking most programes from London, and the rest with Heart 103 in Cambridge.
Awards
In December 2009 it won the Sony Radio AcademySony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
Nations & Regions Award for the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
. It also won this in 2008, and this award is for stations with a TSA (total survey area) of under 300,000. Coincidentally, Rob Persani is Chairman of the East Midlands branch of the Radio Academy. The station was also nominated at the 2009 Arqiva Commercial Radio awards for station of the year (TSA >300,00), which was a shortlist of only 3 stations in the whole UK.
External links
- Rutland Radio
- Lincs FM Group
- History of local radio in Leicestershire & Rutland
- History of local radio in Lincolnshire
- Receiving the Rutland licence in June 1998
- Interview in the Rutland Times with Rob Persani
- David's Transmitter World
- Jingles
- East Casterton transmitter
- Manton transmitter
- Rutland's website