Saint FM
Encyclopedia
Saint FM is a radio station
serving the island of Saint Helena
. The station's studios and administration offices are located at Association Hall, Main Street, Jamestown
. It is the only independent radio station broadcasting on Saint Helena, and is also the island's only FM
station.
The station also broadcasts via the Internet and is relayed by stations in Ascension Island
and the Falkland Islands
. The organisation also produces a weekly newspaper, the St Helena Independent.
The managing director of the station is currently the Swede Mikael Olsson, who has lived on the island for several years.
As befits the musical preference of the many Saint Helenians much country music
is played, but most popular music styles from the last 50 years are featured.
Weekday daytime programmes are usually presented by station staff. With evenings and weekends programming done by 'voluntary presenters'.
'Local news' (which also includes events on Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands) is broadcast throughout the day. The station also does international news bulletins as well as international and local sports updates throughout the day.
The programming style can best be described as 'informal'.
Many of the station's requests are placed by 'Saints' contacting relatives worldwide (request-line details are on the station's website).
The main island transmitter is at High Knoll Fort
, and radiates on 93.1 MHz. From this are also fed:
The High Knoll Fort transmitter is itself fed from a transmitter located at the studios in Jamestown, which radiates on 106.7 MHz. This transmitter also provides a service in Jamestown.
The station commenced test transmissions on the Internet on 28 September 2004, and on FM
via a temporary aerial on 27 September 2004.
After three months of test transmissions Saint FM officially opened with scheduled broadcasts on 3 January 2005.
In June 2006 broadcasts commenced in Ascension Island on 91.4MHz, locally re-broadcast by VT Merlin Communications.
On 1 September 2006 Saint FM began broadcasting to Stanley
on the Falkland Islands on 95.5MHz. The re-broadcast service is provided by KTV Ltd on the Falkland Islands under the title 'KTV Radio Nova Saint FM', and is being extended to cover residents in the vicinity of RAF Mount Pleasant
.
FM DX
Because of its remoteness Saint FM is interested to hear from people who can receive the station at unusually long distances, for example in Africa or at sea, direct from its main 93.1 MHz FM transmitter on Saint Helena.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
serving the island of Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
. The station's studios and administration offices are located at Association Hall, Main Street, Jamestown
Jamestown, Saint Helena
Jamestown is the capital and historic chief settlement of the island of Saint Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Located on the island's north-western coast, it is the island's port, with facilities for unloading goods delivered to the island, and the centre of the island's road and...
. It is the only independent radio station broadcasting on Saint Helena, and is also the island's only FM
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"...
station.
The station also broadcasts via the Internet and is relayed by stations in Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
and the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. The organisation also produces a weekly newspaper, the St Helena Independent.
The managing director of the station is currently the Swede Mikael Olsson, who has lived on the island for several years.
Programmes
The majority of programming is music-based with a significant number of requests being played for islanders from relatives and friends overseas and vice-versa.As befits the musical preference of the many Saint Helenians much country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
is played, but most popular music styles from the last 50 years are featured.
Weekday daytime programmes are usually presented by station staff. With evenings and weekends programming done by 'voluntary presenters'.
'Local news' (which also includes events on Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands) is broadcast throughout the day. The station also does international news bulletins as well as international and local sports updates throughout the day.
The programming style can best be described as 'informal'.
Many of the station's requests are placed by 'Saints' contacting relatives worldwide (request-line details are on the station's website).
Saint Helena Frequencies
Although Saint Helena is a small island its terrain is such that island-wide coverage requires more than one transmitter.The main island transmitter is at High Knoll Fort
High Knoll Fort
High Knoll Fort is a redoubt-style fort of the English East India Company on Saint Helena, an island and British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean...
, and radiates on 93.1 MHz. From this are also fed:
- a relay at The Flag, for the Levelwood area, opened July 2007, which operates on 95.1 MHz.
- a relay for the Blue HillBlue Hill, Saint HelenaBlue Hill is a hill and one of eight districts of the island of Saint Helena, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, located in the west and southwest of the island. Its main settlement, with the location of the community centre, is Blue Hill Village...
and Barren GroundBarren Ground, Saint HelenaBarren Ground is a settlement at the western end of the island of Saint Helena, north west of Blue Hill. It is administratively part of Blue Hill, but is locally seen as a distinct place.-Geography:...
area, on 91.1 MHz from the Head 'O Wain TV transmitter site.
The High Knoll Fort transmitter is itself fed from a transmitter located at the studios in Jamestown, which radiates on 106.7 MHz. This transmitter also provides a service in Jamestown.
History
Saint FM was started by Johnny Drummond, whose bequest provided the initial funding for the station. Talks about the new station began in August 2003 between Drummond and the current Station manager of Saint FM, Mike Olsson. Negotiations started soon afterwards and the broadcasting licence was issued on the 22 July 2004.The station commenced test transmissions on the Internet on 28 September 2004, and on FM
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"...
via a temporary aerial on 27 September 2004.
After three months of test transmissions Saint FM officially opened with scheduled broadcasts on 3 January 2005.
In June 2006 broadcasts commenced in Ascension Island on 91.4MHz, locally re-broadcast by VT Merlin Communications.
On 1 September 2006 Saint FM began broadcasting to Stanley
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...
on the Falkland Islands on 95.5MHz. The re-broadcast service is provided by KTV Ltd on the Falkland Islands under the title 'KTV Radio Nova Saint FM', and is being extended to cover residents in the vicinity of RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Mount Pleasant is a military base for the Royal Air Force in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The facility is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands...
.