Suffolk Group Radio
Encyclopedia
Suffolk Group Radio was the parent company for two Independent Local Radio stations serving the county of Suffolk
in England.
on 28 October 1975. It was one of the original group of ILR stations set up by the Independent Broadcasting Authority
following a relaxation of the rules governing broadcasting in Britain. Other stations that were included in the original 15 or so were LBC
, Capital Radio
and BRMB
.
The western side of Suffolk got its own radio station in the form of Saxon Radio, which began broadcasting in Bury St Edmunds on 6 November 1982.
In 1984-85, the stations experimented with a drive-time news and current affairs programme ("The Home Run") which had presenters in both studios - Allan Lee in Ipswich and Adrienne Rosen in Bury. This proved too expensive to continue for long, and the programme was cut back to one presenter in the Ipswich studio.
.
The new group re-launched Orwell and Saxon as one station under the name SGR fm in 1992, they also launched a sister station in 1993 named SGR Colchester
after successfully applying for the licence.
In 1995, the decision was made by the East Anglian Radio Group to make better use of the AM slot and Amber Radio
was created to play 60s and 70s music from its studios in Ipswich and Norwich. Amber operated on the AM transmitters previously used by the SGR stations to simulcast.
Then in 1996, the East Anglian Radio group was bought by the GWR Group, which later became GCAP
and then Global Radio
.
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in England.
The Stations
Radio Orwell began transmissions in IpswichIpswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
on 28 October 1975. It was one of the original group of ILR stations set up by the Independent Broadcasting Authority
Independent Broadcasting Authority
The Independent Broadcasting Authority was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television - and commercial/independent radio broadcasts...
following a relaxation of the rules governing broadcasting in Britain. Other stations that were included in the original 15 or so were LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
, Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
and BRMB
Brmb
brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
.
The western side of Suffolk got its own radio station in the form of Saxon Radio, which began broadcasting in Bury St Edmunds on 6 November 1982.
Programmes
The two stations operated separate breakfast shows, and then programmes were networked from either site to both transmitters. Most of the programmes came from Ipswich, and a few came from Bury St Edmunds.In 1984-85, the stations experimented with a drive-time news and current affairs programme ("The Home Run") which had presenters in both studios - Allan Lee in Ipswich and Adrienne Rosen in Bury. This proved too expensive to continue for long, and the programme was cut back to one presenter in the Ipswich studio.
Take overs
In 1990 The Broadland Group took over Radio Orwell and Saxon. The stations were renamed SGR FM in 1992 and to reflect the addition of these new stations to the group, The Broadland Group became East Anglian RadioEast Anglian Radio
East Anglian Radio was a company based in Norwich that operated radio stations in the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex counties of the UK.The stations they owned were:...
.
The new group re-launched Orwell and Saxon as one station under the name SGR fm in 1992, they also launched a sister station in 1993 named SGR Colchester
SGR Colchester
Heart Colchester was a radio station broadcasting to Colchester and the surrounding areas. The station was launched in 1993 by the East Anglian Radio group, which also operated the Ipswich-based SGR fm, Radio Broadland in Norwich, and Amber Radio across Suffolk and Norfolk.-History:The station,...
after successfully applying for the licence.
In 1995, the decision was made by the East Anglian Radio Group to make better use of the AM slot and Amber Radio
Amber Radio
Amber Radio was a golden oldies radio station operating from Norwich, part of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.It was the AM sister station of SGR and Radio Broadland and served Norfolk and north Suffolk and Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.-History:...
was created to play 60s and 70s music from its studios in Ipswich and Norwich. Amber operated on the AM transmitters previously used by the SGR stations to simulcast.
Then in 1996, the East Anglian Radio group was bought by the GWR Group, which later became GCAP
GCAP
GCAP may refer to:* Global Call to Action Against Poverty, a global anti-poverty movement/coalition* GCap Media - British commercial radio company* Grupo Capoeira Angola Pelourinho - Capoeira group by Mestre Moraes* Guanylate cyclase-activating protein...
and then Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
.