Alpha Radio Darlington
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Alpha Radio
| logo = File:Alpha Radio.png
| city = Darlington | country = England
| area =
| branding =
| airdate = 30 November 1995 (1st)
1 July 2019 (2nd)
10 July 2023 (3rd)
| last_airdate = 2009 (1st)
2020 (2nd)
| frequency =
| format = Contemporary
| erp =
| former_names = Original: {{ubl|A1 FM|Alpha 103.2}} Current: Darlo Radio
| owner =
| website = https://alpharadio.co.uk
}}
Alpha Radio was a community radio station based in Darlington, England, for south County Durham.{{cite web | url = http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/rau/radio-stations/analogue/AL181-1.htm | title = Original Radio Authority licence details | accessdate = 26 January 2010 }} The brand has been bought and used multiple times, the current third iteration was formerly known as Darlo Radio. The original version was merged into Star Radio, the second into Sun FM.
History
When launched in 1995 as A1FM, Alpha was owned by Radio Investments Ltd while First Radio Sales{{cite web | url = http://www.firstradio.co.uk/region/ | title = First Radio Sales details | accessdate = 26 January 2010 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100301190133/http://www.firstradio.co.uk/region/| archivedate= 1 March 2010 }}
In 2009, Alpha was joined by neighbouring station Minster Northallerton to share the studio complex in a cost-cutting exercise. To make further savings, both Alpha and Minster Northallerton, along with Durham FM were rebranded as Star Radio North East which meant all three stations lost their heritage names and only produced a daily breakfast show. Since June 2010, output has been networked across all frequencies, although commercial breaks were still unique to the three areas.
=Imaging=
In its history, Alpha 103.2/ Alpha FM/ Alpha Radio had many jingle packages and imaging updates. In 2002, The Local Radio Group introduced Bespoke Music Jingles to its group of stations. This then launched an iconic sung logo for Alpha 103.2. Alpha had four main jingle packages from Bespoke. They were introduced in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2009. During 2003/ 2006, Alpha lost its jingles in favour of imaging when the Music:Fun:Life streamline was introduced. The main station Voice overs for Alpha throughout its life were, Emma Clarke, Chris Marsden, Jeff Davies and Greg Marsden.
The last ever Alpha Jingles were by sung radio jingles made by Bespoke Music.{{cite web | url = http://www.bespokemusic.co.uk/showreels/220 | title = Alpha 103.2 Bespoke Music jingles | accessdate = 26 January 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090513045803/http://www.bespokemusic.co.uk/showreels/220 | archive-date = 13 May 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }} but had the name tweaked when the station changed names from Alpha 103.2 to Alpha Radio.Most recently the station had sung radio jingles made by Bespoke Music. The main station imaging for Alpha was designed and produced in house via the TLRC from Minster FM in York which was made as a generic package for the TLRC group and sent to all local station within the portfolio to be edited into 'local ID's' however later, the imaging was produced in Darlington's Woodland Road studio's via various producers such as Chris Hakin, Craig Bailey, Dan Callum and Dave Lee.
Notable presenters
References
External links
{{Radio stations in North East England}}
Category:The Local Radio Company
Category:Radio stations established in 1995
Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2010
Category:Defunct radio stations in the United Kingdom
Category:Borough of Darlington
{{UK-radio-station-stub}}