Branch FM

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = Branch FM

| logo = Branch FM logo.png

| city =

| area = Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

| branding =

| frequency = {{Frequency|101.8|FM}}

| translator =

| repeater =

| airdate = May 2007

| last_airdate =

| format = Christian

| language = English

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| webcast = [http://www.branchfm.com/player/ Web stream]

| website = {{URL|http://www.branchfm.com/}}

}}

Branch FM is a community radio station based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England, which has operated since May 2007.{{cite news|title=New gospel radio station to hit the airwaves|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/local-stories/new-gospel-radio-station-to-hit-the-airwaves-1-2608642|accessdate=11 November 2015|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post|date=20 March 2006}} It broadcasts on the 101.8 FM frequency, in the West Yorkshire, area on an OFCOM licence until 2017.{{cite web|title=Branch FM licence details|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/community/cr000085ba1branchfm.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220201259/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/community/cr000085ba1branchfm.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 December 2013|website=OFCOM|accessdate=11 November 2015}} It was one of the first Christian radio stations to be given a broadcast licence in the UK.{{cite journal|last1=Cooper, M|last2=Macaulay, K|title=Contemporary Christian radio in Britain: A new genre on the national dial|journal=The Radio Journal – International Studies in Broadcast & Audio Media|date=2015|volume=1+2|issue=13|pages=75–87|doi=10.1386/rjao.13.1-2.75_1 |url=http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/26226/1/Cooper%20%26%20Macauley%20Radio%20Religion.pdf}}

The station's OFCOM licence commits it to:

• Typical output of 75% music, 25% speech
• Predominantly Christian Contemporary Music
• Speech output to include news, weather, travel, Ministry teaching, drama, interviews, lifestyle features and studio discussion
• Broadcast in English
• Live output for at least 7 hours a day
• Majority locally produced

The station is also expected to provide training, encourage volunteering and deliver other social gains to the local community.{{cite web|title=Branch FM - Community radio licence: key commitments|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/Community/commitments/cr000085.pdf|website=OFCOM|accessdate=11 November 2015|date=March 2012}}

Whilst the audience of the station is assumed to be mostly Christian, the management of the station have been quoted as saying that they feel it should be seeking to "wholeheartedly support" non-Christians doing good things in the community.

The radio station output is volunteer led{{cite web|title=Successful seven years for radio|url=http://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/successful-seven-years-for-radio-1-6953630|website=Dewsbury Reporter|accessdate=11 November 2015|date=16 November 2014}} and features interviews with prominent local church leaders.{{cite web|website=The Diocese of Leeds|url=http://www.leeds.anglican.org/content/beginning|title=In the Beginning|accessdate=13 July 2016}}

According to the station's 2014 return to the Charity Commission, the UK regulator of charities, Branch FM had a turnover of about £13,000.{{cite web|title=Charity # 1120585 - BRANCH FM|url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1120585&SubsidiaryNumber=0|website=Charity Commission|accessdate=11 November 2015}}