Fix Radio
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Use British English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Fix Radio
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| country = UK
| area = United Kingdom
| frequency = DAB: 11A Sound Digital
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| branding = The Builders Station
| languages = English
| format = Vocational radio
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| founded = {{start date and age|2017}}
| airdate = {{start date|2017|04|26|df=y}}
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| webcast = [https://www.fixradio.co.uk/radioplayer/]
| website = {{URL|www.fixradio.com}}
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Fix Radio is a national digital radio station in the United Kingdom with associated websites, Facebook, YouTube and podcast channels. It has previously been the silver award winner of the 2023 UK Audio and Radio Industry Awards for best station sound. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio across the UK as well as online and mobile.
Background
Fix Radio was founded by its current (as of 2023) CEO, Louis Timpany, to provide music, news and entertainment aimed at UK tradespeople.{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Barry |date=2017-04-26 |title=A radio station for tradespeople launches – Digital Radio UK |url=https://getdigitalradio.com/a-radio-station-for-tradespeople-launches/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |language=en-GB}} It went on-air at 7am on 26 April 2017 with the tagline "We're Nailing It!" and special guest Charlie Mullins. The first song played was Starship's "We Built This City".{{cite web |date=2017-04-27 |title=Charlie Mullins helps launch Fix Radio |url=https://www.hvpmag.co.uk:443/Charlie-Mullins-helps-launch-Fix-Radio/10113 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=www.hvpmag.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Hepworth |first=David |date=2017-05-13 |title=This week's best radio: Britain's builders get a new station |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/may/13/david-hepworth-fix-radio-preview |access-date=2023-05-07 |issn=0261-3077}}{{cite web |last=Sherwin |first=Adam |date=2017-05-01 |title=It's a Fix: New radio station for builders and plumbers launches |url=https://inews.co.uk/essentials/fix-new-radio-station-builders-plumbers-launches-62322 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}{{cite web |title=How Fix Radio hopes to build an audience of tradespeople |url=https://www.thenbs.com/news/how-fix-radio-hopes-to-build-an-audience-of-tradespeople |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=NBS |language=en}} It specialises in trade focused content with dedicated painting and decorating, heating and plumbing, carpentry, plastering, and electrical shows.
Although it broadcasts 24 hours a day, only the hours of 7am to 4pm are produced "as live".{{cite web |title=Public File |url=https://www.fixradio.co.uk/files/public-file/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Fix Radio |language=en}}
It was initially launched on DAB digital radio in London operating out of the Spectrum Radio building in Battersea.
2018 saw its first major expansion and the creation of Fix Media after a takeover of the Facebook group "Tradesman Banter," accompanied by a move to new studios in Angel, Islington.{{cite web |date=2018-06-18 |title=Fix Radio expands and launches Fix Media |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/06/fix-radio-expands-and-launches-fix-media/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}
Broadcasts expanded to cover Manchester on 14 January 2019 at 7am on the SSDAB minimux.{{cite web |date=2019-01-07 |title=London's Fix Radio extends service to Manchester |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/01/londons-fix-radio-extends-service-to-manchester/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}
Fix Radio claims the most detailed weather forecasts specifically aimed at tradespeople working outdoors, and no repeat of music within a 48-hour period.
Broadcasting nationwide
In March 2022 it was announced that the station would start broadcasting nationwide by joining Sound Digital's national DAB digital radio multiplex after securing a national broadcasting licence and £950,000 of crowdfunding. It launched nationally on 3 May 2022 and moved to new headquarters at the Vox studios in Vauxhall.{{cite web |date=2022-03-09 |title=Fix Radio is going national on DAB digital radio via SDL |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2022/03/fix-radio-is-going-national-on-dab-digital-radio-via-sdl/ |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |last=Frost |first=Maisha |date=2022-08-17 |title=Fix Radio goes national as construction workers voice approval |url=https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/1656508/fix-radio-construction-workers-broadcasting-licence-station |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=Daily Express |language=en}}{{cite web |date=4 May 2022 |title=Fix Radio turns on national coverage on DAB digital radio |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2022/05/fix-radio-turns-on-national-coverage-on-dab-digital-radio/ |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Kanter |first=Jake |title=Graduate's radio station fixes it for bored builders |date=15 April 2022 |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/graduates-radio-station-fixes-it-for-bored-builders-qctcf3bmk |access-date=7 May 2023 |issn=0140-0460 |url-access=subscription}}
On 19 May 2023, Fix Radio confirmed it had signed a deal with TradePoint to sponsor the station's breakfast show, The Bald Builders Breakfast Show.{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Roy |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/05/the-bald-builders-breakfast-show-gets-new-sponsor-on-fix-radio/ |title=The Bald Builders Breakfast Show gets new sponsor on Fix Radio |publisher=Radio Today |date=19 May 2023 |accessdate=19 May 2023}}
In November 2023, Louis Timpany, the founder and CEO of Fix Radio, won Creative Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in London.{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/11/fix-radio-founder-and-ceo-louis-timpany-wins-creative-entrepreneur-of-the-year-award/ |title=Fix Radio founder and CEO Louis Timpany wins Creative Entrepreneur of the Year award |publisher=Radio Today |date=22 November 2023 |accessdate=23 November 2023}}
On 7 December 2023, Fix Radio launched a poll to ask listeners if they wanted the station to play Christmas hits after its breakfast presenters had an on air discussion about whether it was too early for Christmas songs. The poll ran until 15 December, with the playlist from 18 December determined by its outcome.{{Cite web |first=Steve |last=Collins |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/12/fix-radio-asks-builders-to-vote-if-christmas-songs-should-be-cancelled/ |title=Fix Radio asks builders to vote if Christmas songs should be cancelled |publisher=Radio Today |date=7 December 2023 |accessdate=7 December 2023}}
Notable presenters
- Andy Hodgson (The Friday Sports Kick Off!)
- Clive Holland, former BBC TV and radio presenter
- The Bald Builders, Social media stars, radio presenters, hosts of The Bald Builders Breakfast.
Notable former presenters
Awards
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
!Work !Award !Category ! style="min-width: 8em" |Result !Ref. |
|---|
| 2023
|Ultimate Builders Portaloo |Loo of the Year of Award |Building and Construction |{{won}} |
| 2023
|The Bald Builders Breakfast |Audio and Radio Industry Awards |Best New Radio Show |{{nom}} |
| 2023
|The Heating and Plumbing Show |Audio and Radio Industry Awards |Best New Radio Show |{{nom}} |
| 2023
|Devaweb & Fix Radio |Audio and Radio Industry Awards |Best Station Sound |{{won|place=silver}} |
| 2025
| The Bald Builders Breakfast | Audio and Radio Industry Awards | Best Music Breakfast Show | {{won|place=silver}} |
| 2025
| Fix Radio | Audio and Radio Industry Awards | Best Sonic Branding | {{won|place=gold}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|www.fixradio.co.uk}}
{{coord missing|United Kingdom}}
Category:Digital-only radio stations
Category:2017 establishments in the United Kingdom