Radio Ceredigion
{{short description|Former local radio station in Ceredigion, Wales}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Radio Ceredigion
| logo = Radiocrae.png
| area = Ceredigion
| branding =
| airdate = 14 December 1992
| last_airdate = 31 May 2019
| frequency = FM: 96.6 MHz (Lampeter)
97.4 MHz (Cardigan)
103.3 MHz (Aberystwyth)
| format = Adult Contemporary
| power =
| erp =
| class =
| callsign_meaning =
| owner = Nation Broadcasting
| website = [http://www.nationradio.wales Nation Radio]
}}
Radio Ceredigion ({{IPA|cy|ˈradjɔ kɛrɛˈdɪɡjɔn}}) was an Independent Local Radio station that was broadcast to Ceredigion. It was broadcast across the county on 96.6, 97.4 and 103.3 FM.
On 31 May 2019 the station became a relay of Nation Radio Wales.
History
From its launch on Monday 14 December 1992, the station broadcast a bilingual schedule with roughly half English and half Welsh output, much of it community-orientated, from studios and offices at the Old School in Aberystwyth.
On 9 March 2010, Radio Ceredigion's owners Tindle Newspaper Group announced that the station would be sold off to the Welsh radio group Town and Country Broadcasting.[http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.5702 Radio Today - Changes planned for Ceredigion] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311203016/http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.5702 |date=2010-03-11 }}, 9 March 2010 At 9{{nbsp}}am on 19 April 2010, broadcasting ceased from its Aberystwyth studios and switched to Town and Country's West Wales studios in Narberth, Pembrokeshire (also the base for Radio Pembrokeshire and Radio Carmarthenshire).[http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.5702 Radio Today - Changes planned for Ceredigion] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311203016/http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.5702 |date=2010-03-11 }}, 9 March 2010 After a short transition period, a daytime programming service was launched.[http://www.radioceredigion.co.uk/Ceredigion%20Public%20File.pdf Radio Ceredigion public file] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816001147/http://www.radioceredigion.co.uk/Ceredigion%20Public%20File.pdf |date=2010-08-16 }}
A proposal to reduce Welsh language programming on the station from 50% to 10% was rejected by the broadcasting regulator OFCOM in 2011[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/05/13/radio-ceredigion-in-welsh-language-row-91466-28686052/ Language row erupts over radio station's bid to cut Welsh broadcasting], Wales Online, 13 May 2011[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/07/07/ofcom-rejects-local-radio-station-s-bid-to-cut-welsh-language-programming-91466-29009170/ Ofcom rejects local radio station’s bid to cut Welsh language programming], Wales Online, 7 July 2011 but subsequently permitted following further requests. As of March 2016, Radio Ceredigion aired a one-hour Welsh language music show on Sunday nights.[http://www.radioceredigion.com/publicfile.pdf Radio Ceredigion public file]
In September 2016, Nation Broadcasting announced plans to relocate Radio Ceredigion and its two sister services from the Narberth studios to the group's headquarters near the St Hilary transmitter on the outskirts of Cowbridge.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-37365313 Jobs at risk as Nation Broadcasting plans to relocate stations], bbc.co.uk, 14 September 2016 The station switched broadcasting to the St Hilary studios at 10{{nbsp}}am on Tuesday 22 November 2016, although the Narberth site was retained as a regional sales and production office.
In December 2018, OFCOM announced it had granted Nation's request to close Radio Ceredigion and replace it with a straight relay of its regional service, Nation Radio.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Huw |title=Radio Ceredigion to close after changes |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46538344 |accessdate=8 February 2019 |date=12 December 2018}} Five months later, it was reported Nation had decided to retain the local service and would request to reverse its decision on the station's format.[https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/04/nation-requests-radio-ceredigion-to-continue-in-format-u-turn/ Nation requests Radio Ceredigion to continue in Format u-turn], Radio Today, 12 April 2019
But in May 2019, Nation Broadcasting withdrew its format change request and preceded with its original plan to relay Nation Radio.[https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/05/radio-ceredigion-withdraws-format-change-request/ Radio Ceredigion withdraws format change request, Radio Today, 31 May 2019] Radio Ceredigion ceased broadcasting on 31 May 2019.
=Coverage=
Radio Ceredigion had a total service area population of 74,000 people, and the station could be heard from Bangor through to Cross Hands, including parts of Powys, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The main transmitter was located at Blaenplwyf transmitting station near Aberystwyth and broadcast on 103.3 FM, with relay stations at Mynydd Pencarreg transmitting station near Lampeter on 96.6FM and Penwaun near Cardigan on 97.4 FM.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
General References
- [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/115947/nation-radio-application.pdf An application for the Ceredigion FM licence from Radio Ceredigion Ltd]
- [https://www.arqiva.com/documentation/reference-offers/broadcast-radio/Ceredigion%20RO%20for%20Provision%20of%20Transmission.pdf Reference Offer for the provision of Transmission Services in respect of Re-advertisement of FM local commercial radio licence for Ceredigion]
External links
- {{Official site|http://www.radioceredigion.com}}
{{Town and Country Broadcasting}}
{{Radio in Wales}}
{{coord missing|Ceredigion}}
Category:Radio stations in Wales
Category:Welsh-language mass media
Category:Radio stations established in 1992
Category:1992 establishments in Wales
Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2019