BBC Thames Valley FM
Encyclopedia
BBC Thames Valley FM was a BBC Local Radio
station covering the English counties of Oxfordshire
and Berkshire
, broadcasting between 1996 and 2000.
and BBC Radio Berkshire
. At launch the new station broadcast its own output from 0500-0100 seven days a week, although this was later cut back with the introduction of regional programming in the evenings. The initial presenter line-up included Phil Kennedy
who presented the afternoon show, Bob Harris
on Sunday afternoons and Martin Kelner
on Friday nights. There were separate news bulletins for the two counties.
In September 1998 a new jingle package was introduced and the 'FM' suffix was dropped from the station name. Shortly afterwards separate breakfast and drivetime programmes for Oxfordshire and Berkshire were introduced.
The merged station was not popular with listeners, and in August 1999, as part of the BBC South East Review, it was announced that BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Berkshire would regain their own identities. The two stations relaunched on 14 February 2000, although their programme schedules remained unchanged, most output continuing to be shared. However by 2004 the two stations' schedules had become fully separated.
BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for...
station covering the English counties of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
and Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, broadcasting between 1996 and 2000.
History
BBC Thames Valley FM began on 9 April 1996 following the merger of BBC Radio OxfordBBC Radio Oxford
BBC Radio Oxford is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Oxfordshire, broadcasting on 95.2 FM via the Oxford transmitter and online. The station broadcasts live from the BBC's Summertown studios in Oxford between 5am and 7pm each weekday, for over 13 hours on Saturdays & 19 hours...
and BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Berkshire, as well as parts of North Hampshire, including Basingstoke. Radio Berkshire broadcasts on 94.6 , 95.4 , 104.1 and 104.4 FM from its studios at Caversham Park near Reading. The 104.1 FM signal is the strongest...
. At launch the new station broadcast its own output from 0500-0100 seven days a week, although this was later cut back with the introduction of regional programming in the evenings. The initial presenter line-up included Phil Kennedy
Phil Kennedy
Phil Kennedy is a British broadcaster who currently presents with two BBC Local Radio stations.-Biography:Phil's radio career began on Radio Jackie when it was still a pirate radio station, he then moved to Top Shop's instore radio station on London's Oxford Street...
who presented the afternoon show, Bob Harris
Bob Harris (radio)
Robert Brinley Joseph "Bob" Harris, OBE , known as "Whispering" Bob Harris, is British radio host who currently works for BBC Radio 2, presenting music two nights a week...
on Sunday afternoons and Martin Kelner
Martin Kelner
Martin B. Kelner is a British journalist, author, comedian and radio presenter, educated at Stand Grammar School, in Whitefield near Manchester....
on Friday nights. There were separate news bulletins for the two counties.
In September 1998 a new jingle package was introduced and the 'FM' suffix was dropped from the station name. Shortly afterwards separate breakfast and drivetime programmes for Oxfordshire and Berkshire were introduced.
The merged station was not popular with listeners, and in August 1999, as part of the BBC South East Review, it was announced that BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Berkshire would regain their own identities. The two stations relaunched on 14 February 2000, although their programme schedules remained unchanged, most output continuing to be shared. However by 2004 the two stations' schedules had become fully separated.