Radio Carmarthenshire
Encyclopedia
Radio Carmarthenshire is a British
Independent Local Radio
station broadcasting to Carmarthenshire
county on 97.1 and 97.5 FM from studios in Narberth, Pembrokeshire
in South Wales
. It launched on 13 June 2004. It plays mainly Hot AC music, featuring most classic hits and some current chart hits.
in 2002, Radio Carmarthenshire was formed in mid-2003. Initially there were two applicants for the Carmarthenshire licence. The second applicant Carmarthenshire Sound were forced to withdraw half way through the licence approval period because the applicant's parent company owned neighbouring radio stations Swansea Sound
and The Wave
. This meant that Keri Jones' Radio Carmarthenshire bid won the licence unopposed. Britain's media and communications regulator, Ofcom
, has sinced relaxed the rules of ownership and Radio Carmarthenshire's current parent company happens to own numerous neighbouring radio stations.
Radio Carmarthenshire is broadcast from the town of Narberth
in Pembrokeshire
and shares studio facilities and presenters with Radio Pembrokeshire
, Radio Ceredigion
and Scarlet FM
.
were invaded by eleven activists from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society) . They were protesting over Radio Carmarthenshire's decision to limit the amount of Welsh Language programming broadcast on Radio Carmarthenshire, despite the company's promise to the contrary as part of its application to broadcast.
The offices and studios were stormed during live broadcasts, forcing Radio Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to broadcast from the standby broadcasting system and managing to sustain services for 15 minutes. According to Keri Jones, his head of sales was injured, and needed hospital treatment for a fractured wrist during the scuffles which ensued. Police arrested eleven activists, and subsequently released them pending further enquiries. Keri Jones later branded the members of the Welsh group as "terrorists". http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=14464578&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=cymdeithas-denies--terrorist--tag-after-radio-protest-name_page.html
Cymdeithas correctly state that over 50% of the population in Carmarthenshire speak Welsh as a first language, but less than 5% of Radio Carmarthenshire's output was in Welsh at that time. As a result of complaints and pressure from the society and individuals, UK broadcasting watchdog Ofcom
issued Radio Carmarthenshire with a 'yellow card' warning in late 2004 amid any further incidence of the station not conforming to its licence agreement to broadcast an agreed percentage in Welsh
that would result in the station being severely reprimanded by Ofcom. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3760334.stm
and moved to the Scilly Isles to launch Radio Scilly
which commenced broadcasting in September 2007 and has since been featured on the BBC television
series 'An Island Parish
'
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station broadcasting to Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
county on 97.1 and 97.5 FM from studios in Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Narberth is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales. . It was founded around a Welsh court, but later became a Norman stronghold on the Landsker Line. It became the headquarters of the hundred of Narberth. It was once a marcher borough...
in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. It launched on 13 June 2004. It plays mainly Hot AC music, featuring most classic hits and some current chart hits.
History
Following the success of Radio PembrokeshireRadio Pembrokeshire
Radio Pembrokeshire is an independent local radio station located in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales.- History :The prelude to Radio Pembrokeshire was Haven FM, which broadcast on 107.0 MHz from a small makeshift studio at Bethany Chapel in Pembroke Dock during the summer of 1999...
in 2002, Radio Carmarthenshire was formed in mid-2003. Initially there were two applicants for the Carmarthenshire licence. The second applicant Carmarthenshire Sound were forced to withdraw half way through the licence approval period because the applicant's parent company owned neighbouring radio stations Swansea Sound
Swansea Sound
Swansea Sound is a British independent local radio station broadcasting to Swansea and surrounding areas, aimed at a core 40+ demographic. Swansea Sound was the first local radio station in Wales, and has won several awards, including the number one regional station in South Wales....
and The Wave
96.4 FM The Wave
The Wave is a British independent local radio station that serves the Swansea, Llanelli, Neath and Port Talbot areas of South Wales. The station is broadcast on 96.4 MHz from the Kilvey Hill transmitter and is also available online and on DAB from the digital multiplex of Swansea SW Wales...
. This meant that Keri Jones' Radio Carmarthenshire bid won the licence unopposed. Britain's media and communications regulator, Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, has sinced relaxed the rules of ownership and Radio Carmarthenshire's current parent company happens to own numerous neighbouring radio stations.
Broadcast Area
Radio Carmarthenshire serves Carmarthenshire, including the towns Carmarthen and Llanelli and surrounding villages.Radio Carmarthenshire is broadcast from the town of Narberth
Narberth
Narberth may refer to:*Narberth, Pembrokeshire, a town in Wales*Narberth, Pennsylvania, a town in the United States*Narberth , a traditional hundred of Pembrokeshire in Wales...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
and shares studio facilities and presenters with Radio Pembrokeshire
Radio Pembrokeshire
Radio Pembrokeshire is an independent local radio station located in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales.- History :The prelude to Radio Pembrokeshire was Haven FM, which broadcast on 107.0 MHz from a small makeshift studio at Bethany Chapel in Pembroke Dock during the summer of 1999...
, Radio Ceredigion
Radio Ceredigion
Radio Ceredigion is a bilingual local radio station that serves the Welsh county of Ceredigion.-History:From its launch on 14th December 1992, the station broadcast a bilingual schedule with roughly half-and-half proportion of English and Welsh output, much of it community-oriented, from studios...
and Scarlet FM
Scarlet FM
Scarlet FM is a local radio station covering the Llanelli, Burry Port and Pembrey areas of south Carmarthenshire in west Wales. It plays contemporary and classic songs...
.
Studio invasion
On July 24, 2004 (five weeks after launching), Radio Carmarthenshire's studios in NarberthNarberth
Narberth may refer to:*Narberth, Pembrokeshire, a town in Wales*Narberth, Pennsylvania, a town in the United States*Narberth , a traditional hundred of Pembrokeshire in Wales...
were invaded by eleven activists from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society) . They were protesting over Radio Carmarthenshire's decision to limit the amount of Welsh Language programming broadcast on Radio Carmarthenshire, despite the company's promise to the contrary as part of its application to broadcast.
The offices and studios were stormed during live broadcasts, forcing Radio Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to broadcast from the standby broadcasting system and managing to sustain services for 15 minutes. According to Keri Jones, his head of sales was injured, and needed hospital treatment for a fractured wrist during the scuffles which ensued. Police arrested eleven activists, and subsequently released them pending further enquiries. Keri Jones later branded the members of the Welsh group as "terrorists". http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=14464578&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=cymdeithas-denies--terrorist--tag-after-radio-protest-name_page.html
Cymdeithas correctly state that over 50% of the population in Carmarthenshire speak Welsh as a first language, but less than 5% of Radio Carmarthenshire's output was in Welsh at that time. As a result of complaints and pressure from the society and individuals, UK broadcasting watchdog Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
issued Radio Carmarthenshire with a 'yellow card' warning in late 2004 amid any further incidence of the station not conforming to its licence agreement to broadcast an agreed percentage in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
that would result in the station being severely reprimanded by Ofcom. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3760334.stm
Change of ownership
In August 2006, Keri Jones sold his shares in Radio Pembrokeshire and Radio Carmarthenshire to Town & Country BroadcastingTown and Country Broadcasting
Town and Country Broadcasting Limited is a media company registered in Wales. It currently owns and operates seven radio stations across Wales...
and moved to the Scilly Isles to launch Radio Scilly
Radio Scilly
Radio Scilly is a not for profit, non-profit distributing community radio station, owned and run by Keri Jones. It launched at 2pm on 3 September 2007, and broadcasts to 2,100 residents of the Isles of Scilly...
which commenced broadcasting in September 2007 and has since been featured on the BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series 'An Island Parish
An Island Parish
An Island Parish is a British television documentary made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC2. Series one and two covers the lives of residents of the Church of England parish of the Isles of Scilly. These series were supported by the Diocese of Truro...
'
Presenters
- Richard Clarke (The Big Top 40 Show)
- Mike Doyle (Sunday mornings)
- Ed Goddard (Weekday drivetime, Saturday mornings)
- Kat Shoob (The Big Top 40 Show)
- Ben Stone (Monday - Saturday afternoons)
- Andrew Thomas (Tommo at Breakfast)
External links
- http://www.radiocarmarthenshire.com Radio Carmarthenshire