Downtown Radio
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| Downtown Radio | |
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| Broadcast area | Northern Ireland |
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| Frequency | 1026 kHz, 96.4 MHz, 96.6 MHz, 97.1 MHz, 102.3 MHz, 102.4 MHz, 103.1 MHz, 103.4 MHz, DAB |
| First air date | March 16, 1976 |
| Format | Contemporary |
| Audience share | 9.5% (March 2008, [1]) |
| Owner | Bauer Radio |
| Website | www.downtown.co.uk |
Downtown Radio is an Adult Contemporary music radio station based in Newtownards, County Down, that serves all of Northern Ireland using a network of FM and AM transmitters.
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[edit] History
The station, also known as DTR or simply Downtown, began broadcasting on 16 March 1976 - the same day as Prime Minister Harold Wilson resigned. The station had a mini-coup, breaking the news over an hour before BBC Radio Ulster.
Downtown Radio has very much become part of the broadcasting landscape of Northern Ireland. Many of its presenters, such as Johnny Hero, Jerry Lang, Trevor 'Big T' Campbell, Dougi Marshall, and Candy Devine are household names (Campbell and Devine have been with Downtown since it began broadcasting).
The station has been very highly regarded in the past for its news output, and has been a regular stop-off point for radio journalists covering Northern Ireland's Troubles over 30 years. Changes in management made in 2007, as well as the success of the peace process, have led to Downtown reducing its news output somewhat. It is notable for being one of the few Independent Local Radio stations to still cater for minority tastes such as gospel and jazz. The country music programmes broadcast several times a week are among Downtown's highest listenership ratings. It has also been the springboard for the careers of Eamonn Holmes and ITN reporter John Draper.
Past presenters have included:
- Ivan Martin
- Richard Young
- Michael 'Hendi' Henderson
- John Paul Ballantine
- George Jones
- Lynda Jayne (now deceased, she was married to Trevor Campbell)
- Frank Mitchell
- John Daly
- Davy Sims
- Stephen Woods
- Derek Marsden (Deceased)
- Alec Fennell
- Ronan Kelly
- Ken Bruce
- John Greer (Deceased)
- Wendy Austin
- Janice Elliott
[edit] Expansion
Downtown was initially only contracted to broadcast to the Greater Belfast area, on 1026khz AM and 96FM. However, following the collapse of plans for a station in the Derry region (Northern Sound) in 1983, Downtown applied to the former Independent Broadcasting Authority to extend its coverage. Transmitters covering the North West, the Causeway Coast and Fermanagh/South Tyrone were opened between 1985 and 1987, and the station briefly rebranded itself as 'DTRFM' to reflect its new audience reach.
New FM transmitters in South Down/Armagh, and Mid and East Antrim opened in the 1990s to improve reception in those areas.
[edit] Cool FM launch
The station reverted to Downtown Radio again in 1990 following the introduction of its sister station, Cool FM.
[edit] Present
Downtown's main competitors are BBC Radio Ulster, Belfast CityBeat and new Belfast station U105. It is part of the Big City Network.
Current presenters include:
- Johnny Hero
- Candy Devine
- Caroline Fleck
- Jerry Lang
- Robert Skates
- Henry Owens
- Paul Thomas
- Dougi Marshall
- Lisa Flavelle
- Trevor Campbell
[edit] External links
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