Power FM

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103.2 Power FM

Broadcast area	South Hampshire
Frequency	103.2 MHz FM
First air date	4 December 1988
Format	CHR
Audience share	7.0% (September 2007, [1])
Owner	Global Radio
Website	www.powerfm.com

This article relates to the UK radio station. For the Australian radio station network of the same name, see Power FM Network. For the English language broadcaster based in the Canary Islands see Power_FM_Canary_Islands

Power FM (or 103.2 Power FM) is an Independent Local Radio station owned by Global Radio (formerly by GCap Media) and based in South Hampshire, England, UK. Broadcasting on 103.2 MHz FM, the station is part of Global Radio's One Network, and is one of the South of England's most popular radio stations. The station is based in Segensworth, near Fareham in Hampshire, along with its sister stations, Ocean FM and Gold Radio (Hampshire). Power FM also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio and online [2].

1 History
2 New Studios
3 The launch of Power FM
4 Mergers, takeovers and relaunches
5 Power FM today
6 Presenters
- 6.1 Power FM presenters
- 6.2 Other Presenters and Shows
7 The Breakfast Show
8 Power Amped
9 Other Shows
10 FM and AM Transmitters
11 Slogans
12 See also
13 References
14 External links

[edit] History

Ocean Sound's predecessor, Radio Victory provided the first local radio service in the South of England in 1975, with its small transmission area around Portsmouth. The station was disliked by many listeners and when the Independent Broadcasting Authority re-advertised the Portsmouth licence to include Southampton and Winchester, it lost out to a new consortium called Ocean Sound Ltd. Ocean Sound proposed an expanded coverage area taking in Southampton. Radio Victory ceased operations in June 1986, a couple of weeks earlier than the expiry date of its franchise, with a test transmission informing listeners of the unprecedented situation. Ocean Sound took over programme provision in 1986 from a new purpose-built broadcast unit in a business park outside Fareham, Hampshire.

Ocean Sound debuted on 12 October 1986, initially with two services - Ocean Sound (West), covering Southampton and Winchester, and Ocean Sound (East) serving Portsmouth and the surrounding area. Ocean Sound (West) used 103.2 MHz FM and 1557 kHz AM. Ocean Sound (East) used 97.5 MHz FM and 1170 kHz AM. The East service underwent a change of frequency which was inherited by Radio Victory (from 95.0 MHz to 97.5 MHz FM). Both services shared daytime output with specialist programmes broadcasting uniquely on each service - for instance on Saturday afternoons, an Isle of Wight programme with Jean-Paul Hansford would air on Ocean Sound (West), while an alternative would air on Ocean Sound (East).

On 6th December 1987, a separate service was provided for Winchester and the surrounding areas on 96.7 MHz FM, entitled Ocean Sound (North) - The Light FM. It had its own programmes from 6am-2pm (later, the 5-9pm show was also separate) but relayed the Ocean Sound East service at other times. This was prior to the enforced termination of simulcasting programmes on FM and AM, which would see all the services transformed.

The reason that two stations launched, rather than an expanded solo station is that then Managing Director David Lucas identified two potential audiences: one familiar with commercial radio (in the East area), and one largely acquainted with the BBC (the West area, of which the majority of local listening was to BBC Radio Solent). Ocean Sound (East) therefore sounded livelier than its West counterpart, which took on a more softer sound.

The new stations were a refreshing change, as listeners to Radio Victory had lamented its lack of professionalism and a coherent, agreeable sound, both of which were greatly improved. The slogan used at the time - "We're on your wavelength" suggested this.

[edit] New Studios

Once the franchise was won, Ocean Sound needed brand-new state of the art studios in Segensworth West, a district outside Fareham, beside the M27 motorway in Hampshire. This move to base themselves outside the two major cities of Southampton and Portsmouth was a strategic one, so as not to appear sounding biased in favour of either city and to remove any lingering associations with Radio Victory, a poorly received radio station primarily focused on Portsmouth.

The following is an excerpt of an 1982 interview with then Managing Director David Lucas in an Independent Broadcasting Authority publication:

"The original plan was to have studio buildings and offices in both Portsmouth and Southampton,' says Lucas. 'But that is an unnecessarily complicated way of doing the job. The important thing is for the programmes themselves to provide a strong and relevant local identity. Contribution studios have been established in both Portsmouth and Southampton to provide direct city-centre access to the airwaves for interviewees and guests."

"...But Lucas, like some other radio managers, wonders whether the high standards of IBA studio specifications are always necessary. 'A significant proportion of studio costs comes in sound-proofing them'; says Lucas. 'Would it really matter if the listener heard the occasional lorry rumbling past outside? With most stations operating on close mic techniques anyway, peripheral noise can be minor'".

Once the studios were complete, staff needed to be hired - almost from scratch. Sales managers and a Head of News were all recruited, ironically from Radio Victory. Construction of the new studios took under a year and finished in time for the station's launch in 1986.

[edit] The launch of Power FM

1987 saw Ocean Sound undergo a massive reorganisation of its frequencies and services, coinciding with the IBA's demand to end simulcasting on FM and AM. The main changes were:

Ocean Sound (West) on FM would become The Power FM
Ocean Sound (East) on FM would become FM-only and simply renamed Ocean Sound
Ocean Sound on AM would become The Gold AM

with a new addition:

Ocean Sound (North) on FM to be known as The Light FM.

Power FM launched on Sunday 4 December 1988 at 10 am. Power FM was designed as a direct competitor to BBC Radio 1 in the area, with a heavy rotation of chart and Top 40 pop and mainstream dance, with quick hourly news and information. With Ocean Sound there would be significantly more speech, coupled with slightly older adult contemporary music. Power FM would be the opposite, with a music-intensive approach designed to get at the emerging demand for chart music which wasn't available locally. The opening presenter line-up included Pete Wardman, Bernie Simmons, Chris Kelly, Adrian Lovett, Chris Pearson and Judy Jones.

[edit] Mergers, takeovers and relaunches

Sussex radio station Southern Sound looked upon Ocean Sound as a potential takeover target, citing its location in a prosperous and commercially attractive area of England. So in 1992 a merger was agreed forming Southern Radio plc, which would see further changes to Ocean Sound:

Power FM would continue
Ocean Sound and The Light FM would unite as Ocean Sound - Classic Hits (later abbreviated just to Ocean FM)
The Gold AM would merge with Southern Sound's AM frequencies to create South Coast Radio.

In 1994 Capital Radio, looking for expansion possibilities, opted to purchase Southern Radio plc, which included Power FM. This led to more changes, this time to the on-air sound rather than name changes. Whilst sister-station Ocean FM would take on a softer sound, Power FM took on Capital FM's long-established, successful and highly-polished sound, with news bulletins at the top of the hour finishing with the sentence "And that's the way it is at <time check>".

[edit] Power FM today

Former logo

103.2 Power FM remains a popular radio station, despite South Hampshire having a higher proportion of adults, rather than its target 18-25 age range. Now part of the One Network group of stations, it still has the high-energy sound listeners have come to expect, but with additional resources for programming - regularly linking up with nearby 2CR FM in Bournemouth and 2-Ten FM in Reading, along with the rest of the GCap "One Network" for Entertainment Weekly (formerly Seven), chart show Hit40UK and Late Night Love with Graham Torrington.

Power FM went digital in 2003, airing on DAB digital radio in South Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, along with sister stations Ocean FM, Capital Gold, Capital Disney and XFM.; competitors Wave 105, The Saint, and BBC Radio Solent.

Toni Phillips left to join Capital FM in July 2007 shortly after Rick Jackson and Donna Alos left the Breakfast show. This left a slightly remodelled schedule, which is expected to last for much of the summer. Maximum Bob and Katie Mattin are hosting the breakfast, Dan Morrisey is hosting a later mid morning slot (before he himself leaves for BRMB). Freelancer Callan is covering an extended midmorning show and Ben Glover takes on a merged evening and drivetime show.

[edit] Presenters

[edit] Power FM presenters

Power FM's own presenter lineup as of November 2007 comprises:

Katie Mattin
Ben Glover
Adam Newstead
Zoe and Gillies
Bob Diggles
Hannah Clarkson
Sparky

[edit] Other Presenters and Shows

The lineup of shows on Power FM broadcast from other stations as of November 2007 is:

Ryan Seacrest
Graham Torrington
Jeremy Kyle
Myleene Klass
Hit40uk
Music on Demand
Back In The Day

[edit] The Breakfast Show

The Power FM Breakfast Show was presented by Rick Jackson, Donna Alos and Maximum Bob every morning from 6am to 9am between 1996 to 2007. It is Power's flagship programme and is only one of two programmes to feature live traffic reports. This previously took place from the Flying Eye sponsored by O2, which flew at 2500 feet above the South of England in a light aircraft based at Southampton Airport.

Power FM Flying Eye (Piper Cherokee)

Traffic reports are broadcast every fifteen minutes from the Power FM "Travel Centre". Information comes from sources such as a group of drivers who follow the same route to work every morning and afternoon, calling in to alert listeners of any problems. Power FMs Roadcrew reports are often broadcast live over the radio.

Another regular member of the team is Handy Andy the Producer. An "expert" guitar player, he even organised an unofficial song for England during Euro 2004, sold in shops across Hampshire.

Rick Jackson left Power FM for the Ocean FM Breakfast show in July 2007. Donna Alos was transferred to a Birmingham radio station and Maximum Bob continues working at Power FM doing background work, as well as his own Sunday show under the name Bob Diggles. Katie also has her own show on weekday afternoons.

[edit] Power Amped

Travis performing at Power Amped 3.

Power Amped is a concert held occasionally by the radio station at Southampton Guild Hall. It features rock style bands and is designed to appeal to more mature music tastes than Power in the Park did. There have been a total of three so far:

Power Amped 1 = El Presidente, Kubb, The Delays, Embrace
Power Amped 2 = A school band opened the concert, The Zutons
Power Amped 3 = The Hoosiers, The Twang, Travis

Between each of the acts, Maximum Bob has DJ'd for the crowd, with other Power FM presenters coming on stage to talk to the crowd and to introduce the next act.

[edit] Other Shows

Katie Mattin was promoted to afternoons in April 2007, replacing Claire Anderson who left to join Digital Station TheJazz.

Ben Glover initially presented Power Select but was promoted to Drivetime when popular presenter Lloydie left in a shock move. Plymouth-born Ben likes to litter his links with an assortment of effected West Country words and phrases, like incessently calling his listener's "lovers" and claiming the roads are sometimes "moody" during travel news.

[edit] FM and AM Transmitters

Chillerton Down, Isle of Wight: 103.2 MHz FM (2 kW) directional transmitter - covering Southampton, South-West Hampshire and most of the Isle of Wight (Power FM)