The Bradley Stoke Journal

Volunteers at Bradley Stoke Radio are today celebrating the award of a full-time FM licence from the broadcasting regulator Ofcom.

The local group is one of four community radio stations that were successful in the south-west region, from a total of seven applicants.

Neighbouring station GLOSS FM (formerly Thornbury FM) also applied for a full-time licence but was rejected due to the lack of a suitable FM frequency.

The licence awarded by Ofcom allows a 3km coverage area, rather than the 5km the station had wanted, due the limited number of frequencies available in the area.

Bradley Stoke Radio is currently in the middle of a two-week FM broadcast period but has mostly been streaming its output on the internet.

Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to enrich a particular geographical community or a community of interest.

Read more: Exciting News for Bradley Stoke Radio

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Bradley Stoke Radio has begun its second FM transmission period – running from Saturday 3rd December to Saturday 17th December.

A countdown in the Town Square at noon on Saturday [audio clip] was followed by a two-hour programme with guest appearances from the presenters who will be fronting shows over the next fortnight.

The station staged it first FM transmission during two weeks in June, to coincide with the Bradley Stoke Community Festival. Since then, it has been broadcasting on the internet only.

Bradley Stoke Radio can be heard for the next two weeks on 87.7 FM.

Read on for more photos from the launch event »

Bradley Stoke Radio is feeling festive right now with the news that Ofcom has granted the station an FM broadcast licence for a two week period in December.

From 3rd to 17th December the station will be broadcasting on 87.7 FM to the local community – and beyond. The team are already planning the schedule and have dusted off the Christmas tracks ready for a festive programme of community chat, music and news in the lead up to holiday period.

This will be the station’s second FM broadcast period, following its inaugural terrestrial transmission over a fortnight in June.

The team are looking forward to a busy time preparing for the FM broadcast and will be attending various local events in November and December including the Bradley Stoke Fireworks Display on Sunday 6th November.

Bradley Stoke Radio currently broadcasts seven days a week online and can be found on iTunes and Tune-in Radio as well as via their website www.bradleystokeradio.org.uk.

More: Find out how to get involved with Bradley Stoke Radio »

Volunteers from Bradley Stoke Radio will be entertaining shoppers in the Willow Brook Centre this Saturday (3rd September).

Since the launch of the station earlier this year, Bradley Stoke Radio has had a successful two week broadcast on FM (from 4th to 18th June) and, following a short break for recuperation, has continued to broadcast online via its website.

The station is currently broadcasting live for around 24 hours per week, between 6pm and 10pm on weekday evenings and at various hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Programmes can be heard via a player on the station’s website, with special internet pages provided for listening on iPhone/iPad, Android phones and tablets and Blackberry phones [details].

To promote the station’s online schedule and publicise free radio skills training courses starting in the second week of September, the team will be at the Willow Brook Centre from 10am to 4pm on Saturday with their outside broadcast.

There will be the chance to visit the studio (on the first floor of the Willow Brook Centre), make dedications and requests during the day or to just sit back and enjoy the music in one of the restaurants around the Town Square.

Read on for details of the station’s upcoming training courses »

Following a successful inaugural two-week FM broadcast in June, Bradley Stoke Community Radio Association (BSCRA) has decided to take the bold step of applying to Ofcom for a full-time FM licence.

The decision was agreed by an overwhelming majority of the 30 or so members attending last Thursday’s AGM, who had been told that Ofcom’s current window of opportunity to apply for a full-time licence was about to close and another chance would not arise for another four years.

Bradley Stoke Radio has recently resumed broadcasting on the internet, following a three-week pause after the end of the FM broadcast period that ended on 18th June. Live streams can currently be heard from 6pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and at various times on Saturday and Sunday.

Newly-elected Chair Lucy Smith said:

“This is a great challenge but very exciting, it’s not at all guaranteed that we will get the licence but we are going to give it our best shot.”

“Our members and volunteers are passionate about the community and what Bradley Stoke Radio can bring to the area.”

“Our launch and broadcast in June gave us a taste of what we can do and we are now broadcasting online at www.bradleystokeradio.org.uk but to reach more people in the community, a full-time FM licence is the next step.”

What do you think? Did you listen to Bradley Stoke Radio on FM during June. Do you think we should have a full-time radio station in Bradley Stoke? Is there anything you would like to hear on Bradley Stoke Radio?

Let Bradley Stoke Radio know at studio@bradleystokeradio.org.uk or leave a message on the station’s Facebook page or Twitter feed (@BradleyStokeFM). [Ed: Or just leave a comment at the end of this article!]

Read on for a review of the station’s first FM broadcast period »

Impressionist Paul Burling is due to help end Bradley Stoke Radio’s first-ever FM broadcast period with a bang on Saturday (18th June) when he makes a guest appearance on a special ‘Super Dads’ show (12 noon – 2pm).

Intended as a wacky celebration of Father’s Day, the show promises to “celebrate the men who will run through fire and water for their kids – ordinary dads who will do anything for their kids because they love them”.

Local businesses have thrown their support behind the programme, with prizes to be won by listeners on the day and four dads who were nominated by their children at last week’s Bradley Stoke Community Festival will be competing for the ultimate Super Dad title.

Prizes on offer include meals for four at the Harvester and Toby Carvery Restaurants, a golf lesson and a family day out at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.

The programme will also feature the voices of several kids and some adults who recorded their voices and best wishes to their dads at the festival.

Super Dads presenter Julian Okoye told The Journal:

“I am absolutely thrilled that we will also be having a special guest appearance on the show by Paul Burling from Britain’s Got Talent.”

“Paul is a super bloke and he very kindly offered to come in to support the programme and join in the celebration of dads.”

Tune into the Super Dads show on 87.7 FM or listen live for details of how to win one of the superb prizes.

Read on for more details of the station’s final day schedule »