Quay West 100.4/102.8
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| Quaywest 102.4/100.8 | |
| Broadcast area | West Somerset |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.4 MHz, 100.8 MHz |
| First air date | August 15, 1998 |
| Format | {{{format}}} |
| Owner | {{{owner}}} |
Quay West Radio is a British radio station broadcasting in Watchet, Somerset, providing a laid-back style of radio to the area of West Somerset.
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[edit] History
The station was originally conceived by an ILR presenter Keri Jones, who ran the first RSL in 1995. Following a final RSL in December 2006 a County Councillor and local businessman, Phil Greatorex, created the financial structure necessary for Quay West Radio Ltd to apply for a full time licence. At the time it was the smallest full-time commercial Independent Local Radio station in the country. It went on air in August 1998. It was largely attributable to Greatorex's innovative financial structure and 'out of the box' thinking to previously unchallenged radio industry concepts that ensured the ongoing survival of such a small station.
[edit] Ownership
Jones left the station shortly after launch while Greatorex remained as Chairman until December 1999, during which time he sold the company to Radio Investments Limited (now The Local Radio Company). In 2001 a number of individuals ran the station for a short while before it was taken over again by The Choice Media Group (CMG), which also runs an Internet based media supplies business from West Somerset. During its period of ownership it acquired BCR FM in Bridgwater in an attempt to achieve economies of scale. In July 2006, both Quay West and BCR were sold by CMG to Laser Broadcasting, which also owns the Sunshine Radio brand of stations in Herefordshire & Worcestershire.
[edit] Branding
In 2005 Quay West was rebranded 'Quay FM'. Shortly afterwards BCR FM also became Quay FM, but 'Quay FM' was short lived and 'Quay West' was reinstated in 2006. Ten years after launch the studios are still located in the offices of a disused weighbridge which overlook the marina - a good example of Greatorex's innovative thinking: he negotiated a peppercorn rent with the local council by occupying and renovating a disused building in what later became a desirable location and which, importantly from a cost standpoint, had line of site to the transmitter.
The first jingles were made by Bespoke Music, and featured a chime melody based on the bells of Dunster's St. George's Church, which the station retained until 2001. A further ident package was produced by Steve England.
[edit] Transmission
The original transmitter is located on North Hill, Minehead. The signal from the studios is beamed to the transmitter site by a microwave link. The original North Hill transmitter was 1 kW, but in March 2004, permission was granted to increase this to 4 kW from the same site, and a smaller relay was added to cover the area of Porlock which had previously not been able to receive the station. The frequency for this is 100.8 MHz.
Online streaming came in 2003, and was provided by Vivid London Limited. Sister station BCR FM began streaming shortly afterwards.
[edit] Other
The station had never entered into RAJAR (the organisation that measures audiences for radio) until 2005, where, in its first survey, out of a total potential audience of 28,000 adults (15+), the station's reach was 8,000 or 27% of the population per week.
The current line-up stars breakfast presenter Drew Haddon, morning show host Spencer Bishop and afternoon quiz supremo Becky Ross.
[edit] Former presenters
Previous presenters on the station include: Keri Jones, Scott Temple, Mike Anderson, Dave Moss, Jo Borthwick, Mike Taylor, David Mortimer, Ray King, Kyle Evans, Graham Philpott, Ray Fernihough, Ben Coates, Nigel Kay, Susie Mulhearn
Quay West FM has been responsible for starting quite a few broadcasting careers. Many of the station's staff have gone on to bigger radio stations in the UK. A list follows - with dates they worked at the station:
Scott Temple (1998–1999, & 2005, Breakfast Presenter) still works in the south west for Atlantic FM, a new regional station covering Cornwall and parts of Devon.
Keri Jones (1998–1999, PD, Breakfast Presenter and founder) is an enormously successful media entrepreneur and since starting Quay West has set up, most notably, the acclaimed Radio Pembrokeshire in West Wales, and, more recently, Radio Scilly, a community station based in the Scilly Isles off the coast of Cornwall.
Ray King (2000–2001, Drivetime Presenter) now presents programmes on 3tr fm in Warminster.
David Mortimer (various times 1999–2006, various roles) now owns Locks Victorian Tea Rooms in Dunster.
Ben Coates (1999–2002, Presenter, Newsreader and Production Assistant) went on to present programmes and assisted with production work at Orchard FM in Taunton, before joining the Real Radio (Yorkshire) as a production assistant. He then joined Galaxy Yorkshire, working with breakfast presenter Simon Hirst as Assistant Producer. Ben now works with Yorkshire comedian Toby Foster on BBC Radio Sheffield.
Kyle Evans (2001, Programme Controller/Presenter) works for the Guardian Media Group. He is a presenter and senior producer for their network of stations including Century, Real Radio and Smooth brands.
Phil Greatorex runs an Internet based professional services organisation.
