Coast FM (West Cornwall)

50°7′2.9964″N 5°32′16.4616″W

Coast FM
Broadcast areaWest Cornwall (FM)
Worldwide (Internet Radio)
Frequency96.5 MHz, 97.2 MHz, addition of 106.4 MHz from 2024, RDS: COAST_FM_
BrandingWest Cornwall's Coast FM
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatDaytime/mornings: Hot AC/Adult Hits
Evenings/weekends: Freeform
History
First air date
30 August 2014 (as Penwith Radio)
5 November 2016 (as Coast FM)
Links
WebcastLive Stream
Websitewww.coastfm.co.uk

West Cornwall's Coast FM is a local radio station for West Cornwall. It contains a combination of local news, weather, music and talk. The station launched from its studios in Penzance on 5 November 2016 as a re-brand of Penwith Radio.

Under the 'Character of service' section of the station's key commitments, it states that the station "offers a local voice, broadcasting a service which acts as a barometer of local opinion, and provides companionship for people, enabling them to feel more connected and less isolated."[1]

Monetary backing is provided by advertisements and sponsorship from local businesses and organisations, as well as national grant funding.[2] The station is a community interest company.[3]

Programming

Coast FM's programming format involves two main categories:

Mainstream Programming: During daytime on weekdays and weekend mornings, which consists of charted and popular music from 50s-today, and formatted local information such as the "What's On Diary", "Surf Report" and "Time Saver Travel".

Specialist Programming: From 6pm on weekdays and from 12pm on weekends. This largely is freeform and caters to those with more specific interests or musical tastes.

The programming section of the station's key commitments states "[the station] broadcasts a range of programmes specific to its West Cornwall audience. These programmes reflect local interests with discussion, interviews, music and invite interaction from listeners throughout"[4]

Weekday daytime programmes include: 'Coast FM Breakfast' at 7am, 'Coast FM's Decade of the Day' at 9am, 'Coast to Coast' at 10am, 'Coast Lunch' at 12pm, 'Coast Afternoon' at 2pm and 'Coasting Home' at 5pm.[5]

Studios
Studio A, Coast FM.

The station currently broadcasts from its two twin studios at the Penwith Centre in Parade Street, Penzance. As Penwith Radio, the station was based in Wharfside Shopping Centre, Penzance,[6] where it had been since 1 May 2009.

History

Penwith Community Radio began with pre-recorded podcasts, the first played on 26 January 2008.[7] Live internet broadcasts began on 1 May 2009,[8] with the breakfast show, presented by Steve West.[9] "We had almost 22,000 hits on our website over the first few days of May, and I believe that about 5,000 people logged on to us at some time or other from as far afield as Australia" Julian Horner, the original station manager commented.[10]

The former Penwith Radio studio at the Wharfside Shopping Centre, Penzance

On 4 May 2012, it was announced on Ofcom's official website that the radio station had successfully secured a full FM licence.[11] On 22 March 2014, the station announced its FM frequencies. A statement on the radio station's website said it will "...broadcast on 96.5 FM to Penzance and the surrounding area, including Hayle and towards The Lizard, and for St Just, Pendeen, Sennen and the surrounding rural area on 97.2 FM."[12] The station started broadcasting test transmissions on 14 August 2014 and officially launched onto FM as Penwith Radio on Saturday 30 August 2014 at 10am.[13] Steve West hosted a pre-launch warm-up show from 8am, and Nick Dent took over from Steve for the FM launch party until 2pm.[14]

Olympic Torch Relay coverage

On 19 May 2012, from 6:00 am, there was a special 'Good Morning Penwith with Martin Holland' with live reports at the historic start of the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay from Land's End. Presenters reported live from along the route and for the first time, Penwith Radio collaborated with two other Cornish community radio stations, Source FM and Radio St Austell Bay to cover more of the torch relay. Penwith's coverage was simulcast on both other community stations. This was one of the first times the station had broadcast live coverage of a local event.

Acker Bilk: His Final Interview

Clarinettist Acker Bilk recorded his final interview with former Presenter John Chapman before passing away from cancer at the age of 85. John Chapman later commented: "Because of Acker’s illness at the time of the interview his voice is soft at times and I had to carry and lead the conversation but it is an hour’s life story and we have got the last ever one he did."

The interview was broadcast on Sunday 16 November 2014 at 9pm.[15]

Re-brand to Coast FM

On 23 May 2016 it was announced on The Cornishman's website that on 5 November 2016, Penwith Radio would be re-branding as Coast FM. Chairman Alan Shepherd said: "Coast FM is a new and exciting name for a radio station that I hope the people of West Cornwall will take to their hearts and treat as their own. The name Penwith Radio has served us well but it's time for a new lick of paint and a re-focus on being the radio station of choice for radio listeners in West Cornwall".[16] Nick Dent presented the launch programme for Coast FM on 5 November 2016 at 10am, and the Coast FM bus toured around the surrounding areas to celebrate the launch.[17]

Expansion of service

In July 2023, following a successful bid to the broadcasting regulator, OFCOM announced it had awarded Coast FM an additional transmitter to cover the Hayle, St Ives and surrounding areas. The service will operate on 106.4 FM and is due on air spring / summer 2024.

References
  1. "Community radio licence: key commitments" (PDF).
  2. "Penwith Radio | Sponsors". Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  3. "Penwith Radio launched-First Podcast". This Is Cornwall. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013.
  4. "Community radio licence: key commitments" (PDF).
  5. "Coast FM | Schedules". Coast FM.
  6. "Penwith Radio | About". Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  7. "Penwith Radio launched-First Podcast". newlyn.info. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013.
  8. "Community radio station live on internet". This Is Cornwall. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  9. "Now the world is listening to us, says new radio station". This Is Cornwall. 7 May 2009.
  10. "Now the world is listening to us, says new radio station". This Is Cornwall. 7 May 2009.
  11. "Community radio passes 250 mark". Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  12. "We're coming soon to an FM radio near you!". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  13. "We're coming soon to an FM radio near you". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  14. "We're coming soon to an FM radio near you". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  15. "Penwith Radio airs final interview with jazz great Acker Bilk". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  16. "New name for Penwith's community radio station". The Cornishman. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  17. "About | Coast FM". www.coastfm.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
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