Airport Information Radio

Last updated

Airport Information Radio
  • London
  • United Kingdom
Broadcast area Heathrow and Gatwick airports
Frequency 1584kHz
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Airport radio
Ownership
OwnerAllied Radio
History
First air date
25 June 1990 (1990-06-25)
Last air date
11 February 1992 (1992-02-11)

Airport Information Radio (AIR) was a short-lived British AM radio station which provided airport information for London Heathrow and Gatwick airports. It broadcast on medium-wave frequency 1584 kHz [1] and was owned by Radio Mercury, eventually under the aegis of Allied Radio plc.

History

In July 1989, Radio Mercury beat out four other bidders at the Independent Broadcasting Authority for the right to establish a radio service for Heathrow and Gatwick airports as part of the final batch of incremental radio licences. [2] Radio Mercury's chairman, John Aumonier, got the idea while visiting Walt Disney World, which had a similar facility for visitors. [3]

Airport Information Radio started broadcasting on 25 July 1990. [4] The Heathrow service was originally a separate operation in Hounslow before its merger with the Gatwick service. [1] The transmitters were separate at each site. [5] An attempt to site the Gatwick transmitter at Povey Cross Road in Horley was rebuffed by local residents; [6] the company eventually secured a location behind the Gatwick Penta Hotel. [7]

The station broadcast live between 5 am and 11 pm daily, featuring departures and arrivals information, travel news and weather information. Outside of these times, a pre-recorded service with basic airport information was broadcast. [4] Flight news, road news, terminal information and currency exchange rates were broadcast in 10-minute cycles. This was later updated and a complete hour clock was introduced, which would provide more information and lighter subjects such as in-flight entertainment reviews. The only airline to buy airtime was South African Airways. [1] Mercury later awarded the contract to sell the station's advertising to the Radio Sales Company, a subsidiary of Yorkshire Television. [8]

From 18 November 1991, live travel and news updates were discontinued in favour of a taped service of general airport information. The Radio Authority, successor to the Independent Broadcasting Authority, allowed the station to remain on the air through 31 January 1992 in spite of breaching its promise of performance conditions in order to give its owner, Allied Radio, time "to take decisions about the future of the service". [9] Due to continued losses which Allied attributed to a recession in the advertising market, the station closed down on 11 February 1992. [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Radio Mercury". www.localradioarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  2. ↑ Kelly, Georgina (31 July 1989). "Plane listening for travellers". The Guardian. London, Greater London, England. p. 3. Retrieved 8 November 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Curran, Liam (22 June 1990). "Up-to-date information for travellers: New radio station takes to the air". The Staines Informer. Staines, Surrey, England. p. 19. Retrieved 8 November 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Tune in for an airways update". Staines, Ashford and Egham News. Staines, Surrey, England. 28 June 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 8 November 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "AIR ready for a quick take-off". Broadcast. 11 August 1989. p. 13. ProQuest   1777215493.
  6. ↑ "New location for airport radio mast". Horley and Gatwick Mirror. Horley, Surrey, England. 22 February 1990. p. 1. Retrieved 8 November 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Radio mast". Horley and Gatwick Mirror. Horley, Surrey, England. 5 April 1990. p. 1. Retrieved 8 November 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Airport contract". Broadcast. 14 December 1990. p. 4. ProQuest   1777222652.
  9. ↑ "AIR breaks promise but plays on". Broadcast. 6 December 1991. p. 2. ProQuest   1673746576.
  10. ↑ "Allied forced to take off airport radio". Broadcast. 14 February 1992. p. 4. ProQuest   1673762958.
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