Radio Forth

Last updated
Radio Forth
Broadcast area Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife and Falkirk
Frequency Forth 1: 97.3/97.6/102.2 MHz
GHR Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife & Falkirk: DAB
All services on DAB: 12D
Programming
Format Forth 1: CHR/Pop
GHR Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife & Falkirk: Classic Hits
Ownership
Owner Bauer Media Audio UK
History
First air date
22 January 1975
6 February 1990 (RFM/Max AM split)
19 January 2015
Links
Webcast Yes
Website Forth 1
GHR Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife & Falkirk

Radio Forth is a group of two Independent Local Radio stations serving Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife. Radio Forth is owned and operated by Bauer, based at studios in Edinburgh and forms part of Bauer's Hits Radio network and Greatest Hits Radio network of local stations.

Contents

History

Radio Forth was launched on 22 January 1975 by current chairman Richard Findlay, whose opening speech included the words: This, for the very first time, is Radio Forth. The first presenter on air was breakfast show host Steve Hamilton. Other presenters included Steve Jack, Bill Torrance on the day time shows including drive time slot and also had a special night time slots including a once a week show for the public to call into the show and discuss their issues and problems. The station is also well known for its Radio Forth charity auctions where it auctioned off donated item, services and what have you with all the funds raised going to a local charity or providing much needed funds for causes throughout the broadcast area.

In 1990, Forth created a second station on its AM frequency. Before this, Radio Forth was broadcast as a single station on both FM and AM frequencies although in 1984 Radio Forth had been the first Independent Local Radio station in the UK to operate a split service when it created Festival City Radio to provide coverage of that year's Edinburgh Festival. The FM station was renamed Radio Forth RFM and aimed at a younger age group, while Max AM was designed for over 35s. The FM station was later renamed Forth FM and then in the mid-late 90s, Max AM was later renamed Forth AM to match its sister station.

In 2000, both stations were relaunched as 97.3 Forth One and 1548 FORTH2. Many changes occurred at this time, including new presenters and a revamped station sound. Forth 2 was redesigned as an adult contemporary music station while Forth One continued to play chart and contemporary music for under 35s.

Radio Forth was originally owned by a consortium of local companies (The Scotsman, Scottish & Newcastle, Salvesens among them) until acquired by Scottish Radio Holdings in [1995?] and on 3 June 2005 British media group EMAP took over SRH. In January 2008, the EMAP's radio business was brought out by the German-based Bauer group.

Most of Radio Forth's locally produced programming airs on Forth 1, consisting of 13 hours on weekdays and 4 hours at weekends, with live football commentaries airing on Forth 2. Both stations also carry local news, sport and traffic bulletins every day. Some networked programming is produced by Radio Forth for broadcast across Scotland and northern England, alongside output from sister stations such as Radio Clyde in Clydebank and Hits Radio in Manchester.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hits Radio</span> UK contemporary radio network

Hits Radio is a network of 26 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.

Forth 1 is an Independent Local Radio station based in Edinburgh, Scotland, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Edinburgh, Lothian, Fife and Falkirk.

Greatest Hits Radio Edinburgh, Lothians & Fife is an Independent Local Radio station based in Edinburgh, Scotland, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Greatest Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife and Falkirk.

Greatest Hits Radio Tayside & Fife is an Independent Local Radio station based in Dundee, Scotland, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Greatest Hits Radio network. It is broadcast in Dundee, Perth and Tayside.

<i>Hits Radio South Yorkshire</i> Radio station in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Hits Radio South Yorkshire, formerly Hallam FM, is an Independent Local Radio station based in Sheffield, England, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to South Yorkshire and Chesterfield.

MFR is an Independent Local Radio station based in Inverness, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio Network. It broadcasts to Moray, Scottish Highlands and North West Aberdeenshire.

Greatest Hits Radio Manchester & The North West is an Independent Local Radio station based in Manchester, England, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Greatest Hits Radio Network. It broadcasts to Greater Manchester and North West England.

Radio Clyde is a group of two Independent Local Radio stations serving Glasgow and West Central Scotland. Radio Clyde is owned and operated by Bauer, based at studios in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire and forms part of Bauer's Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio Network of local stations.

Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire is an Independent Local Radio station based in Manchester, England, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Greatest Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Lancashire and North West England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Tay</span> Radio station in Dundee

Radio Tay is a group of two Independent Local Radio stations serving Tayside and northeast Fife in Scotland. Radio Tay is owned and operated by Bauer Radio and forms part of Bauer’s Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio network of radio stations. Radio Tay was formerly based at 6 North Isla Street in Dundee, however due to the station vacating the premises, now their only dedicated local show for the Tayside area is broadcast from Radio Forth's studio in Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bauer Media Audio UK</span> UK-based radio division of the Bauer Media Group

Bauer Media Audio UK is a UK-based radio division of Bauer Media Group owning brands; Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Hits Radio, KISS, Planet Rock, Magic, Kerrang! Radio and Heat Radio.

Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire is an Independent Local Radio station serving West Yorkshire on 96.3 and 106.8 FM, DAB, online and via the app.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Lamont</span> Scottish radio broadcaster

Colin Lamont, better known by his shock jock on-air radio persona of Scottie McClue, is a broadcaster and former newscaster.

Radio Aire was an Independent Local Radio station, serving Leeds and West Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire</span> Radio station in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire, formerly Viking FM, is an Independent Local Radio station based in Leeds, England, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to the East Riding of Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hits Radio Teesside</span> Radio station in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Hits Radio Teesside, formerly TFM, is an Independent Local Radio station for Teesside, England, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The station is owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to areas of County Durham and North Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greatest Hits Radio</span> UK classic hits radio network

Greatest Hits Radio is a classic hits radio network in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.

A timeline of notable events relating to Bauer Media Audio UK, a British media company established as a division of German company Bauer Media Group in 2008.

This is a timeline of notable events relating to Greatest Hits Radio, a British commercial radio station operated by Bauer Radio. The timeline also covers the Magic and Big City 2 networks, which were the forerunners to Greatest Hits Radio.

This is a timeline of the development of radio in Scotland.