![]() | |
Broadcast area | East Cheshire |
---|---|
Frequency | FM: 106.9 MHz DAB: 7D (Crewe and Nantwich) 9A (Congleton and Leek) |
RDS | SILK1069 |
Programming | |
Format | Adult contemporary |
Ownership | |
Owner | Dee Radio Group |
Chester's Dee Radio | |
History | |
First air date | 26 May 1998 |
Former names | Silk FM Cheshire's Silk 106.9 |
Technical information | |
Transmitter coordinates | 53°12′22″N2°06′03″W / 53.2061°N 2.1007°W |
Links | |
Website | Silk Radio |
Cheshire's Silk Radio is an Independent Local Radio serving Macclesfield and parts of East Cheshire, owned and operated by neighbouring station Chester's Dee Radio. [1]
It broadcasts a mix of current and classic hits alongside local news and sport.
As of December 2023, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 17,000, according to RAJAR. [2]
Silk FM launched on 25 May 1998 with special guest Sammy McIlroy, then manager of Macclesfield Town Football Club. Past presenters have included Nick Wright, Jeff Cooper, Guy Morris, Paul Allen and Trevor Thomas.
The station was previously owned by The Local Radio Company before being sold to the owners of Dee 106.3 in June 2009. In January 2017 the station moved into a new studio complex at Adelaide House, Adelaide Street in Macclesfield.
In November 2012, the station was granted a significant transmitter power increase, partly to combat co-channel interference from the Heart North and Mid Wales transmitter at the Moel-y-Parc transmitting station, also broadcasting on 106.9 MHz FM. The transmitter site at Sutton Common BT Tower offers a line of sight across the Cheshire plain, meaning the signal can be heard into Lancashire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
On 25 May 2023, the station celebrated its 25th anniversary by launching on DAB on the South Cheshire Multiplex. With the transmitter being located on the roof of South Cheshire College [3]
The station awards the title School of the Week to schools within its broadcast area. [4] Perhaps the most important awards it gives are the "Local Hero awards" which have been awarded since the stations inception. [5]
The annual Cheshire Show is one of the highlights in the Silk calendar, of which the station offers extensive coverage. [5]
In 2008, having been short-listed for the award in the previous year, Silk won Radio Station of the Year (under 300,000) at the Sony Radio Awards. [6] It was again short-listed for the 2009 award. [7]
In 2006, 2007 [8] and 2008, Silk was named Radio Academy North West Station of the Year. [7]
Some of Silk Radio's programming is produced and broadcast from its Macclesfield studios. Live programming airs from 6am-7pm on weekdays, 8am-6pm on Saturdays and 8am-8pm on Sundays. Other output is automated or networked from Riverside Innovation Centre in Chester - Chester's Dee Radio. [9]
Silk Radio broadcasts hourly local, and national news bulletins from Radio News Hub.
The station also airs weekly sports programming and Saturday afternoons, including regular coverage of Macclesfield FC and Congleton Town.
Andy Clewes - Weekday Breakfast
Daz Antrobus - Afternoon Show
Sam Walton - Saturday Daytime Show
Mike Peters - Weekend Breakfast
Dave Phillips - Sunday Brunch
Mike Wain - Silk Sport
BBC Three Counties Radio is the BBC's local radio station serving the counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
BBC Radio Berkshire is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Berkshire.
BBC Radio Devon is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Devon.
BBC Radio Humberside is the BBC's local radio station serving the former county of Humberside which includes the unitary authorities of East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
BBC Radio York is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of North Yorkshire.
BBC Radio Merseyside is the BBC's local radio station serving Merseyside, north-west Cheshire and West Lancashire. It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds, from studios on Hanover Street in Liverpool. According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 179,000 listeners and a 7.8% share as of December 2023.
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 as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Edinburgh, Lothian,Fife and Falkirk.
Tay FM is an Independent Local Radio station serving Dundee, Perth and Tayside in Scotland. The station is owned by and operated by Bauer and forms part of the Hits Radio network.
Central FM is an Independent Local Radio station serving Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and the Forth Valley. It is owned and operated by businessman John Quinn and broadcasts from studios at the Springkerse Industrial Estate in Stirling.
Chester's Dee Radio is an Independent Local Radio station serving the city of Chester and surrounding areas.
Kingdom FM is an Independent Local Radio station serving Fife. It is owned and operated by DC Thomson Media and broadcasts from studios at Elizabeth House in Kirkcaldy.
Bridge FM is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Bridgend County Borough and the surrounding areas. It is owned and operated by Nation Broadcasting and broadcasts on 106.3 FM from studios at the St Hilary transmitter in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Original 106 is an Independent Local Radio station owned by DC Thomson and broadcasting to Aberdeenshire and the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth in Scotland.
Nation Radio Wales is a regional radio station, broadcasting to south and west Wales on FM and across Wales on DAB. It is owned and operated by Nation Broadcasting and broadcasts from studios near the St Hilary transmitter on the outskirts of Cowbridge.
Hits Radio Manchester is an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Greater Manchester.
Signal 1 is an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio network. It broadcasts to Staffordshire and South Cheshire.
BBC Radio Sussex is the BBC's local radio station serving the county of Sussex.
BBC Radio Surrey is the BBC's local radio station serving Surrey, north-east Hampshire and north West Sussex.
Sam FM was an adult hits format radio station that broadcast on 106.5 MHz FM in Bristol, United Kingdom and owned by Bauer Radio. The station formed part of the Hits Radio network, although its entire output and playlist was locally produced and took no network programming. It ceased broadcasting on 6 September 2021 when it rebranded to Hits Radio Bristol & The South West.