107 Meridian FM is a

community radio Community radio is a radio service offering a third model of radio broadcasting in addition to commercial and public broadcasting. Community stations serve geographic communities and communities of interest. They broadcast content that is popula ...

station broadcasting to the

West Sussex West Sussex is a county in South East England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the shire districts of Adur, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, and Mid Sussex, and the boroughs of Crawley and Worthing. Covering an ...

town of East Grinstead and its surrounding area.

History

The station, a

non-profit organisation A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

, is run by around 100 unpaid volunteers and made its first 28-day

restricted service licence A UK Restricted Service Licence (often called an RSL), is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event. Licences are granted by the broadcasting authority Ofc ...

broadcast in December 2006, followed by a couple more in May and December 2007. Originally limited to two restricted service licence broadcasts each year, Meridian FM was awarded a full-time community radio licence by Ofcom in July 2009. The station then continued to stream over the internet via its website, whilst raising funds for the additional equipment needed for broadcast. In February 2010, Ofcom inspected and approved the studios and transmission equipment, and 107 Meridian FM started officially broadcasting over 107

Mhz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...

FM on 1 March 2010 at 7am

GMT Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, counted from midnight. At different times in the past, it has been calculated in different ways, including being calculated from noon; as a cons ...

. The station also broadcasts globally online. In early 2015, Ofcom approved the renewal of 107 Meridian FM's broadcast licence until 2020. In early 2020, the broadcast licence was renewed until 2025. The studios were originally located in East Court Mansion together with the East Grinstead Town Council offices, but moved to the Jubilee Community Centre in Charlwoods Road in January 2010. The station takes its name from the Greenwich Prime Meridian which runs through East Grinstead. It is unconnected with television broadcaster

ITV Meridian ITV Meridian (previously Meridian Broadcasting) is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station was launched at 12:00 am on 1 January 1993, replacing previous broadcaster Television South, and is owned ...

. The station is funded by membership fees, donations, advertising and sponsorship from local and national businesses.

Awards

In 2016, The Business Show won a Bronze Award for Community Radio Show of the Year at the Community Radio Awards. In 2017, Lila Bellamy won a Bronze Award for Young Person of the Year at the Community Radio Awards. In 2018, the Spirit of Wildfire - A Festival for Radio show won a Bronze Award for Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year at the Community Radio Awards. In 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021, Leader's American Pie was runner-up Best Radio Show voted for by the readers of Americana UK.

News

Meridian FM features an hourly national news bulletin, provided by Radio NewsHub, local news and weather, travel updates and local events guides.

References

External links

107 Meridian FM Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:107 Meridian Fm Community radio stations in the United Kingdom Radio stations in Sussex Radio stations established in 2006 Mid Sussex District East Grinstead 2006 establishments in England