96.5 Bolton FM is a
community radio station
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 popular ...
based in
Bolton
Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish weavers settled in the area in the 14th ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. Their studios are located above Bolton's Ashburner Street Market. The station launched at 11am on 20 June 2009
at the One Bolton Festival event.
They were awarded the title of 'Best Loved Local Radio Station in the UK' during the 2011 nationwide "Thebestof" campaign called '14 Days of Love' as well as winning numerous other awards.
Featuring regular shows such as This is Bolton with Kevan Williams, Weekend Breakfast with Andy Haslam, Hits and Headlines with Big H and Club Tropicana with Kevin Gurney, the station appeals to a wide audience. They can also be regularly seen out in the Bolton Community hosting roadshows and broadcasting live from several locations. The station also provided technical staff for two Bolton Hospice events: Strictly Learn to Dance, and the Midnight Memories walk.
The station has several high-profile connections including former Labour Whip
Frank White as the station's former chairman, and radio professional
Darryl Morris as a former Director. Former
Big Brother UK
''Big Brother'' is the British version of the international reality television franchise '' Big Brother'' created by producer John de Mol in 1997. Broadcast yearly from 2000 to 2018, and due to return in 2023, the show follows the format of ot ...
housemate
Luke Marsden is also well-known for having presented his own show on the station.
The station broadcasts a live sports programme on Saturday afternoons, including live match commentaries on
Bolton Wanderers league and cup matches during the football season.
References
External links
Bolton FM official website
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Mass media in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton
Radio stations in Greater Manchester
Radio stations established in 2009
Community radio stations in the United Kingdom