Chester's Dee Radio is an Independent Local Radio station serving the city of

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

and surrounding areas. The station is independent and locally owned and broadcasts from studios at Riverside Innovation Centre. As of March 2023, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 17,000, according to RAJAR.

History

The station launched, as Dee 106.3, on 1 March 2003 from its original studio premises at Chantry Court, Chester. In June 2009, the station's owners purchased a neighbouring local radio station,

Silk 106.9 Cheshire's Silk 106.9 is an Independent Local Radio serving Macclesfield and parts of Cheshire East, East Cheshire, owned and operated by neighbouring station Dee 106.3, Chester's Dee Radio. It broadcasts a mix of current and classic hits alongs ...

, based in Macclesfield. In March 2013, Dee 106.3 launched a second station, Dee on DAB, on the MuxCo DAB Digital Radio multiplex serving North East Wales and West Cheshire. This service is now a full-time simulcast of the main Dee Radio service. In January 2020, the station rebranded as Dee Radio, de-emphasising its FM frequency and reflecting its position on both FM and digital radio platforms.

Programming

All of Dee Radio's programming is produced and broadcast from its Chester studios. Live programming airs from 6am to 7pm during weekdays, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays and 10am to 2pm on Sundays. Other output is voice tracked or automated. The station's presenters include Gavin Matthews, Dave Phillips, Steve Lord, Ruth Anne Pollard, Darren Antrobus and Shane Pinnington.

News and sport

Dee Radio broadcasts hourly local news bulletins produced by Radio News Hub from 6am-6pm on weekdays and 10am-2pm at weekends. National bulletins from Sky News Radio are carried every hour at all other times. The station also airs weekly sports programming on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, including regular coverage of Chester FC.

Transmission

Dee Radio broadcasts on a frequency of 106.3 MHz from a transmission site atop the Steam Mill building in Chester city centre. The station is also available on DAB Digital Radio via the MuxCo North East Wales and West Cheshire multiplex, which is part-owned by Dee Radio.

References

Chester Dee Radio stations established in 2003 {{UK-radio-station-stub