Island FM is an
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. As a result of the buyouts and mergers permitted by the Broadcasting Act 1990, and deregulation resulting from the Communications Act 2003, ...
station broadcasting across the
Bailiwick of Guernsey
The Bailiwick of Guernsey (french: Bailliage de Guernesey; Guernésiais: ''Bailliage dé Guernési'') is an island country off the coast of France as one of the three Crown Dependencies.
Separated from the Duchy of Normandy by and under the t ...
on 104.7FM and 93.7FM in Alderney.
Launched in 1992, Island FM remains the sole commercial station in the island and continues to be extremely successful with high listenership figures.
Listening figures under a 2018
RAJAR
Radio Joint Audience Research Limited (RAJAR) was established in 1992 to operate a single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United Kingdom. RAJAR is jointly owned by the BBC and RadioCentre. RAJAR's predecessor was calle ...
survey showed that out of a population of 53,000 adults, 31,000 listened each week, at an average of 11.6 hours per person giving a 37% market share.
As of September 2022, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 25,000 with a listening share of 26.1%, according to
RAJAR
Radio Joint Audience Research Limited (RAJAR) was established in 1992 to operate a single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United Kingdom. RAJAR is jointly owned by the BBC and RadioCentre. RAJAR's predecessor was calle ...
.
History
Island FM was founded by Guernsey businessman Kevin Stewart, who was the station's Managing Director until 2002.
In February 1998, Sir
Ray Tindle
Sir Raymond Stanley Tindle (8 October 1926 – 16 April 2022) was a British newspaper and radio entrepreneur. He founded the Tindle Group of regional newspapers and radio stations.
Early life
After leaving school he went on to enlist in the ...
acquired Island FM and the station became the first part of the
Tindle Radio Group
Tindle Radio is a media company which owns commercial stations in the Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland. It has its head office in Farnham, Surrey, shared with Tindle Newspapers.
History
Sir Ray Tindle acquired Island FM in G ...
, which later went on to purchase Jersey's
Channel 103
Channel 103 is an independent local radio station broadcasting to the island of Jersey on 103.7 FM and DAB+ digital radio.
The station launched on 25 October 1992. Channel 103 is part of Tindle Radio, which also owns Island FM in Guernsey and ...
In late 2020, Island FM became a part of
Bauer's
Hits Radio Network
Hits Radio is a network of 25 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.
As of October 2022, the network has a combined reach of 6.6 million weekly listeners according to RAJAR.
Overvie ...
for commercial sales. It remains owned by Tindle with no shared programming.
Island FM began
digital radio
Digital radio is the use of digital technology to transmit or receive across the radio spectrum. Digital transmission by radio waves includes digital broadcasting, and especially digital audio radio services.
Types
In digital broadcasting syst ...
transmissions, alongside
Channel 103
Channel 103 is an independent local radio station broadcasting to the island of Jersey on 103.7 FM and DAB+ digital radio.
The station launched on 25 October 1992. Channel 103 is part of Tindle Radio, which also owns Island FM in Guernsey and ...
, on 1 August 2021 with the launch of the local
Ofcom
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom has wide-ranging powers acros ...
-licensed DAB multiplex for the Channel Islands.
Programming
Island FM's core audience is the 15-45 age group, playing contemporary hits - predominantly from the 1980s to the present day.
News bulletins are presented locally from 6am until 6pm, Monday to Friday. The station's weekend news service broadcasts local content, presented either from Jersey or Guernsey from 8am until noon.
Sky News
Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel and organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of Comcast. John Ryley is the hea ...
provides the service outside these times.
Transmission
Island FM has broadcast on 104.7 FM in Guernsey and 93.7 FM in Alderney since launching in 1992.
The station began
DAB+
DAB, dab, dabs, or dabbing may refer to:
Dictionaries
* ''Dictionary of American Biography'', published under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies
* ''Dictionary of Australian Biography'', published since 1949
Places
* Dąb, ...
transmissions, alongside those of
Channel 103
Channel 103 is an independent local radio station broadcasting to the island of Jersey on 103.7 FM and DAB+ digital radio.
The station launched on 25 October 1992. Channel 103 is part of Tindle Radio, which also owns Island FM in Guernsey and ...
, on 1 August 2021 with the launch of the local
Ofcom
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom has wide-ranging powers acros ...
-licensed DAB multiplex for the Channel Islands. This service is radiated from transmitters at Les Touillets in Guernsey and Les Platons in Jersey.
References
External links
Official site
Radio stations in Guernsey
{{Guernsey-stub