The Superstation Orkney, also known as just The Superstation, was 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
Orkney and
Caithness. Until its closure in November 2014, the station was Orkney's only independent radio station, and broadcast 'a broad range of popular and contemporary
music'. The station also broadcast local news bulletins on the half-hour and national news from
Sky News Radio
Sky News Radio is the radio arm of Sky News, owned by Sky UK. It has been operating since June 1999, providing a news bulletin service for UK commercial radio stations operators across the UK and for a number of English-speaking radio stations aro ...
on the hour.
The Superstation broadcast on 105.4 FM from the Wideford Hill transmitter near
Kirkwall
Kirkwall ( sco, Kirkwaa, gd, Bàgh na h-Eaglaise, nrn, Kirkavå) is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland.
The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name (''Church Bay''), which later changed to ''Kirkv ...
and online via the station's website.
The station also offered free courses in radio production and presentation.
History
Restricted Service Licence
The Superstation began broadcasting under a three-month trial
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 ...
awarded by
Ofcom on Saturday 4 September 2004, from the
MV Communicator, berthed at
St Margaret's Hope. The station was expected to launch earlier in the week, but could not due to not being linked to the
Wideford Hill radio transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the ...
which serves Orkney. The licence expired and the station ceased broadcasting at around 7pm on Tuesday 23 November 2004.
Community radio licence
After The Superstation's
RSL expired, the station applied to
Ofcom for 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 ...
licence.
Ofcom's Radio Licensing Committee granted Superstation Orkney the licence on 5 September 2005. The station resumed broadcasting under its community radio licence on Monday 14 January 2008 at 12:00
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 ...
with a show co-presented by Dave Miller & Ryan Woodman.
Closure
At midday on Sunday 16 November 2014, The Superstation ceased broadcasting under its community radio licence, having announced its closure online with just two hours' notice. The station's founder, Dave Miller, said a lack of public funding and dwindling advertising revenue during its later years had forced the community interest company which owned The Superstation to cease trading.
Superstation Orkney ends community radio broadcasting
RadioToday, 16 November 2014
Former Presenters Before Closure
* Ryan Woodman
* JC
* Ron Brown
* Peter Quinn
* Gary King
* Andy Lawson
* Dave Sherwood
* Dave Miller
* Will Atkinson
* Sam Turner
*
Former Programming
*''Weekday Mornings''
*''The Golden Hour''
*''Hit's Not Homework''
*''Through The Night''
*''New Music Show''
*''The Superstation Dance''
*''Totally 90s''
*''Europe Rocks''
*''The Quiet Storm''
*''Drivetime''
*''The Superstation Party''
*''Totally 80s''
*''The Time Tunnel''
*''Club Classics''
*''Chillout Show''
*''Solid Gold Sunday''
References
External links
The Superstation Orkney
{{DEFAULTSORT:Superstation Orkney, The
Radio stations in Scotland
Community radio stations in the United Kingdom
Defunct radio stations in the United Kingdom
2004 establishments in Scotland
Mainland, Orkney