Power FM

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About Power FM

Power FM (or 103.2 Power FM) is an Independent Local Radio station owned by GCap Media (formerly by Capital Radio Group) and based in Hampshire, England, UK. The frequency is 103.2 MHz of FM. It is part of the One Network, part of GCap Media and is one of the South of England's most popular radio stations. The station is based in Segensworth, near Fareham in Hampshire, along with its sister stations, Ocean FM and Capital Gold (Hampshire).

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History

Ocean Sound's predecessor, Radio Victory provided the first local radio service in the South of England in 1975 within its small transmission area around Portsmouth. The station was disliked my many listeners and when the Independent Broadcasting Authority re-advertised the Portsmouth licence to include Southampton and Winchester, it lost out to a new consortium called Ocean Sound Ltd. Ocean Sound proposed an expanded coverage area , taking in Southampton. Radio Victory ceased operations in 1985, a couple of weeks earlier than the expiry date of its franchise, with test transmission informing listeners of the unprecedented situation. Ocean Sound took over programme provision in 1986 from a new purpose built broadcast unit in a business park outside Fareham, Hampshire.

Ocean Sound debuted on 12 October 1986, initally with two services- Ocean Sound (West) , covering Southampton and Winchester, and Ocean Sound (East) serving Portsmouth and the surrounding area. Ocean Sound (West) used 103.2 MHz FM and 1557 kHz AM. Ocean Sound (East) used 97.5 MHz FM and 1170 kHz AM. The East service underwent a change of frequency which was inherited by Radio Victory (from 95.0 MHz to 97.5 MHz FM). Both services shared daytime output with specialist programmes broadcasting uniquely on each service- for instance on Saturday afternoons, an Isle of Wight programme with Jean-Paul Hensford would air on Ocean Sound (West), while an alternative would air on Ocean Sound (East). This was prior to the enforced termination of simulcasting programmes on FM and AM, which would see both services transformed.

The reason that two statoins launched, rather than an expanded solo station is that Managing Director, David Lucas identified a potential audience in which one was familiar with commercial radio in the East area, whilst one was not (the West area, which the majority of local listening was to BBC Radio Solent). Ocean Sound (East) sounded livelier that its West counterpart, which took on a more softer sound.

The new stations were a refreshing change, as listeners to Radio Victory lamented their lack of professionalism and a lack of a coherent, agreable sound, both of which were greatly improved. The slogan used at the time- "We're on your wavelength" suggested this.


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New Studios

Once the franchise was won, Ocean Sound needed brand-new state of the art studios in Segenswoth West, a district outside Fareham, beside the M27 motorway Hampshire. This move to base themselves outside the two major cities of Southampton and Portsmouth was a strategic one as to not appear sounding biased in favour of either city and to remove any lingering associations with Radio Victory, which was a poorly received radio station primarily focused on Porstmouth.

The following is an excerpt of an interview with Managing Director in 1982 David Lucas in an Independent Broadcasting Authority publication:


"The original plan was to have studio buildings and offices in both Portsmouth and Southampton,' says Lucas. "But that is an unnecessarily complicated way of doing the job. The important thing is for the programmes themselves to provide a strong and relevant local identity. Contribution studios have been established in both Portsmouth and Southampton to provide direct city-centre access to the airwaves for interviewees and guests"

...But Lucas, like some other radio managers, wonders whether the high standards of IBA studio specifications are always necessary. A significant proportion of studio costs comes in sound-proofing them; says Lucas.'Would it really matter if the listener heard the occasional lorry rumbling past outside? With most stations operating on close mic techniques anyway, peripheral noise can be minor'.


Once the studios were complete staff neede to be hired, almost from scratch. Sales managers and a Head of News were all recruited- ironically from Radio Victory. Construction of the new studios took under a year and finished in time for launch in 1986

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Launch of Power FM

1987 saw Ocean Sound undergo a massive reorgansation of its frequencies and services, which co-incided with the IBA's demand to end simulcasting on FM and AM. The stations were:

  • Ocean Sound West on FM would become FM-only and simply re-named Ocean Sound.
  • Ocean Sound East on FM would become The Power FM
  • Ocean Sound on AM would become The Gold AM

with a new addition:

  • Ocean Sound North- The Light FM

The Power FM launched as Britain's newest radio station on 4 December, 1988. Power FM was designed as a direct competitor to BBC Radio 1 in the area, with a heavy rotation of chart and Top 40 pop and mainstream dance, with quick hourly news and information. Before with Ocean Sound (West), there would be significant amounts of speech, coupled with slightly older music. Power FM would be the opposite with a music-intensive approach designed to get at the emerging demand for chart music which wasn't available locally.


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Mergers, takeovers and relaunches

Sussex radio station Southern Sound looked upon Ocean Sound as a potential takeover target, citing its location in a prosperous and commercially attractive area of England. So in 1992 a merger was agreed forming Southern Radio plc which would see further changes to Ocean Sound. The changes were as follows:

  • Power FM would continue.
  • Ocean Sound and The Light FM would unite as Ocean Sound- Classic Hits (later just Ocean FM).
  • The Gold AM would merge with Southern Sound's AM frequencies to create South Coast Radio.

In 1994, Capital Radio, looking for expansion possibilites, opted to purchase Southern Radio plc, which included Power FM. This led to more changes, this time to the on-air sound, rather than name changes. Whilst sister station Ocean FM would take on a softer sound, Power FM took on Capital FM's long-established and successful highly-polished sound, with news bulletins at the top of the hour, finishing with the sentence "And that's The Way It Is at <time check>".

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Power FM today

103.2 Power FM remains a popular radio station despite this area of England having a higher proportion of Adults, rather than its 18-25 years target age range. Now part of The One Network group of stations, it still has the high-energy sound listeners come to expect, but now with additional resources for programming, regularly linking up with nearby 2CR FM in Bournemouth and 2-Ten FM in Reading for Entertainment Weekly (formerly Seven), chart show Hit40UK and Late Night Love with Graham Torrington.

Power FM went digital in 2003, airing on DAB digital radio in South Hampshire and Isle of Wight along with sister stations Ocean FM and Capital Gold as well as competitors Wave 105, The Saint, BBC Radio Solent and new stations, Capital Disney and XFM.

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Presenters

Power FM's current presenter lineup comprises of:

  • Rick Jackson (Power's longest serving presenter)
  • Donna Alos
  • Maximum Bob
  • Katie Mattin
  • Dan Morrissey (formerly Dan The Hitman)
  • Claire Anderson
  • Lloydie
  • Ben Glover
  • Martin Metcalf
  • Diggz
  • Rob Crisp
  • Warren Hayden
  • Tara Jones
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The Breakfast Show

The Power FM Breakfast Show is presented by Rick Jackson and Maximum Bob, every morning from 6am to 9am. It is Power's flagship programme and is the only program to feature live traffic reports from the Flying Eye, sponsored by O2, flying at 2500 feet above the South of England. Traffic Reports are broadcast every fifteen minutes by Katie Mattin who also delivers reports on Lloydie's Drivetime Show.

Another regular member of the team is Handy Andy the Producer. He is an "expert" guitar player and even organised an unofficial song for England during Euro 2004, sold in shops across Hampshire.

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Other Shows

Dan Morrissey, formerly known as Dan the Hitman, hosts the morning show with the "12 o'clock Takeover" giving listeners the chance to select what songs they want broadcast. Dan originally joined Power in 2003 to present the evening show and Power Select, again giving listeners the to select what they want to hear, however this time throughout the entire show.

Claire Anderson was a regular replacement presenter on Power before joining the Afternoon Show in 2005, replacing (Red Hot) Emma Scott.

Lloydie presents the Drivetime Show on Power, and replaced Rik Scott. He enjoys Jack Daniels and in November 2005, was allegedly taken off the air for saying something he wasn't supposed to.

Ben Glover was Dan Morrisey's replacement and presents Power's Evening Show and the HMV Power Countdown on Saturday morning. He has a habit of saying "Hello Sexy" on air.

Rob Crisp initially joined the breakfast show after winning Power FM's Wannabe contest in the summer of 2003. He now presents his own show on the overnight shift.

Martin Metcalf presents the Saturday Sanctuary on Saturday evening and is a regular DJ in clubs around the South and in London.

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Slogans

1987 Ocean Sound- We're on your Wavelength!

1989 The Gold AM- Go for Gold, The Light FM- Turn on the Light

1992 Power FM -"More Music", South Coast Radio- Light and Easy

2002 Power FM- The South's Number One Hit Music Station

2003 Power FM- Today's Best Music

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FM and AM Transmtters

  • Chillerton Down, Isle of Wight: 103.2 MHz FM (2kW) directional transmitter- covering

Southampton, South-West Hampshire and most of the Isle of Wight. (Power FM)

  • Crabwood Farm, Winchester: 96.7 MHz FM: (0.5 kW) - covering Winchester and Mid-Hampshire. (Ocean FM)
  • Fort Widley, Portsmouth: 97.5 MHz (0.85 kW) FM. covering Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire. (Ocean FM)


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References

Radio Authority Pocket Book 1994-2004

Commercial Companies Radio Association Pocket Book 2005-2006 [1].

MDS975 [2]

Aircheck Radio History webiste (Hampshire)

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Links


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External links

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