Signal 1
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| City of license | Stoke-on-Trent |
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| Broadcast area | North Staffordshire & South Cheshire |
| Slogan | Today's Best Mix For Staffordshire And Cheshire |
| Frequency | 96.4 MHz, 96.9 MHz, 102.6 MHz, DAB |
| First air date | 5 September 1983 |
| Format | Contemporary |
| Audience share | 18.20% (September 2012, [1]) |
| Owner | UTV Radio |
Signal 1 is a British Independent Local Radio station broadcasting from studios in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent to North Staffordshire and South Cheshire. It is owned by UTV Radio. It can also be received in a much wider area due to the power of the Alsagers Bank transmitter. In RAJAR surveys, Signal 1 have consistently emerged as the leading station in their market. Signal 1 is now home to the "Perry and Louise" breakfast show, with Producer Aaron Roscoe and Resident Pianist, Tom Seals. Signal 1 is also home to Chris Bovaird on daytimes and Liz Ellis on drive-time. Signal 1 is also broadcasts "Total Access with Simon Morykin" and Late Night Love with Donna Alos from the other studio to other radio stations across the UTV radio group.
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History [edit]
The station began as Signal Radio which first broadcast at 6am, 5 September 1983, with DJ John Evington selecting Neil Diamond's "Beautiful Noise" as its first track.[2] The station initially broadcast on 104.3 MHz and 1170 kHz (a wavelength of 257 metres, with the phrase "2 5 7" becoming a distinctive leitmotif), changing to 102.6 MHz soon after. The station's name is derived from "Signal" the name of the newspaper in Arnold Bennett's local novels.[3]
Between 1990 and 1991, the Cheshire 96.4 frequency operated as an alternative AOR station, Echo 96 also carried in Stafford on 96.9.
In 2000 the 96.4 transmitter returned to Signal 1 from Imagine FM.
Since the early 1990s, the Stafford area has also had a range of split programming on 96.9 and the alternative older targeted Signal 2 service has evolved from what was initially a "Golden Breakfast Show" only, on the original accompanying 1170 AM frequency, from back in 1992.
The Wireless Group bought the station in 1999 and were subsequently bought themselves by UTV Radio.
Coverage [edit]
Signal 1 is broadcast on 96.4 (Sutton Common, Macclesfield), 96.9 (Pye Green) and 102.6 MHz FM (Alsagers Bank) for Cheshire, Stafford and North Staffordshire respectively. It also broadcasts on the Stoke "UTV-EMAP Stoke-on-Trent" DAB multiplex 12D. In October 2005, it launched an MP3 internet stream facility.
Signal 1 has a coverage area of North and Mid Staffordshire and South Cheshire. Signal 1's main rival is BBC Radio Stoke. As Signal 1 has no commercial rivals it enjoys high listening figures with 258,000 unique listeners per week and 18.2% listening share, the second highest in England.[4]
Events [edit]
Every first Tuesday of each month, Signal broadcasts live from Liquid Nightclub, holding an event for young clubbers aged 18 and under.
Signal also hosts a live performance gig in Hanley every year since 2010. They have been host of Live2010, Live2011 and live2012.
Presenters [edit]
Signal 1 broadcasts local programming between 6am and 7pm. At other times programs are shared with the rest of the UTV network with Signal 1 being the home station from where they are broadcast. The Vodafone Big Top 40 show on a Sunday is produced by Global Radio and is broadcast from its studios in Leicester Square, London.
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Local Presenters
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Networked Presenters
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- Syndicated presenters
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Charity [edit]
Signal Radio raises thousands of pounds for local children's charities every year under the "Help a Signal Child" initiative. One of the main fundraising activities is the SIGNAL WALKATHON, which has raised in excess of £500,000 over the years. 2009 sees the station joining forces with the Donna Louise Trust, with proceeds of the Walkathon jointly split between the two.
Presenter Johnny Owen (signal2) has released two singles, one to coincide with the World Cup (reaching number 64 in the national charts) and one at Christmas 2006 called "Father Christmas Stole My Girl" to raise money for "Help a Signal Child". Johnny also works at Century fm in Manchester at weekends, presenting North West Football Fever.
Signal Radio Media Academy [edit]
In 2012 Signal 1 launched the Signal Radio Media Academy in partnership with Stoke on Trent College as a BTEC Level 3 in Radio Production.
References [edit]
- ^ "Quarterly listening figures". RAJAR.
- ^ "John Evington".
- ^ "About Us". Signal One.
- ^ "Listening figuars". RAJAR.
External links [edit]
- Official page
- Signal Radio Jingles
- Listening Room - first 25 years of Signal Radio
- History of local radio in Staffordshire
- Sutton Common transmitter, near Macclesfield
- Pye Green transmitter, near Stafford
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