Splash FM
| City of license | Worthing |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worthing, Shoreham, Littlehampton |
| Slogan | Worthing's feel good station |
| Frequency | 107.7 FM |
| First air date | 5 May 2003 |
| Format | Adult Contemporary |
| Owner | Media Sound Holdings |
| Sister stations | Bright FM, Arrow FM, Sovereign FM |
| Website | splashfm.com |
Splash FM is a United Kingdom radio station, based in Worthing, West Sussex, and operated by Media Sound Holdings Ltd. The station plays a selection of hit songs from the last forty years, and offers regular updates on local news, sport, travel and events. The station also works with a number of local charities and organisations, and can regularly be seen broadcasting from events in their transmission area.
The station serves the towns of Worthing, Shoreham and Littlehampton - plus the many surrounding villages.
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[edit] History
The station was created in May 2003 when it won the broadcast licence for the Worthing area. Veteran television and radio broadcaster David Hamilton broadcast the first show live from the studios within Worthing's Guildbourne Centre.
The original presenters at the time of launch were:
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Simon Osborne |
Pete McIntosh |
In April 2008 the station became part of Media Sound Holdings, after merging with neighbouring radio station Mid Sussex-based Bright FM.[1]
In June 2009, Media Sound Holdings added Arrow FM in Hastings and Sovereign FM in Eastbourne to their collection from TLRC.[2] The station is now branded as a "feel good" station, like the other three stations owned by Media Sound Holdings.
In November 2010, Ofcom approved Media Sound Holdings's application to share all content across their four stations, given that the stations "already share all programming outside of breakfast, so these changes will not substantially alter the character of the service."[3]
[edit] The Splash FM Garden Party
Splash FM hosts a hugely popular open-air concert each summer in Worthing's Steyne Gardens, attracting thousands of locals and tourists alike. Originally a free concert with major funding from a locally based national company, the event has evolved over the last couple of years into "The Garden Party" - a tribute festival held over one or two nights, with affordable ticket prices, and a mix of tribute acts.
For the second year running, the 2011 event was held over two days on 22 July and 23 July, and featured the following tribute acts:[4]
- Millennium Robbie as Robbie Williams
- The Greatest as Take That
- Melissa Totten as Madonna
- And Finally...Phil Collins
- Achtung Baby as U2
- Ultimately Kylie as Kylie Minogue
- The VOX Beatles as The Beatles
During the 2010 party, Worthing Borough Council received twelve complaints of excessive noise and vibration. The council had agreed a noise limit before the event of 66dB, but on both nights levels measured 90dB and officers were “shocked at the level of exceedance of the prescribed noise limits”. Permission for 2011 required the organisers to appoint new sound engineers and work with the council's team to keep noise to a "reasonable minimum." If noise in 2011 exceeds the agreed level the council could be asked not to approve further concerts.[5][6]
[edit] Chris Copsey's death
On 11 January 2011, breakfast show host Chris Copsey died suddenly. It is believed he collapsed in a Sainsbury's store, just hours after presenting his breakfast show.
Chris (also known as Coppo) had been on the airwaves across Sussex for over 25 years. He was a former presenter for the breakfast show on Southern Sound, soon to become Southern FM.[7]
In 2009, shortly after the Heart brand took over Southern FM, Chris moved to Media Sound Holdings to present the mid-morning show and revive his 'Retro Show' on Sunday afternoons. He moved to do the breakfast show shortly after that. As well as Splash FM, Chris could also be heard on the other three stations owned by Media Sound Holdings.[8]
Chris leaves behind his wife Yvonne and two children.[9]
[edit] Presenters
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[edit] News team
- Alan Lewis (Head of News)
- Lorraine White
- Sara Jayne Kirk
- Corinne Rhoades
[edit] References
- ^ Bright and Splash to merge Radio Today, 8 April 2008
- ^ TLRC sells Arrow and Sovereign Radio Today, 29 June 2009
- ^ "More sharing for Sussex stations". December 7, 2010. http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6535. Retrieved 2011-02-21. "Sussex radio stations Splash, Sovereign, Bright and Arrow have been given permission to share all programmes across the stations, Ofcom has announced."
- ^ Splash FM Garden Party Artists
- ^ John Thorpe (November 18, 2010). "Splash FM Garden Party – 2010 Report by the Executive Head of Leisure and Cultural Services". Worthing Borough Council. Archived from the original on 2011-03-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5x4A8btfH.
- ^ Rebecca Evans (November 24, 2010). "Worthing concert could be forced to relocate". The Argus. Archived from the original on 2011-03-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5x4AS7kZM.
- ^ Daughter of tragic Sussex radio DJ pays tribute to "best dad in the world" The Argus, 13 January 2011
- ^ Chris Copsey comes back for more Radio Today, 4 August 2009
- ^ Tributes paid to Scaynes Hill radio star Mid Sussex Times, 12 January 2011
