Swansea Sound is a Welsh independent local radio station broadcasting to Swansea and surrounding areas,[1] aimed at a core 40+ demographic.[2] Swansea Sound was the first local radio station in Wales,[3] and has won several awards, including the number one regional station in South Wales.[citation needed]. Its sister station is 96.4 The Wave.
[edit] History
Swansea Sound was launched in 1974 as the first commercial radio station in Wales,[3] and the first commercial radio station to broadcast bilingually in the Welsh language.[4] From 1974, Swansea Sound broadcast on 1170 AM and 95.1 FM. In the early 1980s Swansea Sound changed its FM frequency to 96.4. In 1995 the company decided to "split frequencies", a practice that had been widely adopted within the commercial radio industry in order to avoid relinquishing frequencies, so a new station called 96.4 FM Sound Wave (now 96.4 The Wave) was launched on the FM frequency, while Swansea Sound continued to broadcast as normal on 1170 AM.[5][6]
[edit] Coverage area
The station is available on 1170 MW, DAB Digital Radio & Online across Swansea & South West Wales. It covers a larger area than The Wave, as medium wave has a further reach than FM. The station can also be heard on 1170 AM in North Devon, across the Bristol Channel, although this is not acknowledged by the station's official coverage area.
[edit] Programming
The Programming Director is Steve Barnes and the station is based on Victoria Road in Kingsbridge, near Gorseinon along with The Wave 96.4 FM, which is more devoted to contemporary hits. Swansea Sound is dedicated to broadcasting Welsh language programming most evenings, with hourly news updates, discussions and music, mainly through the medium of Welsh. The station also provides live commentary of all Swansea City AFC football matches. The flagship show is Breakfast with Kevin Johns MBE. The transmitter is located Winch Wen, on the side of Kilvey Hill and for technical reasons does not use the same mast on the top of Kilvey Hill as its sister station.
[edit] Music Policy
The music Swansea Sound play is targeted to the 40+ audience. Swansea Sound hold network broadcasting at certain hours, which is live from other UTV Radio stations, making the music varied.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| UTV Radio |
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| Internet |
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| See Also |
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| Official Website |
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| BBC regional/local stations |
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| Regional commercial stations |
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| Local commercial stations |
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| Community, charity & non-profit stations |
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| Student stations |
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| Defunct local stations |
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| Welsh DAB multiplexes |
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| UK national BBC services |
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| UK national commercial services |
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| UK national DAB multiplexes |
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Coordinates: 51°39′05″N 4°02′20″W / 51.6515°N 4.0388°W / 51.6515; -4.0388
