The Beach (UK radio station)
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Broadcast area | North Suffolk and East Norfolk |
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Frequency | 103.4 MHz & 97.4 MHz FM |
Programming | |
Format | Contemporary |
Ownership | |
Owner | Celador |
History | |
First air date | 29 September 1996 |
Links | |
Website | The Beach |
The Beach is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting to North Suffolk and East Norfolk. It broadcasts from studios in Norwich. It formerly broadcast from studios on Hollingsworth Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk until 8 January 2017 when it was transferred to the central hub in Norwich along with sister stations.
History
In 1993 and 1994, three RSL licences in Lowestoft were operated and run by local radio volunteers, including some freelance radio professionals, with proceeds being donated to local charities. The station was called "Lowestoft Town Radio" (LTR-fm). LTR presenters included Martyn Lee and Steve Smart. Following 30-day trial broadcasts, along with similar efforts in Great Yarmouth, The Radio Authority (now Ofcom) created a new licence for the area. They granted the licence to the group behind the LTR, re-branded as "The Beach".
The Beach started broadcasting on 29 September 1996.[1] It has been voted The Eastern Region Radio Academy Station Of The Year three times.[2]
The station is currently owned by The Anglian Radio Group.
Transmission
Transmitters are located at Mobbs Way, Oulton Broad on 103.4 FM and on 97.4FM from a transmitter located at a water tower in Blythburgh, Suffolk. A transmitter is also located at Havenbridge House in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk which also broadcasts on 97.4 FM.
The Beach is also available on DAB through the Norfolk multiplex.[3][failed verification]
Programming
Before combining programming content with North Norfolk Radio and Radio Norwich 99.9, The Beach had four main programming segments. Breakfast on the Beach, aired from 6 am to 10 am; Daytime aired from 10 am to 3 pm; Drivetime airied from 3 pm to 7 pm (6:30 pm on Thursdays; and Evenings, aired from 7 pm to 10 pm, although this programme was shared across all Anglian Radio networks, and was broadcast from Ipswich). On 9 January 2017 The Anglian Radio Group combined the three stations and re-organised daily programming. Wake up to Wayne became the new breakfast show.
A notable presenter for the station until 2017 was Carli Norris.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Air Check UK: Suffolk (archived), 2 November 2005. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
- ^ Radio Academy Archived 21 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Awards 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
- ^ The Beach, Media UK. Retrieved April 2011.
External links
- The Beach website
- MB21 Transmitter Gallery - Oulton
- MB21 Transmitter Gallery - Blythburgh Water Tower
- MB21 Transmitter Gallery - Great Yarmouth
- MDS975's Coverage Map