The chairman of the newly-licenced radio station for Preston, Leyland and Chorley has been quoted by the area's local newspaper as saying the location of their studio base is "irrelevant". John Barnett made the comments when asked whether Proud FM would share facilities with other UTV Radio stations.
However, when RadioToday.co.uk asked if the station will share a base with Tower FM, Wish FM and Wire FM in Newton-le-Williows, a UTV Radio spokesperson said the Proud FM Format does not allow the station to be based anywhere other than within the area it will broadcast to.
"The co-location request for Wish, Wire and Tower is totally seperate to the fact that UTV have won a licence in the area – Proud FM will be staying in Lancashire."
An article in the Lancashire Evening Post today suggests people have been offered jobs at Proud FM – and they'd be based at the new broadcast hub in Merseyside.
UTV Radio could very easily request a format change at any point, whether that be now or a couple of years after launch, which would let them move the station. The distance between Preston centre and Newton-le-Willows, is 25 miles, according to [link=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=preston&daddr=Newton-le-willows,+St+Helens+WA12,+United+Kingdom&layer=&sll=53.595765,-2.662811&sspn=0.332528,0.914612&ie=UTF8&z=10&ll=53.609618,-2.664185&spn=0.332419,0.914612&om=1]Google Maps[/link].
Proud FM are now recruiting staff at all levels, according to the station's website. Presenters, Broadcast Journalists, Programmers and Sales and Sponsorship Executives are all required.
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