CanWest is the largest media company in Canada and fresh from their win in Solent, they are applying for the Northeast Regional Licence with the same winning format.
Original FM promises an Adult Alternative format of album-led music, from a wide range of artists, with 24 hour local news and quality presentation. The service is designed to appeal to a broad range of age groups with specific interest for 40-59 year olds.
Original FM offers a clear alternative to the Top 20 chart focussed music output that dominates all of the commercial radio stations in the region, where an astonishing 87% of all music comes from the Top 20 of today and yesterday.
The fact that album sales exceed single sales by a factor of 20 to 1 is largely ignored by existing stations and Original FM promises to redress the balance and offer a true reflection of what listeners want to hear.
From studios in Newcastle and Middlesbrough Original FM will be local and live 24 hours a day, with a news operation bringing up-to-the-minute reports to the region around the clock. Extensive research has proved that listeners want more news and information at breakfast and during afternoon drivetime and that is what Original FM will deliver.
Original FM will be a truly independent voice for the region offering greater choice for listeners and advertisers alike. The company is chaired by Peter Rowley of the Darlington Building Society and the directors include David Stonehouse; Tom Strike, Peter Viner and Rick Hetherington of CanWest; Jonathan Arendt and Richard Johnson of Seven Broadcast.
Original FM Ltd is owned by CanWest MediaWorks UK Ltd and Seven Broadcast Ltd.