Brentwood is to get its own radio station following
the recent announcement that Phoenix FM’s application for a full-time community licence has been successful.
Phoenix FM is celebrating the news from broadcast watchdog Ofcom at its Rayleigh Road studios. The station, which up to now has operated with 28-day occasional licences, is currently on air until February 25 on 87.7FM.
Breakfast Show presenter Daniel Beale broke the news live to listeners as top story in Phoenix FM’s 10am news bulletin. The station’s team of 25 broadcasters has campaigned for ten years to bring their unique mix of community news, features and music to the airwaves permanently.
In November 2004 Phoenix FM applied for a community radio licence – introduced for a new tier of stations serving smaller catchment areas than existing BBC and commercial broadcasters.
Winning applicants have to demonstrate they could run and fund a 365-day radio station serving the needs of their communities. Phoenix FM’s revenue will come from grants and advertising.
Paul Golder, station manager, said: “This is the perfect news to round off our tenth and best broadcast. This month Phoenix FM has played more Brentwood bands and musicians, and interviewed more people from the town, than ever before. Having shown we can entertain and inform our listeners during month-long broadcasts, we can’t wait to return and do it for good.”
Phoenix FM will start broadcasting permanently within 12 months. Its signal will extend from Brentwood to Billericay and surrounding villages. Further information will be published throughout the year on phoenixfm.com
The group was formed in August 1996 and the first of its ten Brentwood-based broadcasts was in December the same year. Phoenix also ran Eastgate FM for the Basildon shopping centre in the run up to Christmas 2003 and 2004.