Northwest Hampshire’s newest radio station has launched on 106.4 at 9am, bank holiday Monday. Andover Sound started with a voice-over describing local events taking place in the area, followed by breakfast presenter and PC Ian Meadows welcoming listeners to the new station.
First song played was Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen.
The station won a licence to broadcast to Andover in July 2006, with Tindle Radio as the main backer. Whilst Tindle are still a shareholder, the station will run independently with local programmes 24 hours a day with a TSA of 80,000.
Andover Sound is located in Eastgate House and is owned by ITV Meridian presenter and former Spire FM boss Ian Axton with day to day issues managed by sales director Gary Haberfield. Iain Meadows joined Andover Sound from the regional station Original 106 and station production has been produced by David Harber of Prometheus Radio.
Ocean FM presenter Steve Randall, former Dream 107 journalist Chris Doidge and Mercury FM presenter Simon Hardwick complete the weekday programming line up. The studios and transmission system were commissioned by shareholder Chris Carnegy.
