A care company’s backing has helped secure AIR 107.2’s next stage of expansion in Weymouth.
The community station has signed a three year sponsorship agreement worth £60,000 with Agincare, giving it financial support as new broadcast studios near completion in Maiden Street.
The deal makes Agincare AIR Dorset’s exclusive primary partner and comes after a difficult period for the station, which faced possible closure last year.
Jamie Lyones took over in November alongside founder and station manager Carl Greenham, and the pair have since set out a new direction for the service.
Work is continuing on purpose built studios designed to support future digital broadcasting, including DAB, while also helping the station produce more local news, programmes and community content for Weymouth, Portland and, in time, wider Dorset.
AIR Dorset began in 2011 as a school project created by Carl before growing into a community station serving the area. Since the takeover, the broadcaster says it has added upgraded transmitters, new equipment and more advertisers as it develops its local output.
Jamie said the agreement showed “the confidence businesses have” in the station’s plans. Adam Luckhurst, a director at Agincare, said the company was “particularly passionate about supporting community focused local media”.
AIR Dorset is also looking for new advertisers, presenters and volunteers, including people interested in gathering local news and community information.