MKFM

Coordinates: 51°48′57″N 0°48′50″W / 51.8158°N 0.8138°W / 51.8158; -0.8138

MKFM
City Milton Keynes
Broadcast area Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Slogan The Beat of MK
Frequency 106.3 mHz
First air date February 7, 2011 (2011-02-07)
Format CHR
Language(s) English
Webcast UK Radioplayer
Website MKFM.COM

MKFM is a not for profit local radio station for Milton Keynes. The station started in 2011 with trial broadcasts before starting as a full-time service on DAB Digital Radio on 14th February 2013. MKFM was awarded a full-time FM licence for the Milton Keynes area on 19 March 2015 and launched on 106.3FM on Monday 7 September 2015.

History

MKFM was founded by former Heart 103.3 programme controller Chris Gregg. The station started broadcasting on 2 July 2011 on 107FM in Milton Keynes as part of a 28 days restricted service licence. A campaign was launched with the slogan 'On a mission to bring local radio back to Milton Keynes' with listeners asked to support the station's bid for a full-time FM licence. The station continued the campaign with further trial broadcasts in December 2011, July 2012, December 2012, May 2013 and December 2014 on 107FM.[1]

MKFM began test transmissions on DAB Digital Radio across Herts, Beds, Bucks and Northants on 14 February 2013, before launching as a full-time service in May of the same year. MKFM was part of the launch of the local DAB multiplex when Milton Keynes Dons chairman Pete Winkelman and MP Iain Stewart switched on the transmitter in a ceremony at Bletchley Park. [2]

MKFM applied to Ofcom for a full-time FM licence during December 2014.[3] This followed a debate in Parliament by local MP Iain Stewart in May 2014 asking the broadcast regulator to speed up the application process for community radio stations to broadcast on FM.[4] The station's licence application was announced to be successful on 19 March 2015 and the station hopes to begin test transmissions on FM during Summer 2015.[5]

On Saturday 27 June 2015, MKFM announced that it would be moving into new premises at intu Milton Keynes. The new studios will mean more space for the stations operations and will enable them to train even more volunteers, run community radio workshops and coach presenters. The existing MKFM Pod will remain at Stadium MK and will be used for regular outside broadcasts, coverage of sports and arena events.[6]

Transmissions were switched from the Pod at Stadium MK to the station's new studio on Monday 17 August 2015 at intu Milton Keynes. On the same day, MKFM launched its new Breakfast Show with Oliver, Darren & Lia with John Cove from the MK Dons being the first guest in the new studio.

MKFM officially launched on 106.3FM at 6am on Monday 7 September 2015.

Programming

The daytime music is a mix of hits from the last 25 years (1990 onwards) mainly current and recurrent with at least one local artist always on regular daytime rotation. In the evenings, complementary music to the daytime playlist is played with the opportunity for more ‘specialist’ music in genres ranging from dance to R 'n' B, rock and country.

Programming highlights include a weekly ‘local music’ show featuring music from local bands, singers and producers, interviews with artists, a gig guide, gig reviews and regular ‘live session’ recordings. The show also covers larger musical events, for example, in the past it has covered Download Festival and AmpRocks, broadcasting interviews and tracks from the festivals.

The station also provides a weekly local arts and culture show showcasing the cities wide variety of theatre, artists and authors.[7]

Fundraising

As a community radio station, MKFM greatly assists many local charities and not for profit organisations in fundraising. Some past examples of this have included a 'superhero taxi' taking to the streets of the city to pick up passengers and raise money for local charity Leo's Appeal.[8] The station has also supported The Henry Allen Trust by taking part in a charity bike ride to Paris, with live updates from the team broadcast exclusively on air.[9]

In total, the station has supported over 500 local events since it launched by offering free Publicity on air, online and on social media. The station also attends events whilst hosting music stages, selling raffle tickets, facepainting, handing out sweets or balloons and providing a free inflatable slide.

References

  1. ↑ About - MKFM
  2. ↑ Community radio station MKFM goes on DAB - RadioToday
  3. ↑ Ofcom - Community Radio Licence Applicants – Region 8 East of England (with Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes)
  4. ↑ Hope for MKFM as Iain debates FM licences - Milton Keynes Citizen
  5. ↑ MKFM & 3 others win community radio licences - RadioToday
  6. ↑ MKFM New Studios - MKFM
  7. ↑ MKFM Application Form - Ofcom
  8. ↑ Skyline Taxis and MKFM raise money for Milton Keynes Hospital - MK News
  9. ↑ MKFM organise charity bike ride to Paris - RadioToday
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