Phoenix FM

Phoenix FM
Broadcast area Brentwood and Billericay
Frequency 98.0 MHz
First air date 29 December 1996 (restricted licence), 23 March 2007 (fully licensed)
Format Community radio
Owner Phoenix FM Limited
Webcast MP3 Stream
Website www.phoenixfm.com

Phoenix FM is a community radio station serving the areas of Brentwood and Billericay, England on 98.0FM and online, covering an area of over 140,000 people.

The station was formed in 1996 and has been broadcasting full-time on FM since 23 March 2007, having completed twelve 28-day restricted service licence broadcasts on FM between 1996 and 2006.

On 16 February 2006 Ofcom announced that Phoenix FM, after ten years of campaigning, had been awarded a full-time Community Radio licence.[1]

Having previously set up studios in Ongar Road, The Hermitage and Hutton Poplars Lodge, Phoenix FM moved its base of operations to the Baytree Centre in early 2007 and started broadcasting full-time on 98.0 FM at 7pm on Friday 23 March 2007. The station moved to its current base at the Brentwood Centre in February 2012.

The station's broadcasts have provided a valuable platform for local bands looking to gain airtime. Inme, who were then known under the name of Drowned, were one band whose first radio play and interviews were on the station.

The station's Creative Sessions have given studio recording time to unknown and young local bands as well as featuring established recording artists such as Republica, Imogen Heap, Midway Still, Chris T-T and MJ Hibbett.

Phoenix FM was also the first community radio station in the UK to provide a streaming internet service, in 2001.

Notable current and former presenters

Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, who has been presenting the Midweek Matchzone show with Chris Hood since May 2015.

Snooker player Steve Davis, who has been presenting the Interesting Alternative show since 1996, and since 2011 jointly with Kavus Torabi [2]

Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles [3]

Former leader of Brentwood Borough Council Brandon Lewis, now MP for Great Yarmouth

Carter USM guitarist/songwriter Les "Fruitbat" Carter

Boxer Rebellion drummer Piers Hewitt

My Life Story singer Jake Shillingford

Singer/songwriter Chris T-T

Kula Shaker drummer Paul Winter-Hart

The Others singer Dominic Masters

Music and football agent Eric Hall

Former Essex cricketer Ian Pont

The first X Factor winner Steve Brookstein

References

  1. "Ofcom awards 21 community radio licences". Ofcom. February 16, 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  2. Duerden, Nick (January 5, 2014). "How we met: Steve Davis & Kavus Torabi". The Independent. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
  3. Harris, John (July 9, 2007). "It's a game of two halves as the frontbenchers go for the face-off". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-02-22.

Coordinates: 51°38′4″N 0°17′56″E / 51.63444°N 0.29889°E / 51.63444; 0.29889

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