Hayes FM (91.8
FM) is a community-focused local radio station based in
Hayes, West
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, England.
Audience
The target audience is people living and working within a three-mile radius of
Hayes in the south of the
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon () is the largest and westernmost borough in West London, England. It was formed from the districts of Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the ceremonial county ...
. The station is
non-commercial
A non-commercial (also spelled noncommercial) activity is an activity that does not, in some sense, involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis. For example, advertising-free community ...
- it is not obligated to sell advertisements in order to remain operational. This gives
autonomy with format, allowing a variety of tastes to be accommodated in programming.
History
Hayes FM was launched out of an initiative between Sutish Sharma and local
MP John McDonnell
John Martin McDonnell (born 8 September 1951) is a British politician who served as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2015 to 2020. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Hayes and Harlington since 1997. ...
. The initiative's aim was to contribute towards engaging the three West London boroughs' different communities.
In 2003, Hayes FM undertook a
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence (often called an RSL), is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event. Licences are granted by the broadcasting authority Ofc ...
for one month. In 2004, the station developed accredited training courses, and in November of that year submitted an application to
Ofcom for a local radio licence. Hayes FM was awarded a radio operators licence in 2006; it started broadcasting on 1 September 2007.
References
External links
Hayes FM - official siteMedia UK station profile
{{coord missing, London
Community radio stations in the United Kingdom
Radio stations in London