Island FM is an
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom.
As a result of the buyouts and mergers permitted by the Broadcasting Act 1990, and deregulation resulting from the Communications Act 2 ...
station broadcasting across the
Bailiwick of Guernsey
The Bailiwick of Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Bailliage dé Guernési'') is a self-governing British Crown Dependencies, Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France, comprising several of the Channel Islands. It has a total land area of ...
on 104.7 FM and 93.7 FM in Alderney.
Launched in 1992, Island FM remains the sole commercial station in the island and continues to be extremely successful with high listenership figures.
Listening figures released in February 2025 showed that out of a population of 58,000 adults, 29,000 listened each week, at an average of 13.5 hours per person giving a 39.1% market share, according to
RAJAR
Radio Joint Audience Research Limited (RAJAR; ) was established in 1992 to operate a single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United Kingdom. RAJAR is jointly owned by the BBC and Radiocentre. RAJAR's predecessor was c ...
.
History
Island FM was founded by Guernsey businessman Kevin Stewart, who was the station's Managing Director until 2002.
In February 1998, Sir
Ray Tindle acquired Island FM and the station became the first part of the
Tindle Radio Group, which later went on to purchase Jersey's
Channel 103
In late 2020, Island FM became a part of
Bauer's
Hits Radio Network
Hits Radio is a network of 26 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK. The network launched in 2018 with the rebranding of Bauer's Manchester station Key 103 and its merger with The Hi ...
for commercial sales. It remains owned by Tindle with some shared programming with Channel 103.
Island FM began
digital radio
Digital radio is the use of digital technology to transmit or receive across the radio spectrum. Digital transmission by radio waves includes digital broadcasting, and especially digital audio radio services. This should not be confused with In ...
transmissions, alongside
Channel 103, on 1 August 2021 with the launch of the local
Ofcom
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, internet, telecommunications and mail, postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom has wide-rang ...
-licensed DAB multiplex for the Channel Islands.
Programming
Island FM's core audience is the 15-45 age group, playing contemporary hits - predominantly from the 1990s to the present day.
News bulletins are presented locally from 6:30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The station's weekend news service broadcasts local content, presented either from Jersey or Guernsey from 8am until noon.
Sky News
Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel, live stream news network and news organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of ...
provides the service outside these times.
Transmission
Island FM has broadcast on 104.7 FM in Guernsey and 93.7 FM in Alderney since launching in 1992.
The station began
DAB+
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is a digital radio international standard, standard for broadcasting digital audio radio services in many countries around the world, defined, supported, marketed and promoted by the WorldDAB organisation. T ...
transmissions, alongside those of
Channel 103, on 1 August 2021 with the launch of the local
Ofcom
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, internet, telecommunications and mail, postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom has wide-rang ...
-licensed DAB multiplex for the Channel Islands. This service is radiated from transmitters at Les Touillets in Guernsey and Les Platons in Jersey.
References
External links
Official site
Radio stations in Guernsey
Radio stations established in 1992
Adult contemporary radio stations in the United Kingdom
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