KCFM (FM)

Nation Radio Yorkshire, formerly ''GHR Hull & East Yorkshire'' and ''KCFM'', is an Independent Local Radio station serving Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire, which is owned and operated by Nation Broadcasting. This new licence was advertised by Ofcom in 2006.

As KCFM, it was owned by the Lincs FM Group. In early 2019, it was sold on to Nation Broadcasting, under the licensed name of Greatest Hits Radio. On 19 September 2022, the licensing name agreement ended and the station became part of the Nation Radio network.

As of September 2024, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 56,000, according to RAJAR.

Background

KCFM was run by a local consortium – under the name of Planet Broadcasting Limited. In June 2009 a share exchange was agreed with the Lincs FM Group.

The late Tim Jibson, who was a member of the team that acquired the original Ofcom licence, was the launch director and was also the Director of Programmes until May 2009, when he moved on to the role of managing director of Adventures in Radio Ltd. Jibson had previously worked for Viking FM and Viking Gold (later known as Greatest Hits Radio) and for BBC Radio Humberside.

Launch

The station carried out a full month of test transmissions before launch at 6:00 a.m. on 1 August 2007. The first voice heard on-air was that of Steve Jordan who then introduced the Director of Programmes Tim Jibson. Jordan then played the first music track "'' Twist and Shout''" by The Beatles. The Planet House studio building was then officially opened by the England Football Manager Steve McClaren.

Programming and presenters

Programming

Nation Radio Yorkshire broadcasts a mix of regional and networked programming.

Regional Shows

* Weekday Breakfast With Alex Duffy (6-10am)
* Weekday Mid Morning with Matt Hutchinson (10am-1pm)
* Weekday Drivetime with Sean Goldsmith (3-7pm)

Local presenters

* Alex Duffy
* Matt Hutchinson
* Sean Goldsmith

Networked Presenters

* Tim Allen
* Gary Parker
* Mark Collins
* Mark Franklin
* Tony Shepherd
* Roberto
* Neil Greenslade
* Neil Fox
* Greg Burns

As Nation Radio Yorkshire, local programming is broadcast from 6am to 1pm and 3pm to 7pm Monday to Friday. The rest of the time it takes networked programming from Nation Radio UK, with opt-outs for news, sport, travel and weather updates. During local programming, the station plays a separate playlist to Nation Radio UK.

Technical

Transmission

The station broadcasts on 99.8 MHz FM. Its transmission area covers the City of Kingston upon Hull and the neighbouring towns of Beverley, Driffield and Goole in East Yorkshire and Barton-upon-Humber in North Lincolnshire – from a transmitter mast on top of the Humber Bridge's north pier. KCFM was also available via DAB, launched on that platform in October 2016. In early 2019, KCFM moved DAB multiplexes from the Lincolnshire multiplex to Bauer's Humberside multiplex offering a better geographical fit with its FM distribution, albeit available only in mono due to limitations of capacity on the mux.

Studios

A purpose built studio complex was constructed at "Planet House" on Hedon Road in Hull. Studio Design was carried out by Bob Corn of the Corn Tarrant Partnership – Technical Installation by Radio Studio Services – which is headed up by Richard Lawley. The station has no local studios or office with shows done from home studios.

Branding

Nation Radio Yorkshire currently airs a composite jingle package, which was also made for the other Nation-branded stations, produced by Ignite Jingles and TM Studios.

References

External links

*

Licence award

Yorkshire Post article

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kcfm
Radio stations in Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
Mass media in Kingston upon Hull
Radio broadcasting companies of the United Kingdom
Nation Broadcasting
Radio stations established in 2007
Adult contemporary radio stations in the United Kingdom