Waves Radio was 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 based in

Peterhead Peterhead (; , ) is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is the council area's largest settlement, with a population of 19,060 at the 2022 Census for Scotland, 2022 Census. It is the largest fishing port in the United Kingdom for total landi ...

, Scotland, with coverage across Peterhead and

Fraserburgh Fraserburgh (; ), locally known as the Broch, is a town in Aberdeenshire (unitary), Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with a population recorded in the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 Census as 13,100. It lies in Buchan in the northeastern corner of th ...

on 101.2 FM.

History

Waves Radio was born in 1990 after its founder and owner, known as Kenny King, applied to the then Radio Authority for 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 Ofcom ...

. The station, in the early years, was known as Waves AM, broadcasting from a studio at the Lido beach area in

, during the town's annual Scottish Week celebrations. Following the success of the initial broadcasts the station returned every summer, with the introduction of additional broadcasts made over the Christmas periods in 1994 and 1995. The station ceased broadcasting in July 1996 and was unable to transmit over the festive period due to the announcement of the full-time licence. After gaining a full-time licence, Waves Radio launched on 6 December 1997, from studios at Blackhouse Circle and transmitter at

Mormond Hill Mormond Hill (from Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic ''Mórmhonadh'', "big hill") is a broad eminence in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, not far from Fraserburgh. Its twin summits reach heights of and ; the higher of the two is known as Waughton Hill. The hill i ...

. In early summer 2021, the station's existing management announced plans to retire and a new consortium gained control of the station. The takeover was short lived, with the previous management returning in August 2021. A further takeover bid concluded later on the same year, with a group headed by Preston-based businessman Neil Stafford gaining control of the station. In April 2023, it was announced that the station had ceased broadcasting on DAB, with online streaming following suit.

Companies House Companies House is the executive agency of the British Government that maintains the Company register, register of companies, employs the company registrars and is responsible for Incorporation (business), incorporating all forms of Company, co ...

reported that accounts for the year to end 30 June 2022 were overdue.

Coast Radio

In April 2024, Ofcom announced that the license had been transferred to WBC Media CIC and would operate under the name Coast Radio. Coast Radio started broadcasting at 10:12 am on 26 May 2024.

Programming

Local programming was produced and broadcast from Waves Radio's studios from 6am-10am most days, with syndicated programming including Totally 80s, Totally 90s and The World Chart. The station's local presenters included Glenn Moir, Duncan McKay and Kevin Murdoch.

News and sport

National bulletins were formerly provided by

Sky News Radio Sky News Radio is the radio arm of Sky News, owned by Sky UK. It has been operating since June 1999, providing a news bulletin service for UK commercial radio stations operators across the UK and for a number of English-speaking radio stations aro ...

, supplemented with local bulletins at 8.30am, 12.30pm and 5.30pm

References

External links

*
Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin March 2023Companies House records for Waves Radio ltd
Radio stations established in 1990 Radio stations disestablished in 2023 Radio stations in Scotland Radio stations in Peterhead {{Scotland-radio-station-stub