- For the regional Classic Gold station, Brunel Radio see Brunel Classic Gold
Brunel FM is a UK commercial radio station broadcasting to the town of Swindon and outside areas of close proximity.
Overview
The station broadcasts both local and networked programmes and is run as a separate company to other TLRC stations with its own management, presenters, journalists and sales staff. The station also covers Wootton Bassett, Wroughton, Cricklade, Highworth and Purton. This makes a total adult population reach (aged 15+) of around 150,000. The station's main local rivals are GWR FM Wiltshire, BBC Radio Swindon and Swindon 105.5. The station's content is produced from the Lime Kiln studios 6 miles southwest of Swindon at Wootton Bassett, and is transmitted from the Blunsdon transmitter 2 miles north of Swindon. The station generates the majority of its revenue from on-air advertising, and is fully self-sufficient. It employs 10 full time staff and several other part time staff. Brunel FM does not currently broadcast on DAB digital radio and has no plans or budget to do so.citation needed. It is available via live web stream at brunelfm.com.
History
Logo of proposed station.
In 2005 Ofcom invited applications for the 12-year broadcasting licence for Swindon. The Local Radio Company applied for licence proposing a radio station called Now FM. After being awarded the licence they had a rethink and ended up calling it Brunel FM, after Isambard Kingdom Brunel whose railway network had converted Swindon from a small village on the top of a hill, to an extremely large town. For some weeks before launch the station was in test transmissions, allowing listeners a sneak preview of the station, without presenters or commercials. The station launched a 10am on 2 September 2006 to the sound of many different people from around the coverage area wishing the station luck. The first programme to air was The Breakfast Show.
In June 2008, Brunel FM was sold to Laser Broadcasting along with sister stations Bath FM and 3TR.citation needed
Slogans
September 2006: The New sound for Swindon
September 2007: The Sound of Swindon
Brunel also currently uses a variety of other slogans in their jingles (or 'sweepers') - including "the only station in Swindon that plays the most music" and "the only station in Swindon with more songs than anyone else". While these statements may well be true, what is interesting is the somewhat dubious grammar - it is actually impossible for there to be more than one station playing the most music.
See also
External links
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