on - that is Eden FM
Border City Times • 19
is the worst scenario. Now, 12 months on, Martin is preparing for the third 28 day transmission on the FM frequency. Meanwhile, he is presenting his shows over the internet every week.
and the surrounding areas. Away from the studio, our outside broadcasting vehicle was out and about in the community. In 56 days, Eden FM radio has transmitted 1344 hours of radio on the FM frequency.
The backbone of the team is a club DJ, with regular slots at the Loft ‘djsianos’, alias breakfast and evening presenter Sian Whittaker, who with Andy Neen, breakfast and evening presenter and outside events co-ordinator, both share the role of deputy chairman. The full team line up which is taking shape is available to view on www. edenfmradio.co.uk. The youngest presenter is 13 and the oldest I cannot reveal, but is of a young retirement age. The team now consist of around 20 volunteers most of these present. When Eden FM radio switched on to transmit on 87.7 FM at 10am on 25th November 2011, it had 5 presenters (including the then 11 year old) who had actually presented live on the radio station at a community or regional level. No one had ever designed, built and launched a radio station with the exception of one person. It was a steep learning curve, yes and an experience to look back on and build on, absolutely.
Around 60 local people have been interviewed from across the county during this period, many events in the area have promoted and many charitable events and activities well supported.
In a studio for the first time, over 20 people were faced with a studio console with 12 channels. It had switch overs, live feeds for the telephone, an outside broadcasting vehicle channel, 4 microphone channels, 2 PC channels and a news channel, 2 channels for 2 turntables, 2 mini disc player channels and 2 CD player channels. There was a set pattern in how news would be on the hour, the weather was presented and adverts were played at set times. In between this, music was scheduled and they might interview guests and get to present for up to 4 hours at a time. It was local radio. It is local radio. It’s about local people having a go and for some, living a dream. Local schools having their own shows, local bands playing live, a variety of music covering classical, blues, country, swing and roc, 50s through to today’s chart, local news and events. Local people interviewed every day from the town
Local people, communicating with the community that is Cumbria, Eden FM radio has continued to broadcast and stream live every day via www.edenfm.co.uk. It is preparing for another temporary licence in November 2012 and at present is completing its application to become a full time Community radio on an FM frequency. It’s our first introduction to Carlisle, we have two presenters that make that trip and we hope more will come forward. The power of the internet means they do have an audience at home, among friends and a growing listenership across Cumbria on the internet. If you have an interest in community radio, or you would like to know more, or you might want to be a volunteer at the radio, please drop us a line at admin@edenfm. co.uk. If you would like to sponsor or advertise on Eden FM Radio, please call 01768 899101 or email sales@ edenfm.co.uk. Because of the restrictions and the conditions of FM fulltime community licensing and even when the transmitter is switched on for the trial broadcast for 28 days in November and December chances are you won’t hear Eden FM on your FM radio in Carlisle. The power of the transmission from the Penrith based transmitter is not even a tenth of the strength of the radio stations already in this region but if there is a group in Carlisle that believe maybe a community station is much needed then please visit the Eden fm radio site and follow the link to Border City FM Lee Quinn, Chairman Director Eden FM Radio Ltd
From a potential disaster to an outside broadcaster, the Eden FM radio OB vehicle complete with 9 metre hydraulic mast.
15 days before transmission vehicle arrived
Weekend before launch
phone: 01768 899111
www.cumbrianlocal.co.uk
The day we switch on 87.7 FM info@cumbrianlocal.co.uk
Border City Times