Yorkshire Coast Radio

Yorkshire Coast Radio is an Independent Local Radio station serving the coastal towns of Scarborough, Whitby and Bridlington and surrounding areas in North and East Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Coast Radio
Broadcast areaScarborough, Whitby & Bridlington
SloganJust great songs
FrequencyFM: 96.2, 102.4, 103.1 MHz
DAB: 10C
First air date7 November 1993
FormatContemporary
OwnerBauer Radio
Websitewww.yorkshirecoastradio.com

The station, formed of two separate FM licences and a supplementary DAB service, is owned and operated by Bauer Radio and broadcasts from studios in Scarborough. Bauer Radio announced on 27 March 2020 that Yorkshire Coast Radio will be rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio from early September 2020.

History

For many years, several businessmen in Scarborough had campaigned for their own local radio station. A licence was advertised in 1991 and contested by three groups. The winning consortium, Yorkshire Coast Radio Limited, was founded by radio executive and former presenter Paul Rusling with backing from former Conservative MP Wilf Proudfoot, who served as managing director for short-lived pirate station Radio 270, which was based in the town. After the franchise was awarded, YCR was brought out by Minster Sound plc - the owners of neighbouring York-based station Minster FM, which began broadcasting in July 1992.

Yorkshire Coast Radio was launched on Sunday 7 November 1993,[1] broadcasting local programming from 6 am-10 pm each day with overnight output simulcast from Minster FM. Originally, the station had planned to broadcast from the Heatherleigh, a trawler moored in Scarborough's harbour which later became a museum. When the station was brought, YCR opted for conventional studios at Falsgrave Road near the town centre, before later moving to purpose-built facilities in Eastfield, on the outskirts of town.

On 7 November 1999, Yorkshire Coast Radio expanded after its owners were awarded the licence to cover the neighbouring Bridlington area. The station operated as a part-time opt-out of Yorkshire Coast Radio and was called Yorkshire Coast Radio Bridlington.

Yorkshire Coast Radio broadcasts to Scarborough and Filey on 96.2 FM, Bridlington on 102.4 FM and Whitby on 103.1 FM[2]

On 17 February 2015, Yorkshire Coast Radio launched a DAB simulcast on the MuxCo North Yorkshire multiplex.[3]

The station also operates an online service called 'Yorkshire Coast Radio Extra' which broadcasts news and interviews as well as football commentaries on Scarborough Athletic, Bridlington Town and Whitby Town games.[4][5]

In 2018 the station launched an additional service Yorkshire Coast Radio 70s.

Former notable presenters on the station include Joel Ross (later one half of JK and Joel).

Programming

All of Yorkshire Coast Radio's programming is produced and broadcast from its Scarborough studios. Presenter-led programming airs from 6am-10pm on weekdays, 6 am-6 pm on Saturdays and 8 am-4 pm on Sunday.[6]

In the official RAJAR audience data for Q2 2018, Yorkshire Coast Radio achieved a 53% weekly reach which is higher than for any other radio station in the UK.[7]

News

Yorkshire Coast Radio broadcasts hourly local news bulletins from 6 am–10 pm on weekdays and 8 am–12 pm at weekends, with headlines on the half-hour during weekday breakfast.

Its journalists are based at the radio station's Scarborough studios and also produce content for and the stations website and smartphone app.

National bulletins from Sky News Radio are carried every hour at all other times.[8]

References
  1. "Local Radio Day Yorkshire Coast Radio". Yorkshire Coast Radio. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. "Ofcom | Analogue Radio Stations". static.ofcom.org.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  3. "Yorkshire Coast Radio Extra Launches on DAB". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  4. "Extra". Yorkshire Coast Radio. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  5. "Yorkshire Coast Radio Extra". www.scarboroughathletic.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  6. Yorkshire Coast Radio public file
  7. "Radio Audience Figures Revealed for Yorkshire Coast". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  8. Yorkshire Coast Radio public file

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