Local radio will return to the town after Andover Radio was awarded a five year licence to broadcast earlier today.
The broadcast regulator Ofcom today announced the station as a successful applicant group among 25 others across the UK. The radio station now has two years to launch, but the founders are in no hurry.
Managing Director David Harber says, “We’re proud to bring the benefits of truly local radio back to Andover. The town deserves a high quality service and
that takes planning. We won’t launch until absolutely ready.”
“We will cover everything that’s positive about Andover. But it won’t stop us from highlighting or challenging decisions which are against the public interest.”
With a studio location in Andover, the broadcaster will broadcast a ‘passionately local’ mix of content while the station’s music policy will be a broad mix of familiar and recognisable songs from the past 60 years, mixed with more specialist music programmes hosted by local people.
The radio station has already committed to giving free editorial and promotional support to local charitable and volunteer organisations, while proactively
supporting a tough high street economy.
Co Founder Maurice Sweeney added “Radio is an intrusive medium, it tells you things you didn’t know you needed to know.”
“Everything we do will be about Andover, its culture and its people; this constant stream of information about the town will help Andoverians make better informed decisions.”
The station also plans to provide a media and production training centre, working with local educational establishments.
This is fantastic news for Andover…. well done to the team involved in putting this together.
I was incredibly proud to have been part of Andover Sound from its launch and I know that the team building the exciting new Andover Radio will have the same goals, passion and commitment to Andover.
If you will allow me to use this space, I do want to share that whereas there was a significant amount of work that has gone into the licence application (from arranging funding sources, incorporating the company, audience research and writing the application document in just a few days) it was the ease at which we found “evidence of support” for our plans.
That means I would really like to thank the people who gave their support wholeheartedly for our plans.
I have over 200 emails from local people who supported our application – to each of these that I am unlikely to respond in full, thank you.
For all the owners and managers of local businesses like the Commercial Centre, Austin Hawk, KJMGroup, International Furniture and many more – your support was essential. We are committed to ensuring that we promote and highlight the benefits of shopping locally to counteract the increasing difficulty you face with the increase in online purchases and the purchasing power of the national brands.
For all the statutory and civic support we received, all three levels of local authority, (then) Mayor Iris Andersen and Kit Malthouse MP, who was kind enough to offer his support within moments of hearing our plans to positively promote the town. To you, TVCS, The Police, the College and the local schools… again, thank you.
I was utterly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of support you have given us. Andover is a very special place, and it has a special place in my heart. I will endeavour to ensure your local radio station remains committed to providing information, entertainment and social gain for this exceptional town.
(Do you think I should organise a celebratory party with balloons and bubbles? You’re all invited!)
Well done Andover Radio – look forward to seeing this launched!
Brilliant news, I loved Andover Sound when it first started, since it became the Breeze it’s rapidly loosing it’s local features and news as it becomes another generic station. One thing Andover has more of than all surrounding larger towns is a great community spirit and hopefully Andover Radio can tap into that and be a great voice for our community. Well done Andover Radio! Look forward to hearing you on the airwaves.