Latest News about Wey Valley Radio
Wey Valley Radio plans DAB expansion Community radio services in Surrey and Hampshire are joining forces to serve listeners via small-scale DAB. The community stations in Alton, Haslemere and Petersfield are working with UK DAB Networks to apply for an SSDAB Ofcom licence. Wey Valley Radio in Alton was first established in 1992 and holds an FM licence. Radio Haslemere and Petersfield’s Shine Radio serve audiences online. The area is one of the smallest advertised by Ofcom, but also a challenging one to serve from a technical perspective. Ash Elford of UK DAB Networks said: “The rolling Surrey Hills, the North and South Downs define the landscape and control propagation. Our bid is designed to serve key population centres and minimise outgoing interference to help Ofcom make efficient use of the spectrum.” David Way, the founder of Wey Valley Radio added: “The opportunity to broadcast on DAB is the next stage in the development of Wey Valley Radio and will ensure the service is available on more of the devices today’s listeners love to use.” Ofcom are expected to make their decision over the licence in around three months.
About Wey Valley Radio
Wey Valley Radio was established in the late 1980s to bring community radio to Alton and the surrounding area. Initially licensed in 1992, it was at that time the smallest radio station in the country covering just 25,000 people in the Alton area of North East Hampshire. The station broadcast from Alton until 2003 when, due in part to its success and the commercial environment at the time, it merged with Delta Radio in Haslemere. Delta Radio broadcast from Bordon near Alton, until 2010 when its new owners decided to move production away from the local area.Since that time the original founders have been working to return truly local radio to the area. The intention is to run the station with the same mind-set that prevailed at the beginning, with programming made by the community for the community to entertain, inform and enhance the lives of people in the ever expanding market town of Alton.
There have been many who benefitted from training and participation with Wey Valley Radio and a large number of the volunteers and trainees have gone on to have careers in the radio and media industry. In addition there are many others who will always have fond memories of their involvement with the station in the 1990s and 2000s. It's our intention to continue this concept of radio being an integral part of the community while simultaneously providing opportunities for local media training and participation.
David Way.
Wednesday 6th July 2016
Wey Valley Radio Alton Community Radio Licence AwardWe are delighted to today announce that Ofcom have awarded us a licence to broadcast to Alton for a period of 5 years. We have a maximum of two years to commence broadcasting and a great deal of work and planning will be needed before then. It’s hoped that with the massive support we've received so far this goal will be achieved well before the 25th anniversary of the first broadcasts in 1992.
We expect to provide a service involving as many members of the community of our town as possible, as in the past. David Way, director and chariman of the new Alton station said, “I would like to thank all the team who have made this possible, not only the current team but every one who has made a positive contribution to Wey Valley Radio from its beginning".