About Us
...a timeline to the creation of a radio station JUST for Erewash...
- January 1997: Parent organisation created using nucleus of experienced local broadcast team.
- July 1997-August 2002: Six short-term 28-day FM trial broadcasts as Pride FM in Derby.
- 2003: Derby County's SKY satellite delivered football radio station - RAMPAGE - ceases all operations after contractor ceases trading. Negotiations lead to proposal 'Pride Park Radio' an AM match-day-only radio station. Preparations for launch mutually abandoned upon departure of then Chairman Lionel Pickering.
- Christmas 2004: Erewash Sound name launches at an Ockbrook's Redhill School Christmas Fayre.
- January - July 2005: Erewash Sound website and plans for a Summer FM short term broadcast are launched. Presentations given, community links forged and station roadshow tours. Erewash MP Liz Blackman and local councillors throw their weight behind the radio station. 7,000+ marketing packs distributed to local businesses. Temporary studio base identified in central Ilkeston.
Saturday 16th July - Friday 12th August 2005: Backed by Erewash businesses, local Councillors and other members of the community, the transmitter of Erewash Sound breaks the silence on the local airwaves on 87.9FM and broadcasts for 28 days using a short-term restricted licence. The borough finally has its very own radio station.
- “Erewash sometimes gets squeezed out by its positioning between two very large urban areas, i.e. Nottingham and Derby, therefore doesn’t make the radar screen and a radio station just for Erewash will correct that problem” “Erewash Sound will dedicate its time, its chat and its music just for Erewash people, and that is very important.” Erewash MP Liz Blackman speaking at the launch of Erewash Sound.
- Mrs Blackman signals wish to see 28-days extend into a permanent licence and encourages both businesses and listeners to get behind the station saying: “...this is your voice too”.
- Erewash Sound gives away a £400 holiday accommodation package, and first class rail tickets to London as on-air prizes.
- Friday 12th August 2005: FM broadcast period ends and station closes down under licence terms. Deluges of e-mails, letters and telephone calls arrive pleading for the station not to go off the air, listeners telling presenters what they thought of the radio station they had been waiting for, for so long, and urging its return.
- Saturday 13th August 2005: Roadshow presenters are visited by a steady stream of satisfied, but saddened listeners, already missing the station.
- 2006: Plans are made to prepare to make an application for a full-time 5-year community radio as soon as an opportunity arises with the 'BACK THE BID' campaign, designed to generate support for and raise awareness of station aims.
- January 2007: Erewash Sound 'At The Weekend' is launched on-line specifically targeted at Erewash residents, ex-pats and Armed Forces personnel from the area. Output includes a dedicated hourly news service plus a full schedule of programmes. Programme content later expands into weekdays. 'The Music Mix Selector' enables remote selection of music by the listener.
- October 10th 2007: Ofcom - the broadcast regulator - invites applications for community radio licences across the Midlands. Erewash Sound management had already begun planning the application.
- January 15th 2008: 5:00pm: The deadline for licence applications passes. Erewash Sound submitted an application in good time before the deadline.
- Thursday 24th April 2008: Ofcom grants a full-time 5 year FM community radio licence to Erewash Sound.
- January 2010: Erewash Sound celebrates 3 years of on-line broadcasting.
- Sunday 7th February 11:00pm: After 3 years of on-line broadcasting, the last programme to be broadcast on-line only ends and Erewash Sound transfers to test transmissions on-line, to begin final preparations for the FM launch. FM tests began just days later.
- Saturday 6th March 9:00am. Erewash Sound launched on 96.8FM from studios at Bennerley Business & Enterprise College, Cotmanhay, with a special launch party hosted by Ilkeston Co-op and with guest Robert Lindsay.
Thanks for visiting the website for the radio station JUST for Erewash - Erewash Sound!
Alan Beardon