107 Meridian FM facts for kids
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| Broadcast area | East Grinstead, Forest Row, Lingfield, Crawley Down, Felbridge |
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| Frequency | FM: 107.0 MHz Online |
| Programming | |
| Format | Community |
| History | |
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First air date
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December 2006 (Restricted) March 2010 (Full-time) |
| Links | |
| Website | meridianfm.com |
107 Meridian FM is a special kind of radio station called a community radio station. It broadcasts to the town of East Grinstead in West Sussex, England, and the areas around it.
Contents
How the Station Started
This radio station is run by about 100 amazing volunteers who don't get paid. It's a non-profit organisation, which means it uses any money it makes to help the station, not to make a profit.
Early Broadcasts
107 Meridian FM first started broadcasting for 28 days in December 2006. They did this a few more times in 2007. At first, they had a special permit called a 'restricted service licence.' This meant they could only broadcast for short periods.
Getting a Full Licence
The station was allowed to broadcast only twice a year with their first licence. But in July 2009, Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, gave Meridian FM a full-time community radio licence. This was great news!
After getting the full licence, the station kept broadcasting online through its website. They also worked hard to raise money for all the extra equipment they needed to broadcast full-time on the radio.
Starting Full-Time Broadcasts
In February 2010, Ofcom checked and approved the radio studios and broadcasting equipment. Then, on March 1, 2010, at 7 AM, 107 Meridian FM officially started broadcasting on 107 Mhz FM. The station also broadcasts to listeners all over the world through its online stream.
Licence Renewals
Ofcom approved the renewal of 107 Meridian FM's broadcast licence in early 2015. This meant they could keep broadcasting until 2020. In early 2020, their licence was renewed again, allowing them to broadcast until 2025.
Studio Locations
The radio studios were first located in East Court Mansion, which is also where the East Grinstead Town Council offices are. However, in January 2010, the studios moved to the Jubilee Community Centre on Charlwoods Road.
What's in a Name?
The station's name, Meridian FM, comes from the Greenwich Prime Meridian. This imaginary line runs right through East Grinstead. It's important to know that 107 Meridian FM is not connected to the television channel ITV Meridian.
How the Station is Funded
The radio station gets its money from different sources. These include membership fees, donations, and advertising or sponsorship from local and national businesses. This funding helps them keep the station running for the community.
Awards and Recognition
107 Meridian FM and its shows have won several awards for their great work.
- In 2016, a show called "The Business Show" won a Bronze Award for Community Radio Show of the Year at the Community Radio Awards.
- In 2017, a young person named Lila Bellamy won a Bronze Award for Young Person of the Year at the Community Radio Awards.
- In 2018, the "Spirit of Wildfire - A Festival for Radio" show won a Bronze Award for Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year at the Community Radio Awards.
- From 2018 to 2021, the show "Leader's American Pie" was voted runner-up for Best Radio Show by the readers of Americana UK.
What You Can Hear
Meridian FM broadcasts a national news update every hour. This news is provided by Radio NewsHub. The station also shares local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, and guides to local events happening in the area.
