Heading for 87.8 on your FM dial this summer: Bedford Radio invites YOU to get on board!
Bedford Radio has been granted a licence to broadcast on 87.8 FM across Bedford this July. The broadcast will be launching on the 21st of July and broadcasting until the 31st of July.
This means people will be able to listen to our coverage of the River Festival and Bedfringe while at home, at work or driving in Bedford on 87.8 FM, as well as online via our website, their TuneIn app or smart speaker.
This will be genuine local radio for Bedford, and there is still time for more local people to put themselves behind the microphone: we want to hear from people with an interest in radio – experience is a bonus, but not essential.
Our training programme for volunteers is already underway, but there is still time for more people to take part. This can be on-air, or behind the scenes with support at events or with the organisation of the station.
We are also looking for local businesses to partner with: radio is an amazing platform for speaking to people directly in their homes and cars, so businesses who would like to be featured on the station are invited to get in touch. Bedford Radio will provide full production of all adverts.
As well as extensive outside broadcasts from Bedford’s key summer events, we aim to showcase the full diversity of Bedford’s communities.
Station Manager Martin Steers said: “We want to hear from anyone in Bedford who has a passion and wants to share it. Our pop-up station this July is perfect for one-off shows, or as the launch pad for an ongoing series.
“There’s so much happening in our community, we really hope people will want to share their enthusiasm and spread the word on Bedford Radio.
This must be the most exciting community-based initiative in the town for years, and we can’t wait to work with people from across Bedford.”
Bedford Radio will also be offering a full range of music programming, with a mix of popular favourites throughout the day, and the opportunity for people to share their interests in specialist music shows.
The station is entirely volunteer-run, so we also need help behind the scenes: from technical support to book-keeping to general helping out, we will always be glad of an extra pair of hands. Anyone who doesn’t fancy getting on air but would still like to be involved will therefore be extremely welcome.
The July FM broadcast will be the first step towards a permanent presence on the airwaves over Bedford: the plan is to launch on small scale DAB (digital radio) in 2023. A schedule of programmes will continue online after July up to the launch on DAB, so listeners who get the Bedford Radio habit will be able to keep listening.
