96.4 FM The Wave

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96.4 FM The Wave
Broadcast area	South West Wales
Slogan	Number One for South West Wales
First air date	30 September 1995
Frequency	96.4 MHz
Format	Contemporary
Owner	UTV Radio

96.4 FM The Wave, often simply known as The Wave, is a radio station based in Swansea, Wales. It is available on FM, at 96.4MHz, in the Swansea, Llanelli, Neath and Port Talbot and across Carmarthen Bay into South Pembrokeshire. DAB coverage is slightly better than on FM particularly into Carmarthenshire. It is also widely heard in areas of North Devon, across the Severn Estuary (where there is no interference from local station Lantern FM on 96.2MHz), although the station's official coverage area does not acknowledge this.

Its predecessor, Swansea Sound, broadcast on FM at 96.4MHz and on medium wave 1170kHz. In 1995, Sound Wave was spun off using the FM frequency, as a station for contemporary pop music, with Swansea Sound focusing on a more mature audience retaining the MW frequency. The name was changed to The Wave in 1999 (?), with current branding including the frequency.

[edit] Music

The station plays current music and songs from the 1980s and 1990s, occasionally venturing into 1970s music, and is considered to be a more modern alternative to Swansea Sound, The Wave's sister station which was begun in 1974 and is available on 1170 MW and DAB. The station now prides itself on its online 'Music Academy' which allows listeners to choose the music which contributes to the playlists, allowing a more varied choice of music, although still heavily rotated.

[edit] Presenters

The usual presenters are "Badger" (normally with Emma Davies), Mark Powell ( with Smithy on Saturday mornings), Phil Hoyles, Jonny B, Chris Blumer, Chris Reynolds, 'Red Hot' Claire Scott, Siany, JJ, Steve Shaw and Alan Beddows. The station also takes the hit40uk chart on Sundays between 4pm and 7pm, hosted by Lucio, and also the UTV network gameshow, Cashtime, at weekends.

The Programming Director is Steve Barnes, and the station is based on Victoria Road near Gorseinon, which has been the location of the Wave since its birth in 1995 and Swansea Sound since its birth in 1974 but will relocate to new premises at the city's Liberty Stadium soon.

Their only transmitter location is Kilvey Hill, with its 3 masts, overlooking Swansea.