Lite FM 106.8
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| Lite FM 106.8 - Great Songs and Everything Local | |
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| Broadcast area | Peterborough |
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| First air date | July 24, 1999 |
| Frequency | 106.8 MHz |
| Format | Contemporary |
| Owner | Forward Media Group |
| Website | www.lite1068.com |
Lite FM 106.8 is a United Kingdom radio station based in Peterborough. Serving Peterborough, Chatteris, March, Wisbech & Stamford. The Radio Station is currently based in Church Street, Peterborough on the third floor of the Northern Rock Building Society.
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[edit] Station History
The brain child of Wayne Fitzgerald, the owner of the commercial production firm CAP Media, the station initially trialed as a restricted service licence (RSL) station, broadcasting on the 106.0 MHz FM frequency. During the first 3 RSL's, the station was based in temporary studios in the garage of the Fitzgerald family. In the first half of 1997 the station moved to Church Street, where it broadcast it's 4th RSL. Also during this time the station was simulcast on the Local Channel, as well as the cable FM hook-up (106.3 MHz), via the local cable companies system (Bell Cable Media originally).
The station launched on a permanent FM licence (106.8 MHz) at 10:00am on Saturday 24 July 1999. At the same time a live outside broadcast in Cathedral Square, hosted by Wayne Fitzgerald, Stuart Francis and various local dignitaries, was also held. The first official song played was 'So Good' by Boyzone. The first scheduled programme after launch was Saturday Sport with Keith Hazleton and Neil Evans.
[edit] Original Line-up
[edit] Monday to Friday
- 6am-10am - Andy Grahamme
- 10am-1pm - Jo Redding
- 1pm-4pm - Keith Dalton
- 4pm-8pm - Nigel Kerr
- 8pm-12am - Matt Jarvis
[edit] Saturday
- 7am-10am - Keith Dalton & Claire Todd
- 10am-12pm - Nigel Kerr
- 12pm-2pm - Wayne Fitzgerald
- 2pm-6pm - Keith Hazleton, Neil Evans & Andy Baxter
- 6pm-10pm - Malcolm James
- 10pm-2am - Michael Faulkner
[edit] Sunday
- 7am-10am - Matt Jarvis
- 10am-12pm - Stewart Francis
- 12pm-2pm - John Bradley
- 2pm-5pm - Tom Hooper
- 5pm-8pm - Peter Tee
- 8pm-10pm - Ian Grey
- 10pm-1am - Kelvin Scott
[edit] Line-up Changes
Arguably one of Lite FM's failures has been a constantly changing line up, within months of launch Breakfast, Morning and Drivetime presenters were removed as part of a radical shake up of the station output, this also saw the departure shortly afterwards of several weekend presenters. At present only three of the original line up still present at the station with others having moved to competitors or out of the industry altogether. In September 2006, presenter Kev Lawrence joined rival station Hereward FM having battled constantly to give Lite FM an audience share to rival their competitors.
[edit] Station Studios
The station has three studios consisting of two identical broadcast studios (Studios 1 & 3) and a talks studio for guests (studio 2), initially it was thought the DJ's would alternate between studios 1 and 3 but this was never put into action and hot-swapping between programmes remains. The stations music output is controlled by an ENCO Digital Audio Delivery system which allows for extensive automation, this is backed up by a variety of traditional CD and MiniDisc players mounted in moveable pods within the studio desk. Final output is controlled by the presenter through a customised RPL studio console which has 2 PPM Peak meters and a combined Mono output meter.
[edit] Restricted Service Licence Periods
- 17 September 1995 - 14 October 1995
- 17 March 1996 - 13 April 1996
- 27 October 1996 - 23 November 1996
- 20 June 1997 - 17 July 1997
[edit] Station Ownership
The station was originally owned by GP Broadcasting Limited, and was almost sold to GWR, for £2 million, in 2000, before finally being bought by Forward Media Ltd in March 2001.
