2-Ten FM

Infobox Radio station|2Ten FM/Radio 210


name=2Ten FM
airdate= 8 March 1976
frequency=97.0 MHz, 102.9 MHz
and 103.4 MHz
share = 11.3%
share as of = September 2007
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
area= Reading and Basingstoke
format =Contemporary
owner = Global Radio
website = [http://www.2tenfm.co.uk/ www.2tenfm.co.uk]

2Ten FM (Originally styled 2-Ten FM) is an Independent Local Radio station serving Berkshire and North Hampshire with studios in Reading. Originally called Radio 210 (Two-One-Oh) it commenced broadcasting in March 1976 on its medium-wave frequency of 210 metres (1431 kHz). It is now part of The One Network of stations run by Global Radio. The current owners are also to rebrand the station "Heart" and remove most of the local shows. This will leave just two weekday shows (Breakfast and Drivetime) that are produced in the county, the rest will be produced in London. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/16/globalradio.commercialradio]

History

The original parent company, Radio Kennet had won the licence to broadcast as far back as 1974, but plans for the station to float on the London Stock Exchange as soon as it commenced broadcasting failed as it didn't raise enough cash. Radio Kennet returned in 1976 as Thames Valley Broadcasting.

Radio 210 first broadcast on 8 March 1976 at 6am. Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Paul Hollingdale played the Carpenters record "We've Only Just Begun". Amongst the early presenters were Steve Wright, Mike Read, Tony Fox (deceased), David Addis, Steve Crozier, (Yer Man Croze), Mike Matthews, John Flower, Tony Holden and Steve Wood. Some of these early presenters went on to gain national recognition.

Radio 210 initially only served Reading with a transmitter on 97.0 MHz FM on top of The Butts shopping centre; however that changed when it began broadcasting from the Hannington transmitter on a second frequency of 102.9 MHz at midday 1 January 1987 to serve a wider area of Berkshire and North Hampshire, with a Henley-on-Thames relay added in 1997.

1987 schedule

Radio 210 first became popular with listeners in the mid to late 70s with its dual DJ format - a partnership under the title of Read and Wright (Mike Read and Steve Wright). Working in a friendly partnership they had great banter and a good repartee together. They later became famous in separate careers on national radio and TV.

In 1987, you could hear Graham Ledger with the breakfast show between 5:30 and 8:00, before David Hamilton came on at 8:00 with the morning show (he had just left BBC Radio 2 because he thought it was too middle-of-the-road, he is now on Big L 1395). "Radio 210 Sport" was 'first with the action' with a regular sports bulletin 7 days a week: 8:30, 13:30 and 18:30 Monday to Friday and "SportScene" on Saturday afternoon with local and national fixtures presented by Bob Morrison for over eight years. Results and reports at 16:40 and a sport check at 16:55. Keith Butler presented the weekend Tea-Time slot from 17:15 on Saturday and from 17:30 on Sunday.

plit frequencies

In the early 1993 Radio 210 split frequencies (as required then to do so by Government due to a radio act recently passed to end simulcasting) to provide two services - Radio 210 FM and 210 Classic Gold Radio, today known as 2-Ten FM and Gold (Berkshire and North Hampshire).

Radio 210 claimed to be "the only comprehensive travel service in the Thames Valley and North Hampshire". It had news bulletins on the hour every hour and also regional news during certain points throughout the day. 2-Ten FM is now owned by GCap Media.

logans

Some of the more well-known slogans used on air were/are:
*"Tune to 210!"
*"Closer to you, Radio 210!" - Jingles for this era were produced by Alfasound.
*"Sounds of your life."
*"Hits and Memories."
*"The Fresh Mix/More Hit Radio."
*"A Better Music Mix"
*"Today's Best Mix"
*"More Music Variety"

2008 Schedule

This has changed since 30th June 2008.

Monday to Friday
* 6am-10am Foxy at Breakfast
* 10am-1pm Philippa Collins (With The One Network)
* 1pm-2p m Non-Stop Music Hour
* 2pm-7pm John Darin
* 7pm-10pm Kevin Hughes (With The One Network) (Monday to Thursday)
* 7pm-10pm Party Anthems (With The One Network) (Fridays Only)
* 10pm-1am The Wind Down with Stephen Sullivan (With The One Network)
* 1am-6am Dan Wood or Andy Henly (With The One Network)

Saturday
* 8am-12pm Saturday Morning with John and Giuliano
* 12pm-3pm Pat Sharp (With The One Network)
* 3pm-7pm Mark Dennison (With The One Network)
* 7pm-12am Party Anthems (With The One Network)

Sunday
* 12am-8am Dan Wood or Andy Henly (With The One Network)
* 8am-12pm John Fox
* 12pm-4pm Jo Russell (With The One Network)
* 4pm-7pm Hit 40 UK with Lucio (With The One Network)
* 7pm-10pm Jason Donovan(With The One Network)
* 10pm-1am The Wind Down with Cat James(With The One Network)
* 1am-6am Dan Wood or Andy Henly (With The One Network)

External links

* [http://www.2tenfm.co.uk 2-Ten FM's website]
* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/amfm/AL123-2.htm Ofcom details of transmission]
* [http://www.thisisilr.co.uk Memories publicity and jingles of 70s and 80s ILR in the south east]