Trax FM

Trax FM was a local radio station serving Doncaster and Bassetlaw. The station was folded into Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire, as part of a rebrand, on 1 September 2020.

Trax FM
Broadcast areaDoncaster & Bassetlaw (FM)
South Yorkshire (DAB)
Worldwide (Internet)
FrequencyFM:
107.1 MHz (Doncaster)
107.9 MHz (Bassetlaw)
DAB: 11C
Programming
FormatContemporary
Ownership
OwnerBauer
History
First air date
22 November 1998
Last air date
31 August 2020
Links
Webcast64 kbit/s stereo
Websitewww.traxfm.co.uk

History

The station started as two separate licences one for Doncaster and one for Bassetlaw. In its bid to win the licence two "RSL's" were aired, the first from above a well known bakery on Frenchgate, and the second from a former private residence further from the town centre. A number of well-known and established presenters were used for the RSL's, first heard was Duncan Newmarch (Lincs FM, Invicta FM), Richard Lyon (Compass FM), John Marshall (Lincs FM), Craig Strong (Trent, Lincs, Century, Gem), Kenny Hague, (Trent, Leicester Sound, Fosseway), and Mike Barge (Bargey). The bid was obviously successful.

During the station's life-time, Trax FM presenters included:

  • Joseph Begley
  • John Marshall
  • Rob Hammond
  • Naomi Princess
  • Ben Russell
  • Andy Fenton
  • Jacqui Blay
  • Alex Cann
  • Sam Wilson
  • Ross Carrick
  • Steve Orchard
  • Nigel Stepsun

In 2020, Trax FM, along with the other Lincs FM Group stations, were sold to Bauer Media[1] and the station was rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio in September 2020, as part of their national Greatest Hits Radio network.[2] It now broadcasts national and regional music programmes with local news bulletins.[3]

Transmitters

The service for Doncaster broadcasts on 107.1FM[4] from the studios on the White Rose Way in Doncaster. The signal was broadcast from the Clifton transmitter, near Conisbrough, South Yorkshire. That signal was five times more powerful than the former Worksop transmitter. In 2015, transmissions moved to an antenna on Silverwood House in the centre of Doncaster.[5]

The service for Bassetlaw is on 107.9FM[6] used to come from the studios on Bridge Street in Worksop. The signal was transmitted from the Worksop transmitter, north of Worksop in Bassetlaw next to the B6045 towards Blyth, north Nottinghamshire. In 2016, transmissions moved to a transmitter at Worksop Golf Course to the south of the town.[7] The transmitter provides coverage to Worksop town and rural areas to the west of Retford.

Trax FM is also broadcast across South Yorkshire and the North Midlands on DAB Digital Radio on the Bauer South Yorkshire (former EMAP South Yorkshire) multiplex[8] and on the Internet. Trax FM on DAB and the Internet carries the Doncaster variation of the station.

Background

Trax FM co-located the Bassetlaw service to Doncaster in 2007,[9] despite the original 107.9 station ownership being crucial in getting the more lucrative Doncaster licence. The format change includes a reduction in the hours of local broadcasting from seven hours to four hours.[10]

The station is based on the A6182 in the south of Doncaster, appropriately enough near the East Coast Main Line on Sidings Court, west of the Lakeside Village shops. It is accessed via junction 3 of the M18 and is near the Doncaster International Railport.

Branding

In line with the rest of the group the station's slogan is "Hits and Memories" and all jingles are produced by Audiosweets.

Clifton transmitter on Beacon Hill, north of the M18, former transmitter of Trax FM on FM and current transmitter of Trax FM on DAB via the Sheffield multiplex.

References
  1. "Most of acquired Bauer stations to become Greatest Hits Radio". 27 May 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  2. Waterson, Jim (31 August 2020). "Bauer closes dozens of regional radio stations in England and Wales". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  3. Paessler, Benjamin (27 August 2020). "Presenters announced for Greatest Hits Radio in Salisbury". Salisbury Journal. Retrieved 29 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "Trax FM 107.1 Doncaster". Lincs FM Group. Archived from the original on 7 May 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
  5. "Doncaster (Silverwood House)". MB21. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  6. "Trax FM 107.9 Bassetlaw". Lincs FM Group. Archived from the original on 11 December 2004. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
  7. "Worksop Golf Course". MB21. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  8. "EMAP Digital Radio - South Yorkshire Multiplex". EMAP. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
  9. "Trax FM departs Bassetlaw". Radio Today. 16 March 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2007.
  10. "Format Change Request Form OfW 332" (PDF). Ofcom. October 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2007.

Audio clips

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