RYE FM

Not really inactive!

2010-08-05T21:43:00.002+01:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! Over a year since the last blog - what have I been doing? Well, trying to make a living for one thing and trying to get the station off the starting blocks for another.

We're on to our second potential home after the first fell through and we're busy trying to source funding which, as you can imagine at this particular time, is a difficult task.

On the plus side the management team is now three strong - Brian Sims and Hugh Kermode join me on the board of Rother Community Broadcasting Ltd.; the holding company and we are near to finalising the structure of the management committee that will oversee the day-to-day running of the station.

We're also considering a change of name to RXFM to make the station less Rye-centric. Anyway, much to do and I promise to keep more up-to-date with the blog from now on!

Andy

Possible home found

2009-07-09T22:55:00.000+01:00

Amazingly we think we might have been offered free premised in the centre of Rye! I'm afraid we can't reveal where just yet as we are in discussion with the owners but it'll be a real boon if we get them.

Personally, I've always believed that it's important for a small radio station to be at the centre of its community and visible. It was very much the fashion in the 1990s to stick stations away from the centre in cheap industrial units or, like Arrow in Hastings, on the top of a shopping centre (although they've now left Hastings almost entirely leaving only a news office and a sales person).

We'll let you know more when we can.

Andy

Woo Hoo!

2009-06-18T13:54:00.001+01:00

Yes, we got it! Now the hard work starts.

Andy (happy as a pig etc.) Bantock

Eleven o'clock tomorrow!

2009-06-16T21:55:00.000+01:00

That's when we find out if we've been successful.

Even Longer Apparently!

2009-05-11T11:57:00.000+01:00

Ofcom have just informed me that the announcement for our licence will be delayed until June or even July. Ho hum.

And a long wait it'll be!

2008-11-27T23:02:00.000Z

Just had an email from OFCOM saying that the decision for us will be in May 2009! Well, plenty of time to plan things I suppose.

On another note it would appear that neither Impact in Hastings or Romney Marsh FM ended up putting applications in which is a shame.

Andy

Right, that's it then!

2008-11-18T00:03:00.001Z

It's just after midnight and I've pressed the SEND button on the email. The application is in, now the waiting begins!

Andy

Logo Competition for Rye College pupils

2008-09-15T17:13:00.002+01:00

We're going to launch a competition for Rye College pupils to design our logo. Further details will be available through Form Teachers and I'll be doing a presentation at next Monday's Year Eight assembly.

Andy

Right, off we go then

2008-09-02T16:59:00.000+01:00

OFCOM have advertised the East and Southeastern England licence window. We've got until the middle of November to get the application in. I'd better start then, hadn't I!

Near Neighbours On Air Now

2008-07-22T17:21:00.002+01:00

Romney Marsh FM are on air from New Romney for 28 days starting today. You can just about get them on their (rather measly in my opinion) 10 Watts in Rye but you can listen on line at www.romneymarsh.fm.

I'm going over to visit them tomorrow to talk to them about co-operation when we get on the air.

Andy

Er...not so fast!

2008-07-04T21:54:00.002+01:00

Well, a little look at the OFCOM website has revealed that they're not advertising the South East (they've split London off as a separate entity as predicted) until the end of August with a November deadline. I'll rest now!

Andy

Action Stations!

2008-07-02T12:19:00.003+01:00

Sorry I've been quiet for a while - pressure of work etc. I have been doing Rye FM related activity though! A meeting with Ann Cockerham; Head teacher of Thomas Peacocke (soon to be Rye College) has cemented very close ties between the school and the station and we hope to find a permanent home in the Arts Centre that the school is proposing to build at the Grove Lane end of the site.

I also went to a grant funding meeting in London at an organisation called UnLtd. We'll be applying for a small grant to cover the application costs. This is vital because I have been told that applications will be invited this month with a deadline of October. So, it's all systems go now.

Andy

Not such a lonely furrow after all

2008-05-05T22:15:00.003+01:00

I went to the Playden Oasts on Sunday night for a drink with some mates. It used to be my local as I lived directly opposite it and it's still my favourite pub.

What pleased me greatly was that a couple of people started to talk to me about the station un-prompted. Bob, the landlord, is really excited about it and has offered the Oast's back room for any meetings. Personally, I'd prefer somewhere closer to the town centre but it might still be an idea.

It's gratifying to find that a lot of people think it's a good idea. It's been living in my head for such a long time I sometimes wonder if it's just me - obviously (and thankfully) not!

Version 2 already!

2008-05-04T01:18:00.001+01:00

Yes, I've been tinkering again! Version 2 is on ryefm.co.uk now. Not much else to report. More soon though.

Version One of the Programme Schedule

2008-04-26T23:33:00.003+01:00

I know it's a bit early, seeing as we don't actually have a radio station yet, but I've been beavering away on my ideas for the programme schedule. The early on on the website was a little crude so now you can see the new one on www.ryefm.co.uk - follow the link to Programme Schedule.

I'd be very interested to hear what you think and I'd suggest you post comments on the discussion board at http://www.hostingphpbb.com/forum/ryefm.html where I'm creating a new forum about the schedule.

Information Technology a Go Go!

2008-04-23T20:54:00.004+01:00

In addition to starting this blog we've just launched a discussion board to make it easier for you to let us know what you want from the station. It's at
http://www.hostingphpbb.com/forum/ryefm.html

You have to register to post but it's a good way to discuss all the aspects of the application and eventual (we hope) station.

Local Paper Optimism - Let's hope it's a good omen!

2008-04-23T11:24:00.002+01:00

I called into bargain Box for my Guardian yesterday and was shocked and a little surprised to see a poster at the door with RYE'S NEW COMMUNITY RADIO STATION emblazoned in three inch high letters! Nice of them to circumvent the OFCOM licence application process.

I had a nice email from Max Davenport with suggestions for a dance music show. I'm all for it but we've got to do some serious research into music before we do the application. It's very difficult to please everybody and if you try it with a "scatter-gun" of individual specialist music shows it'll lead to lots of people tuning out.

No, the music format will be a tough nit to crack and I would welcome any input at this stage.

The Beginning

2008-04-21T10:20:00.004+01:00

Well, actually this isn't really the beginning as such but I've decided to start a blog to enable people to keep up with events so it is a beginning of sorts.

After appearing at the Rye Town Council annual meeting and having a piece published in the Rye & Battle Observer I've started to get a few emails from people interested in getting involved (hello Corinne!) and offering support.

Work has started on the business plan and i am in the process of contacting all the local councillors, clubs, societies and major businesses (a gargantuan task I can tell you) to garner support and, more importantly, potential income. Overtures have also been made to UnLtd, a grant funding organisation, to try and get a small grant to fund some public meetings and, hopefully, the application itself.