102.6 & 106.8 Durham FM

Durham FM

Broadcast area	County Durham
Frequency	102.8 & 106.8 MHz
Programming
Format	Contemporary
Ownership
Owner	The Local Radio Company
History
First air date	5 December 2005 to 2010

Durham FM was an Independent Local Radio station based in Durham, County Durham, England.[1]

History

From its launch in 2005, Durham FM was owned and operated by TLRC.

In December 2008, Durham FM submitted an application to Ofcom to co-locate with sister station, Sun FM in Sunderland.[2] Following a consultation, the majority of responses were against the idea.[3]

In July 2009, Ofcom give permission to rename Durham FM to Alpha Durham, and sister station Minster Northallerton to Alpha Northallerton. All programmes on would be shared, except for a local breakfast show and four-hour show on Saturday and Sunday, each produced and broadcast locally. Previously, TLRC asked for Ofcom approval to move Durham FM further north to Sunderland to share facilities with Sun FM, but a decision was delayed by the regulator.[4]

Instead, the three stations became part of UKRD's Star brand and the station's frequencies were then used to broadcast Star Radio North East which was formed when UKRD merged the services of Durham FM with Alpha 103.2 and Minster Northallerton. Until 2010, a daily local breakfast show was produced for the former Durham FM area.

Ex-presenters

• Peter Grant
• Craig Andrews
• Steve Phillips
• Vic Ribbands
• Chris Hakin
• Dicky Ord
• Dave 'Ceefax' Fenwick
• Geoff Longstaff
• Mike Jinx
• Marie Gardiner
• Mike Nicholson
• Kyle Wilkinson
• Les Gunn
• Mike Patterson
• Pete Clough
• Mat Page
• Tim West
• Sarah Knapper
• Lisa Dawson

Ex-Newsreaders

• Julie Howe (News Editor)
• Louise Bostock
• Emily Bull
• Ed Turner

References

1. "List of former station names". Retrieved 27 January 2010.
2. "TLRC apply to move Durham FM to Sunderland". Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
3. "Consultation against move to Sunderland". Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
4. "TLRC request name change of Durham FM to Alpha Durham". Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.