Energy FM (Isle of Man)

Energy FM (Manx: Bree FM) is an Isle of Man based radio station which started broadcasting in 2001. The station licence expired in 2013 and the former company ceased trading. The new licence was awarded to Energy Communications who contract the operation out to separate programme, news and transmission providers. The Energy FM name and logo is used under a brand licence agreement. The station plays a range of music from the 80s up to the present day.

The Energy FM website is owned and operated by Carrick Creative Limited who hold a separate agreement to use the brand name.

Transmission

Energy FM broadcasts from the Isle of Man on 98.6, 91.2, 93.4, 98.4, 102.4, 102.5 and 105.2 FM and online via the website energyfm.net and UK Radioplayer. The FM signal can be heard as far away as north Wales, southern Scotland, west Lancashire, and the east of Northern Ireland. The transmission contract is provided by an external transmission contractor - I-TEL. Energy FM did own and operate its entire network of transmitters, but in an effort to save costs, the station exited from this in 2009 and sold its interest to concentrate on its core function of the radio service.

The previous operator of Energy FM ceased to operate in 2011 and now Energy Communications holds the licence to provide the radio service.

Background

Energy FM is a local radio station in the Isle of Man, providing music and local news for a family audience. Energy FM is licensed by the Isle of Man Communications Commission under the Broadcasting Act 1990.

Energy FM started broadcasting on 27 July 2001 and was originally licensed for two years to provide a service aimed at a young audience, playing a mixture of chart and dance music.

When the licence was renewed in 2003, the station format was redesigned to appeal to a more mainstream audience with the inclusion of news, sport and local action programming. The music policy was also changed to focus on a 'hits' format, but still retaining some elements of special programming outside peak hours.

The licence expired in 2013. A new licence appointed a new operator, Energy Communications, but the station name was retained under an agreement.

Local news

Providing a news service seven days a week in the Isle of Man, Energy FM also provides national and world news through IRN (Independent Radio News). News bulletins with local content can be heard at the following times:

Weekdays: 0700; 0730; 0800; 0830; 0900; 1000; 1100; 1200; 1230; 1300; 1400; 1500; 1600; 1700; 1730; with summaries at 1800, 2000 & 2200

Weekends: The news team are on a rota duty and provide live local news across the weekend in the event of breaking news.

At off peak times Energy FM uses the "Sky" UK and world news service through IRN.

Shaun Moore is the News Editor.

Programming

Energy FM provides local programming from 6am to 1am. Energy FM News on air throughout the day from the Energy FM Infocentre and broadcasts IRN/Sky from 6pm to 6am. A recorded news summary is aired in the weekday evenings.

The programme format is Presenter led with music from the current chart mixed with a variety of chart hits from the past 30 years.

Presenters

• Chris Quirk
• Dave Sherwood
• Simon Nicks
• Liam Scott
• Julian Saunders
• JP (James Proudfoot)
• Jacqui Blay
• Jay McCreary
• Carl Ralley
• Gareth Webb
• Carl Ashwin
• Simon Crookshank
• Juan Turner
• James Hall
• Gary King
• Dave Pearce
• Marvin Humes
• Kat Shoob

Chris Quirk presents the weekday breakfast show. (6am to 10pm)

Dave Sherwood is the presenter of 'The Top 10 at 10' weekdays and the Daytime Show (10am to 2pm)

Simon Nicks (simply referred to as: "Nicksy") presents 'Nicksy in the Afternoon' (Weekdays 2pm-5pm) and 'Energy Drive' (Weekdays 5pm-6pm)

Liam Scott presents various shows on the Station.

Julian Saunders presents 'The Late Lounge' Monday through to Thursday 10pm-1am. Saunders also presents Sunday Breakfast (6:00am-10am)

Jay McCreary is the presenter of 'The Wall of Sound' Monday to Friday 6pm to 10pm (Start at 7pm on Friday)

JP is the stations sports presenter presenting 'Talking Sport', every Friday evening from 6pm-7pm. JP also presents Saturday Afternoon with Music & Sport.

James Hall presents Saturday Breakfast (6am to 10am) and Sunday Mornings. (10am to 1pm)

Dave Pearce presents 'Dave Pearce Anthems' between 6pm-9pm every Saturday night. (Independent production)

On Sunday between 4pm and 7pm, Energy FM broadcasts the nationally syndicated radio chart programme The Vodafone Big Top 40. It is presented by Marvin Humes and Kat Shoob. The top 40 show will often call up a guest or have them in the studio if their song has entered the charts recently and they think it may be successful; such guests have included DJ Fresh, Cover Drive, Tulisa Contostravlos and Rita Ora, these guests will only be in the studio if they have a single being released recently that may enter the UK charts.

Gary King presents the specialist shows Totally 90's (Sunday's 7pm-9pm) and Totally 80's(Fridays 10pm-24am)

Outside broadcasts

Every year Energy FM provides live coverage of the IOM Golf Championships, motorcycle racing, rallying, charity events, the End to End Walk, Rally Isle of Man, Railway's Santa Trains and the Ramsey Lantern Parade.

Music

Energy FM plays a wide selection of songs from the sixties through to the present.

The core of the output is music derived from the 80's 90's and Now.

In the community

A key element of Energy FM is its role in the community in the Isle of Man. It is involved in a number of charity initiatives, and provides free announcements of local events.

'Localness' guidelines from Ofcom

The UK media regulator Ofcom has details of what it considers is - and is not - true local content.^[1] Energy FM is regulated by the Isle of Man Communications Commission, and thus is not bound by the UK guidelines, but the station tries to follow these guidelines as best practice.

References

External links

• Energy FM website