Signal 1

Signal One
Broadcast area	Staffordshire & southern Cheshire
Frequency	96.4 MHz, 96.9 MHz, 102.6 MHz, DAB
First air date	September 5 1983
Format	Contemporary
Audience share	13.9% (September 2007, [1])
Owner	UTV Radio

Signal One is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting from studios in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent to Staffordshire and Cheshire, England on 96.4 (Sutton Common, Macclesfield), 96.9 (Pye Green) and 102.6 MHz FM (Alsagers Bank) for Cheshire, Stafford and North Staffordshire respectively. It also broadcasts on the Stoke "UTV-EMAP Stoke-on-Trent" DAB multiplex 12D. It can also be received in a much wider area due to the power of the Alsagers Bank transmitter. In RAJAR surveys, Signal 1 have consistently emerged as the leading station in their market. In October 2005, it launched an MP3 internet stream facility. The station began as Signal Radio which first broadcast on September 5th 1983, with DJ John Evington selecting Neil Diamond's "Beautiful Noise" as its first track. It is now home to the "Andy and Louise" breakfast show, Dave Johnson on mid-mornings and Liz Ellis' show, "The Big Drive Home". Local news and sport is broadcast each hour. Every first Tuesday of each month, Signal broadcasts live from Liquid Nightclub, holding an event for young clubbers aged 18 and under. Between 1990 and 1991, the Cheshire 96.4 frequency operated as an alternative AOR station, Echo 96 also carried in Stafford on 96.9. In 2000, the 96.4 transmitter returned to Signal 1 from Imagine FM. Since the early 1990s, the Stafford area has also had a range of split programming on 96.9 and the alternative older targeted Signal 2 service has evolved from what was initially a "Golden Breakfast Show" only, on the original accompanying 1170 AM frequency, from back in 1992. The Wireless Group bought the station in 1999 and were subsequently bought themselves by UTV Radio.

Former presenters

Some of Signal's past presenters include, Darren Procter (now Key 103), Carlos now (105.7 Smooth Radio), Lee Finan (now Century FM), Ray Crowther, Sam Plank, Mel Scholes (sadly deceased), Jason Hardy (now Century FM), Stu Haycock (now Beacon Radio), Jim Davis (now LBC and Heart FM), Matt Rogan (now Gemini FM), Russ Morris (now BRMB), Lee Thomas, Rob Oliver and Mark Franklin (Ex TOTP Presenter), Chris Moyles (1994-95) - described the station as 'the worst station he had ever worked at', Geoff Lloyd - began his career here in 1992 as a traffic & travel reporter before taking on the station's evening show.

Community

Signal 1 runs a youth club called Signal Smokebusters, for those who don't smoke or want to quit. Local children aged between 10 and 15 can join in for prizes and discounts. A show dedicated to the club is broadcast every Sunday at 7:00-10:00pm, presented by Steve Ball. Presenter Johnny Owen has released two singles, one to coincide with the World Cup (reaching number 64 in the national charts) and one at Christmas 2006 called "Father Christmas Stole My Girl" to raise money for "Help a Signal Child". Johnny also works at Century fm in Manchester at weekends, presenting North West Football Fever.

References

External links

• Official page
• Signal Radio Jingles
• History of local radio in Staffordshire
• Sutton Common transmitter, near Macclesfield
• Pye Green transmitter, near Stafford