Radio station in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
Mearns FM
is a
community run radio station
[1]
based in
Kincardineshire
, also known as the Mearns. There are transmitters in
Laurencekirk
,
Inverbervie
,
Stonehaven
and
Portlethen
leading to a coverage area stretching from
St Cyrus
to
Aberdeen
. The studio is located in Stonehaven.
History
[
edit
]
In 1993, Community Radio in the Mearns area began following a visit to
North East Community Radio
by members of the Stonehaven Community Centre Management Committee. Stonehaven Community Radio was subsequently formed, and it transmitted for the first time during July 1994 from the old primary school toilet block in Stonehaven Community Centre. At that time, community stations could only operate for 28 days at a time. The group disbanded in 1998.
[2]
In 2004, five year community radio licences were introduced, which led to the formation of a new group of enthusiasts. A draft constitution was adopted at the first AGM which was held in the late Summer of 2005. The project was delayed because a round of broadcasting applications had just closed and Ofcom, the regulating authority, did not invite new applications until the late autumn of 2006. It was necessary for the organisation to become a Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered charity.
[2]
The committee originally planned the station to be named Stonehaven Community Radio but it was decided to become Mearns wide and be called Mearns FM. Because of the large geographical area of the Mearns, the station applied for three transmitters which Ofcom subsequently agreed to and a licence was issued in early July 2007.
[2]
The station began broadcasting on 6 June 2009 during the annual Feein' Market in Stonehaven. At 11am the station was officially opened by the local MP, Sir Robert Smith.
[2]
Since then OFCOM have renewed our license to broadcast twice and we are able to keep broadcasting until at least 2024.
In 2016, the station was the only Community Radio Station in Scotland to receive accreditation from the
BBC
for
Eurovision Song Contest
coverage.
[3]
In April 2020 Mearns FM was successful in a bid to increase power at all 3 transmitters and install a new transmitter at
Portlethen
church hall.
[4]
This will improve coverage across South Aberdeenshire, half the funding needed to replace 4 transmitters was granted from Aberdeenshire Council and we are very grateful for that help. We will also open a new studio in Portlethen church hall part-financed by the National Lottery awards for all program. Mearns FM also launched on
DAB digital radio
across North-East Scotland in July 2020.
[5]
[6]
Studio
[
edit
]
The station was broadcast from
Stonehaven Town Hall
from its inception in 2007 until late 2019, when it had to move due to electrical upgrades taking place in the town hall. After broadcasting from temporary studios, the station moved permanently to a new studio on Ann Street on 13 September 2020.
[2]
Programming
[
edit
]
Programs did include the self-proclaimed "world's only
Doric
show".
[7]
Every Sunday at 9am, the previous Sunday's worship service of
Bervie Church
is broadcast.
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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BBC regional/local stations
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Regional commercial stations
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Local commercial stations
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Community, charity & non-profit stations
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Student stations
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Defunct stations
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Scottish DAB multiplexes
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UK national BBC services
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UK national commercial services
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UK national DAB multiplexes
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56°57′50″N
2°12′28″W
/
56.9640°N 2.2077°W
/
56.9640; -2.2077