Penistone FM
Radio station in Penistone, United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Penistone FM or Pen FM is a community radio station based in Penistone, South Yorkshire, England, serving Penistone and Stocksbridge and broadcasting on FM and online.[1]
| |
| |
Broadcast area | Penistone and Stocksbridge |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | 95.7 and 97.7 MHz |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Penistone Community Radio Limited |
| History | |
First air date | 6 June 2009 |
| Links | |
| Website | penistonefm |
History
Penistone Community Radio was co-founded in 2005 by Martin Sugden.[2] Trial broadcasts started in September 2006.[3] The station was successfully granted its license by Ofcom in December 2007.[4]
The official launch of Penistone FM occurred on Saturday 6 June 2009,[1] broadcasting on 95.7 MHz.[5][6] Its five-year contract was renewed in 2014.[7]
As of 2016, the station has about forty volunteers.[8]
Initially, the station was based at above a shop on the High Street.[8] In 2015, the station moved its studios to a new base at Penistone 1 in the town centre.[1]
In 2020, the station along with several other local ones came together for plans to apply for small-scale DAB transmissions across Sheffield and Rotherham.[9] However their bid was failed and instead was granted to Shefcast Digital consisting of Link FM and Sheffield Live!.[10]
In 2024, the station's five-year Ofcom contract was renewed to run until 2029.[11]
Transmission
The main transmitter, broadcasting at 95.7 MHz, is located on a hill near the village of Hoylandswaine, very close by a transmitter belonging to Dearne FM.[12] The station could also be picked up in parts of Barnsley, Sheffield and other areas in the region,[2] but lacked coverage in the Stocksbridge Valley due to geographical reasons. In August 2023, a second aerial based in Wortley was installed and began broadcasting on 97.7 MHz, covering Stocksbridge.[13]
Ventures
Penistone FM sponsored the Fox Valley Food Festival in 2024, a year after it started serving Stocksbridge.[14]