Essex FM
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| City | Basildon, Chelmsford, and Southend-on-Sea |
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| Broadcast area | Essex |
| Frequency | 96.3, 97.5, and 102.6 MHz RDS: HEART_SX |
| First air date | 12 September 1981 as Essex Radio January 1994 as Essex FM 22 June 2009 as Heart Essex |
| Format | Variety Hit Radio |
| Audience share | 15.3% (March 2010, [1]) |
| Owner | Global Radio |
| Website | Heart Essex |
Heart Essex (formerly Essex Radio and then Essex FM) is a British commercial radio station. It was launched on 12 September 1981, broadcasting from Southend-on-Sea and since 27 October 2004 from Chelmsford, both in Essex.
Heart began as Essex Radio in September 1981 broadcasting on 95.3 MHz & 1431 KHz to Southend-on-Sea and 96.4 MHz & 1359 KHz to Chelmsford in December 1981. The station was formed by several local companies including Keddies, Garons & TOTS with David Keddie, owner of the Keddies department store in Southend becoming its chairman. The station's FM frequencies were changed in 1986, with 95.3 becoming 96.3 (95.3 was handed to BBC Essex) and 96.4 becoming 102.6.
In 1989 the station split its AM and FM frequencies (as required then to do so due to a new Radio Act requirement to end simulcasting) and The Breeze began broadcasting on Essex Radio's old AM frequencies. The first song played was Cliff Richard's 'Wired for Sound'. In January 1994 Essex Radio relaunched as Essex FM. It was then rebranded as Heart in June 2009.
Essex Radio Group launched several nearby stations, including Ten-17 FM in Harlow in 1993, oldies station Breeze (now Gold Essex) in July 1989, and dance station Vibe FM (now Kiss 105-108) in 1997. Essex FM became part of the GWR Group (now Global Radio) in October 2000 from the Daily Mail and General Trust (who bought the Essex Radio Group in 1998).
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