Sunshine 855
| Broadcast area | South Shropshire, north Herefordshire and north Worcestershire |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 105.9FM, 855KHz AM & Online |
| First air date | 18 October 1992 |
| Format | Adult Contemporary |
| Owner | Murfin Music International |
| Sister stations | Sunshine Radio (Hereford) |
Sunshine Radio is a local radio station, based in Ludlow, Shropshire. The station currently serves south Shropshire, north Herefordshire and north Worcestershire.
Sunshine Radio in Ludlow dates back to the late 70s when they used to broadcast every Bank Holiday weekend on 239m (1242 kHz), and by 1981, 249m (1179 kHz). Around this time, negotiations took place with the IBA with a view to bring local radio to the area, bearing in mind at this point there was no BBC or commercial local radio in Shropshire, Herefordshire or Worcestershire at all. Two groups emerged, with the "Wyvern" group campaigning for Hereford and Worcester and Sunshine for Shropshire. In the end the IBA said Ludlow was too small to support a local radio station, so the franchise was advertised for Hereford and Worcester and was subsequently awarded to Wyvern.
Many of the Sunshine team were involved in Wyvern, but despite this, they decided to not only continue their pirate broadcasts, but to expand them. A permanent broadcast site was obtained at Villa Farm, Greete and a studio set up in an old granary above a garage. A new, more powerful transmitter (100 Watts) was installed in time for Christmas 1981 on a new frequency of 954 kHz, 319m. The station was also on at Easter 1982 and these broadcasts were the real breakthrough, with the station really capturing the publics’ imagination with many phone calls being received. They were back again at Whitsun, but with Wyvern due to start on 954 in the autumn, Sunshine would have to decide on what to do next including finding a new frequency.
By this time, some London pirates had found loopholes in the law and were broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sunshine’s owners made a visit to London to see how it was done, and then from February 1983 started to broadcast every weekend on 1017 kHz, 299m. This regular schedule and the fact that they were now actively selling advertising meant they were able to grow and improve quite rapidly. There was the odd visit from the authorities, but nothing too heavy, so from September 1983 they started to broadcast 7 days a week. The first Midlands pirate to do so.
Following the visits from the authorities the station was summoned to appear in court on 8 December 1983, but they carried on. There were always improvements being made to the station. In November 1983 an ADR compressor was introduced which really "beefed up" their sound and later in 1984 a new transmitter was installed which was 500 watts. By now, Sunshine was seen as THE local station for Shropshire, with many people not realising their legal status. The local vicar, councillors and police missing persons list appeared on air, along with vacancies at the local Job centre. Everywhere you went, Sunshine was on, and they were featured on television and in newspapers numerous times as an example of one of the biggest pirates in the country at that time.
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Wikipedia