| Central Radio | |
| City: | Preston |
| Area: | Blackpool, The Fylde, Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley |
| Frequency: | DAB |
| Airdate: | 25 September 2008 |
| Format: | talk radio, music radio |
| Language: | English |
| Website: | http://www.central.radio |
Central Radio is a British Independent Local Radio serving Blackpool, The Fylde, Preston, Leyland, Chorley, Blackburn and Burnley areas of Lancashire which covers approximately 981,000 adults.
The station launched on 25 September 2008, having changed its name prior to launch from Proud FM, derived from Proud Preston on the city shield to Central Radio in order to better reflect the transmission area.
Central Radio launched on 25 September 2008. Following Ofcom relaxations on local programming requirements, the station began taking UTV Radio's networked evening and overnight shows in late March 2009.
On 16 December 2009, it was announced by owners UTV Media that the station would be closing on Christmas Eve of that year (24 December) and the station's broadcasting licence returned to the UK broadcasting regulator, Ofcom. UTV cited the unfortunate launch of the station in the midst of a recession as a primary reason for the decision, and the station's consequent unprofitability. UTV did not anticipate the station becoming viable for the foreseeable future, saying:[1]
On 24 December 2009, the day that Central Radio was scheduled to close, it was announced that a buyer had been found, revealed to be competitor Niocom in January 2010. The company also operated the neighbouring Southport station Dune FM at the time of the sale.[2] On 12 January 2010, the station co-emplaced and began to share resources with sister station Dune FM.
A month later, OFCOM granted permission for Central Radio to co-locate with sister station Dune FM in Southport. Programme management, production, administrative, engineering and management resources were to be shared between the two stations, but the programming on Central Radio remained editorially focused on the Preston, Leyland and Chorley areas.[3]
In December 2010, Niocom sold Dune FM, and from 1 February 2011 the programming syndication ended with Central Radio becoming as a fully independent service.
On 14 June 2011 it was announced that UKRD, owners of the 107 The Bee in neighbouring Blackburn had purchased the Central Radio licence and planned to merge the service with its East Lancashire station 107 The Bee.[4]
Three days later, Central Radio ceased broadcasting with Drivetime presenter - Leyland born Andy Hilbert - playing the final record, Unforgettable by Nat King Cole. On 1 July 2011, 106.5fm became a simulcast of The Bee but with local news and adverts.
On 1 September 2022, Central Radio relaunched across the Fylde Coast broadcasting from the new Blackpool MUX at the top of Blackpool Tower.[5] The station launched with a number of familiar former local radio presenters.
For the launch, the radio station offered a holiday to Las Vegas as a prize.[6]
Exactly 12 months after the initial launch of Central Radio in Blackpool, on 1 September 2023, the station expanded by joining the new Preston & Chorley DAB multiplex which added a further 370,000 adults into the broadcast area.
In October 2023, the station expanded further into East Lancashire and commenced broadcasting from three new DAB transmitters, located in Blackburn (at the top of Royal Blackburn hospital), Burnley (located at Spen Height) and Accrington (at Accrington Academy) - this extension added a further 430,000 adults into the broadcast area.
From 1 August 2024, Central Radio absorbed Morecambe-based online station Triple M Radio from founder Tony Simon, with Triple M effectively closed and listeners directed to stream Central in its stead, effectively enlarging Central's target area to include north Lancashire (though the station's FM and digital coverage was unchanged).[7]