TAKEOVER RADIO - HISTORY
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Takeover Radio 103.2 began broadcasting across Leicester in March 2002.
But the station's history began well before the 21st Century. Infact the station began as a Programme on a Market Harborough short term radio station (RSL) called Valley FM back in 1997. For 2 hours on a Saturday Night, Ellie (15), Sam (12) and Rayne (10) Menzies took over Philip Solo's show by "bursting in and tying him up" - they would only come out if the "Radio Police" paid the ransom of delicious pizza. The show format continued on other RSL's in the Leicester area, including stations NOW FM in Wigston, The Big Dial (pictured left). |
After appearing on The Big Dial in 1998, the show moved to The Wall 95.1 in January 1999 and new young recruits were needed. So an advert was placed into the Leicester Mercury newspaper and membership grew from just 13 to 100!
Auditions were then held for the young people to find the ones that would help the station in an on air capacity, and the rest kindly offered to help promote the station via handing out leaflets and other free promotion.
For the next few months, training was done and in May, the new young recruits were ready to present their first Takeover Radio shows on the RSL station The Wall 95.1 - this took place on Sunday 2nd May 1999 and was a huge success.
By August 2000, the Takeover Radio shows had grown in popularity and membership so much that a radio station of our own was needed and this began on Saturday 19th August 2000 for 9 days, from 9am til 9pm.
Throughout the first ever on air broadcast of Takeover Radio across Leicester for those 9 days, there were interviews with bands, artists, local figures and popular TV presenter Stephen Mullhern.
Following the success of the 9-Day RSL, it was decided that Takeover Radio should become a full-time radio station and the long hard journey was started by those who wanted to make it happen, full-time headquarters were found and work was set out to create the Takeover Radio Children's Media Trust charity.
In July 2001, Takeover Radio Childrens Media Trust was granted Charitable Status by the Charity's Commision and The Radio Authority chose the station as 1 of 15 to be handpicked to trial out a new pilot radio licence called the "Access Radio Scheme" - this meant Takeover Radio's dreams had come true and for 5 years, Takeover could now broadcast full time on air!!
Auditions were then held for the young people to find the ones that would help the station in an on air capacity, and the rest kindly offered to help promote the station via handing out leaflets and other free promotion.
For the next few months, training was done and in May, the new young recruits were ready to present their first Takeover Radio shows on the RSL station The Wall 95.1 - this took place on Sunday 2nd May 1999 and was a huge success.
By August 2000, the Takeover Radio shows had grown in popularity and membership so much that a radio station of our own was needed and this began on Saturday 19th August 2000 for 9 days, from 9am til 9pm.
Throughout the first ever on air broadcast of Takeover Radio across Leicester for those 9 days, there were interviews with bands, artists, local figures and popular TV presenter Stephen Mullhern.
Following the success of the 9-Day RSL, it was decided that Takeover Radio should become a full-time radio station and the long hard journey was started by those who wanted to make it happen, full-time headquarters were found and work was set out to create the Takeover Radio Children's Media Trust charity.
In July 2001, Takeover Radio Childrens Media Trust was granted Charitable Status by the Charity's Commision and The Radio Authority chose the station as 1 of 15 to be handpicked to trial out a new pilot radio licence called the "Access Radio Scheme" - this meant Takeover Radio's dreams had come true and for 5 years, Takeover could now broadcast full time on air!!
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After almost 9 months of preparing everything, setting up and promotion - The UK's first full-time broadcasting Children's Radio station finally went live on air on Tuesday 5th March 2002.
As you can imagine, this became such massive news with all sorts of news agencies around the country, both printed and televisual, reporting on the story of our launch. Takeover Radio 103.2 was now on air until at least 2006! Two TV clips are above showing news reports from East Midlands Today and Channel 4
In 2004, The Radio Authority became Ofcom and they announced the new Community Radio Licence programme. Takeover Radio applied and in 2005 were awarded a new 5-year licence that came into place on 1st January 2006.
As you can imagine, this became such massive news with all sorts of news agencies around the country, both printed and televisual, reporting on the story of our launch. Takeover Radio 103.2 was now on air until at least 2006! Two TV clips are above showing news reports from East Midlands Today and Channel 4
In 2004, The Radio Authority became Ofcom and they announced the new Community Radio Licence programme. Takeover Radio applied and in 2005 were awarded a new 5-year licence that came into place on 1st January 2006.
The new licence meant that Takeover Radio would now be broadcasting across Leicester on 103.2 FM until 31st December 2010.
Over this period of Licencing activity, Takeover Radio had moved from it's location on Vaughn Way which was being demolished to make way for the new Shires Shopping Centre Extension (later to be called Highcross Shopping Centre). The new location was within the historic St.John's Business Park that housed the former Chorar's Building.
Over this period of Licencing activity, Takeover Radio had moved from it's location on Vaughn Way which was being demolished to make way for the new Shires Shopping Centre Extension (later to be called Highcross Shopping Centre). The new location was within the historic St.John's Business Park that housed the former Chorar's Building.
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On air, the station continued to grow and grow in terms of listeners and a fan base thanks to it's musical output and unique presentation style.
Off air, the young people organised many events to boost PR for the station and also raise vital funds to help keep Takeover Radio on air. In 2005, Andy May and Jim Gray co-organised a football tournament with other radio stations in the area - it was eventually won by a local RSL, but Takeover did happen to finish as runners up. In 2006, Takeover Radio ran its first ever "Karaoke Kontest" that saw hundreds of local youngsters battling it out to become Leicester's Number 1 Karaoke Star. |
Young People within Takeover Radio also went on to host and organise various other events around the city of Leicester over that period and into the next few years. Andy May won the prestigious Fast Track Radio Academy Award of Young Presenter of the Year.
The team from Triple R twice hosted an annual "Triple R Live" concert that featured local bands performing in front of a live audience. There were also various outdoor broadcasts from events such as Glastonbudget, The Download Festival and The Reading Festival.
In 2007, Takeover Radio hosted live proceedings from historic Abbey Park's 125th Birthday spectacular that saw 1,000s turn out for a massive 2-day event on the historic city centre park.
Success stories during this time also saw one Andy May present with the BBC, including Match of the Day commentary and BBC Three's "60 Second News" on a regular basis. See our Alumni page.
Shreenal Ghelani (better known to listeners as Shrez) won an award at the 2009 Women of Achievement Awards.
The team from Triple R twice hosted an annual "Triple R Live" concert that featured local bands performing in front of a live audience. There were also various outdoor broadcasts from events such as Glastonbudget, The Download Festival and The Reading Festival.
In 2007, Takeover Radio hosted live proceedings from historic Abbey Park's 125th Birthday spectacular that saw 1,000s turn out for a massive 2-day event on the historic city centre park.
Success stories during this time also saw one Andy May present with the BBC, including Match of the Day commentary and BBC Three's "60 Second News" on a regular basis. See our Alumni page.
Shreenal Ghelani (better known to listeners as Shrez) won an award at the 2009 Women of Achievement Awards.
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In 2010, the station continued to move forward even further as Crazy Jay and Dave Show (pictured right) began organising clubbing events on behalf of the station that would go on to see Number 1 acts such as Tinie Tempah performing exclusively live in person.
Takeover Radio also moved to it's new home within the historic Abbey Park after almost 5 years at St.John's Business Park. And Ofcom announced in 2010 that they would renew the Takeover Radio's community radio licence, therefore keeping the station on air for another 5 years until at least December 2015. We are pleased to say that the licence has been extended for another 5 years to 2020 |
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In March 2010 the second Takeover Radio stated broadcasting in Sutton in Ashfield. This station is run and operated by the charity Sutton Youth Radio Ltd and specialises in training young people (ages 8-16) in the industry of radio and media, thus giving them experience in first hand presentation and production. Takeover Radio 106.9 is a charity operated community radio station broadcasting on 106.9 FM across the UK district of Ashfield and to the world on the internet.
The station was on air for 5 years when in 2014 they were granted an extension to their licence from Ofcom for another 5 years taking them through to 2019. |
Now take a look around our web site and see what we are up to today and find out how you can get involved.