Belfast CityBeat
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
![]() |
|
Broadcast area | Greater Belfast on FM & Northern Ireland on DAB |
---|---|
Slogan | "Better Music" |
Format | Adult Contemporary/Top40 |
Audience share | 13.2% (7 June 2015, [1]) |
Power | 600W (96.7) |
Owner | Northern Media Group |
Website | Q Radio Official Website |
Q Radio, (formerly known as Citybeat and Belfast CityBeat) is a Northern Irish radio station. It broadcasts to Greater Belfast on 96.7 MHz FM and on DAB Digital Radio across all of Northern Ireland. From 5 April 2007, Citybeat became available on 102.5FM for North Belfast, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus. On 2 November 2007, Citybeat launched a third FM transmitter also broadcasting on 102.5FM for Bangor. Citybeat reaches a weekly audience of 127,000 listeners in Belfast, around 22% of the adult population.[citation needed] and has won both Arqiva 'Station of the Year' and Sony Awards. The station was rebranded as Q Radio on-air at 6pm on Sunday 9 August 2015.
Contents
Young Star Search[edit]
From 2007 to 2010, the radio station was the home of 'The Young Star Search', Northern Ireland's biggest ever talent search for young people. The contest was created and is hosted by Stuart Robinson.
Current presenters[edit]
- Owen Larkin 1998-2009, 2013–present
- Andy Baird 2010–2015
- Ibe Sesay 2011–present
- Yazmin Zemmoura 2012–present
- Neal McClelland 1999; 2004–2005; 2006–2009; 2014-2016
- Frankie Bannerman 2014– 2015
Awards and nominations[edit]
This section does not cite any sources. (October 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Citybeat has won more Sony Radio Academy Awards than any other commercial radio station in Northern Ireland along with a number of other top awards. Recent awards include:
- Stephen Nolan Sony Gold 2002
- Stephen Nolan Sony Gold x2 2003
- Stephen Nolan Sony Gold x2 2004 + Sony Silver
- NTL Station of the Year 2003
- Stephen Nolan - Best presenter Irish Entertainment Awards 2003
- Joe Ferguson - Best presenter Irish Entertainment Awards 2004
- Mark & Dave - Best Irish Breakfast Show Irish Entertainment Awards 2006
- Marc Mallett IPR Award - News Broadcaster of the Year 2007
- Keith Law PANI Award - for JONJOE SAT NAV spoof The One That Got Away / Production Award 2007
- Mark & Dave - Best Irish Breakfast Show Irish Entertainment Awards 2007
- Irish radio station of the year - Irish Entertainment Awards 2007
- Bronse New York Festival - News Programme 'Belfast Tonight' 2007
- Arqiva UK Commercial Radio Station of the Year 2007
- Stuart Robinson P&M Awards Nomination 2007
- Stuart Robinson Arqiva UK Commercial Radio Awards Nomination 2008
- Stuart Robinson & Work Experience Boy - Best presenter Irish Entertainment Awards 2008
- Stuart Robinson Belfast Awards Nomination 2008
- Keith Law VOX Award Highly commended- Use of Humour 2008–09
- Keith Law VOX Award Highly Commended- Best newcomer 2008–09
- Keith Law Radio-Awards.net Best in category 2009
- Keith Law Radio-Awards.net Grand Prix Northern Ireland 2009
- Stuart Robinson Arqiva UK Commercial Radio Awards Nomination 2009
- Belfast Tonight - Silver Award 'Best News Programme' New York Festival 2009
- Keith Law, Stuart Robinson and Work Experience Boy - Silver Award 'Best Comedy Feature' New York Festival 2009
- Stuart Robinson - Gold Award 'Best Station Promotion' New York Festival 2009
Affiliates[edit]
This section does not cite any sources. (October 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Under the ownership of Owen Oyston, CityBeat had a couple of short lived affiliate stations on AM, namely Goldbeat 828 (Formerly Townland Radio) in Cookstown, and Heartbeat 1521 (formerly Radio 1521) in Craigavon. Citybeat handed back the licences to the Radio Authority just two years after buying the stations due to lack of commercial viability.[citation needed] Heartbeat was on the air from 1996 to 1999 and Goldbeat broadcast between 1995 and 1999. The licence for Craigavon has to date never been re-advertised however Cookstown was re-advertised on FM in 2002 and was ironically granted back to Citybeat (by now under new ownership of CN group) in February 2003 Mid FM was launched as the local radio station for Mid-Ulster (from the same building and studio as Townland/Goldbeat broadcast). In 2006 Citybeat sold the station to Northern Media (owners of Ballymena 7fm); they rebranded the station to Six FM.
From 2000 to 2004, Citybeat also broadcast RSL stations Castle FM in Carrickfergus and Bangor FM in Bangor to support local festivals. In August 2000 Citybeat also provided Fast FM in Irvinestown as a trial broadcast for the pending commercial licence for Omagh and Enniskillen. The licence was later awarded to Q Network Radios Q101.2.
BCR (1990–1996)[edit]
This section does not cite any sources. (October 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Prior to its relaunch in 1996, Citybeat was known as BCR or Belfast Community Radio, a community focused station which failed to attract listener interest. BCR launched at 7.30am on 6 April 1990 and managed to stay on the air for six years. BCR presenters prior to the 1996 relaunch included Rick Nugent, Maurice Jay, Mal Reynolds, Kenny Tosh Stuart Robinson, Phil Doyle, Paul Orr and Stephen Nolan. At the time of its demise, BCR was pulling in little over 30,000 listeners. Stuart Robinson was the last presenter on BCR when it switched to Citybeat at midnight on 30 September 1996.[citation needed]
The station broadcast from the basement of Russell Court Complex on Belfast's Lisburn Road. In 1997 (as Citybeat) the station moved to Stranmillis before moving in 2006 to Ormeau Road.
Rick Nugent was the first presenter on BCR who launched the station with "Maira O'Connell" and "Feet of a Dancer". Nugent left when Citybeat started in 1996 but returned as Nolan's replacement in 2003 before leaving again in 2005.
General station information[edit]
- Citybeat's FM transmitters are based on the Black Mountain transmitting station for 96.7FM, Carnmoney Hill for 102.5FM in Newtownabbey and Bryansburn Road, Bangor Town Centre for 102.5FM in North Down. Programmes are broadcast from modern studios located on the Ormeau Road close to Belfast city centre.
- From October 2001, Citybeat has been available on the Northern Ireland Digital Multiplex - giving the station province wide coverage. The 6 digital transmitter sites are Black Mountain (Greater Belfast), Colinward (North Belfast/South East Antrim), Limavady (North Coast), Sheriffs Mountain (Londonderry / North West), Strabane (The West) and Brougher Mountain (Fermanagh & Tyrone).
- Citybeat's newer transmitters both broadcast on 102.5FM and deliver the station to areas previously sheltered by the Cavehill, such as North Belfast, Newtownabbey, Glengormley and Carrickfergus. Another transmitter also on 102.5FM provides coverage for Bangor and North County Down.
- Citybeat's main 96.7 MHz FM transmitter on Black Mountain has a power output of 600W with mixed polarisation.
Competition[edit]
Citybeat regularly attracts the largest market share of all commercial radio in the Belfast area. Its current audience is 144,000 listeners weekly in Belfast, however the station also attracts additional audience on FM outside Belfast, on DAB digital radio across Northern Ireland and online listening which is not included in this figure. (RAJAR fig. qrt03/09)
Its main competition is Bauer Radio-owned Cool FM and Downtown Radio and also U105.
The local BBC station is BBC Radio Ulster. In addition all national BBC, RTÉ and UK/ROI national commercial stations can be received in Belfast. Some pirate stations (mainly operating along the Armagh border) along with a selection of regular RSL stations and 4 full-time community stations can also be heard in the Citybeat area. A selection of national digital stations are also available on the Northern Ireland DAB multiplex and Queen's University Student Radio in Belfast is broadcast on MW/AM.
Past presenters[edit]
- John Kearns 2009-2013
- Glen Pavis 2009-2012
- Ricky K 2010-2012
- Mark Wesley 2010-2012
- Jo Myles 2010-2012
- Stuart Dunwoody 2010-2012
- Stuart Robinson 1996–2010
- Stephen Ferguson 2010–2010
- Robin Elliott 2001–2010
- Paul Francis 2002–2005; 2006–2010
- David Coleman 2007–2010
- Suzy Caddell 2005–2007 / 2009
- Shane Pearce 2009
- Vicky Pitchers 2008–2009
- Stephanie Campbell 2009
- Owen Larkin 1998–2009
- Andy Pugh 2004–2009
- Lisa McCormick 2002; 2005–2008
- David Gordon 2005–2008
- Marc Mallett 1997–2007
- Dave McGeagh 2004–2007
- Tierna Magee 2006–2007
- Lauren Hood 2006–2007
- Stevie Robinson 2003–2006
- Maurice Jay 1996–1997; 2001–2005
- Johnny Glover 2004–2005
- Kenny Tosh 1996–2005
- David Johnson 1996–2004
- Marty Wilson 1996–2000
- Phil West 1996–1995; 1997–2005
- Stephen Nolan 1996–2003
- George Seth 2006–2007
- Kenny Davis 1999–2006
- Bob Lea 2005–2007
- Andrew Gold 1997–2004
- Gayle Hunter 1998–2004
- Nick Richards 1997–2001
- Nigel Skuce 1998–1999; 2000
- John Byrne 1999–2000
- Sam McFerran 1998–2001
- Jimmy Leavy 2005-2007
- Noel Hyndman 1996-2000
- Gavin Healey 1996
- Ross Mawhinney 1997–2003
- Lisa Flavelle 1996–1997
- Olive Melville 1996
- Dave Stephens 1996
- Davy Cunningham 1996–1997, 1998
- Phil Doyle 1996–2000
- Davy Cash 1996–2000
- Eddie West 1998–1999
- Justin McCartney 2002–2004
- Derek Flood 2001
- Mary Johnston 1996, 1998
- Rick Nugent 1996, 2003–2005
- Ronan Kelly 2003
- Joe Ferguson 2004–2005
- Denise Watson 1996–1999
- Alan Jenkins 1996–1997
- Christine Bleakley 1996–1998
- Chris Buckler 1997–2001
- Nigel Ringland 1997–2000
- John Rosborough 2000–2004
- Mark Somerville 1996, 2001–2004
- Mal Reynolds 1990-1996
- Neil McLeod 2005
- Paul Orr 1996–1999, 2005–2011
- Mairead Campbell 2006–2011
- Rebecca Lenard 2010–2011
- Emma Fitzpatrick 2008–2014
- Paulo Ross 2011–2014
- Owen Beers 1996–1997, 2000, 2008–2014
- David McCammond 2007–2014
- Stuart Banford 2011-2015
References[edit]
External links[edit]
- Official citybeat.co.uk - Official site.