GTFM

GTFM is a community radio station serving Pontypridd and surrounding areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf in south Wales. The station broadcasts locally on 107.9 FM and online via the station's website, from studios and offices on Pinewood Avenue in Rhydyfelin, near Pontypridd.[1]

GTFM
CityPontypridd
Broadcast areaPontypridd and surrounding areas
Frequency107.9 MHz, Online, TuneIn Radio app, dedicated app for mobiles, Smartspeakers
SloganPlaying the music of your life
Programming
Language(s)English, Welsh
FormatCommunity: music and talk
Ownership
OwnerGTFM (South Wales) Ltd.
History
First air date
24 May 2002
Links
WebsiteGTFM

The station was started in 1999 by the local Glyntaff Tenants and Residents Association as a community project run by local enthusiasts.[2] In partnership with the University of Glamorgan, it launched a full-time station GTFM 106.9 under an Access Radio experiment and following full evaluation was licensed as the first community radio station in Wales under OFCOM's changed rules in 2006[2] with a license which runs until 2020.[3]

The station's OFCOM license commits it to:

  • 65% music, 35% speech in daytime
  • 60s to present music in daytime, a range of specialist music styles in the evenings and at weekends
  • Content mostly in English with some Welsh language programming
  • Live broadcasting at least 12 hours a day on weekdays, 11 hours on Saturdays and 8 hours on Sundays
  • All of content is produced in the station's studios except the Cardiff City Phone In which is produced at the University of South Wales

The station is also expected to provide training, encourage volunteering and deliver other social gains to the local community.[4]

According to a local MP, Chris Bryant, GTFM is the most popular local station in the area.[5]

Programming

The majority of GTFM's output consists of locally produced programming including hourly local news bulletins, peak time travel updates and regular sports coverage, plus local features & interviews and specialist programming at evenings and on weekends.

The station also broadcasts Welsh language programmes three days a week alongside a weekday news bulletin from 3pm simulcast from BBC Radio Cymru. National bulletins from Sky News Radio in London are also broadcast during off-peak hours.

References
  1. "Contact details for Charity # 1111030 - GTFM (SOUTH WALES) LTD". Charity Commission. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  2. Hand, RJ; Traynor, M (15 November 2012). Radio in Small Nations: Production, Programmes, Audiences. University of Wales Press. pp. 18–. ISBN 978-0-7083-2544-5.
  3. "GTFM Pontypridd". OFCOM. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  4. "Community radio licence: key commitments - GMFM" (PDF). OFCOM. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  5. "Draft Community Radio (Amendment) Order 2015". UK Parliament debate. 24 March 2015.

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