[cma-l] Sheffield Live! goes live on 93.2 FM

[Steve Buckley]

Press release
October 30, 2007

Radio launch success gets the nod from Westminster

Sheffield Lord Mayor Arthur Dunworth was joined by scores of 
musicians, DJs, community heads and other VIPs to celebrate the 
launch of Sheffield Live! 93.2FM: the city's first new FM local radio 
station since the 1970s.

Around 200 people attended the launch event on Monday 29th October to 
raise a glass to Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive, and the Sheffield 
Live! team, who have campaigned for   years for a full time FM 
community radio licence for the city.

Sangita said: "There has been hundreds of people involved in the push 
for a full time licence over the years and we've been receiving 
messages of good will from all over the world.

"It was fantastic that so many people were able to join us for our 
launch and I'm looking forward to as many people as possible being 
involved with the station in the months and years to come."

The launch of Sheffield Live! was also welcomed in the House of Commons.

Ian Lucas MP for Wrexham and a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the 
Home Office, speaking at a House of Commons adjournment debate on 
community radio, said:

"Sheffield Live, is beginning to broadcast today. I wish it all the 
best; I am sure it will contribute hugely to its community."

"Community radio is one of the Government's great success stories. It 
was introduced by the Communications Act 2003 and is now governed by 
the Community Radio Order 2004. Some 148 licences have been awarded 
under the community radio legislation and at present 85 new stations 
are broadcasting to provide services to their local communities."

Sheffield Live! hit the airwaves at 7am on Monday 29 October, 
broadcasting live for an initial 18 hours a day to a potential 
audience of more than 350,000 people in Sheffield and Rotherham, on 93.2FM.

"The response we've had since we first heard we'd been granted the FM 
licence has been phenomenal," said Sangita. "It was an incredible 
moment when we 'flicked the switch' and went live across South 
Yorkshire to over 350,000 people."

Sheffield Live! 93.2FM is offering a true alternative to existing 
local FM stations, providing a platform for local artists and 
offering a voice for all communities in the city and surrounding region.

Anyone wanting to get involved with Sheffield Live 93.2FM or to 
benefit from media training should visit www.sheffieldlive.org for 
more information or contact them via  info at sheffieldlive.org or call: 
0114 281 4082
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                          Steve Buckley
  15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX - U.K.
              Email: sbuckley at gn.apc.org
                    Tel: +44 114 220 1426
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             Community Media Solutions
                       www.cmso.co.uk
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