Radio station gets financial backing

BAY FM s bid to become Exmouth s first round-the-clock fully-fledged radio station took a step closer to becoming a reality this week when the town hall rubberstamped a grant.

BAY FM's bid to become Exmouth's first round-the-clock fully-fledged radio station took a step closer to becoming a reality this week when the town hall rubberstamped a grant.

The council agreed to a �500 grant towards the fledgling community radio station to help towards a full licence.

Currently under a Restricted Service Licence the station can only broadcast 14-days a year.

But in a presentation, chairman of Bay FM's steering committee, Ian K. McKenzie, said that the cost between running a full-time service and a limited service was just few hundred pounds.

Their aims, he said, were to engage the community, to act as an education and training service, to provide information and advice and serve as a platform for local talent.

He said that during their four test broadcasts they had given the Exmouth Festival and the Kite Festival invaluable publicity and given radio wannabes from the Community College valuable experience.

The plan, he said, was to hold a full broadcast licence within five years, have sufficient revenue to pay key members of staff and become an invaluable resource for the town, for commerce, business and the community.

The station, he said, would cover a five km radius of the Exmouth area: "In order to achieve these aims and objectives and to realise the full potential of Bay FM we need your help and support," he told councillors.

""...in the long term we ask for the right to seek on the granting of a full licence, your continued support in ways yet to be determined.

"...in the shorter term we seek ongoing financial support at a level that would assist us in meeting the obligatory costs..."

Mayor Darryl Nicholas said: "...as a community resource it could help attracting visitors to the town."

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