New FM Radio Station Imminent?

Could Bermuda be about to get a new FM radio station?

On my drive home from work I often listen to my iPod on the car radio. I do this using a small device called an iTrip, which plugs in to the headphone socket of the iPod and broadcasts the music on a FM frequency of my choice. It's a fabulously useful little gizmo and another reason to be glad that I no longer live in the UK, where, being an unlicenced FM transmitter, its use is banned.

It just so happens that I have my iTrip tuned to 98.1 FM. But when I switched the car radio to the iTrip's frequency this evening, I was surprised to discover music coming out of the speakers even before I'd turned the iPod on.

I've been listening to it for about an hour now. As none of Bermuda's four FM stations transmit on 98.1, and as it's just been back-to-back music with no jingles, I suspect it might be a test transmission for a new FM station.

My guess is that it's probably Leo Trott's LTT Broadcasting, which was awarded a radio licence at the same time as Hott 107.5 last year. Time will tell.

Update: Mr. Trott has confirmed that LTT are indeed currently testing audio quality and propagation on this frequency. He hopes that the new station may be on-air for real as early as the end of this month.

Comments

[Andrew on 09.05.05 at 19:53]

Phil,

Often the Government's Emergency Broadcast Station will preform tests on a frequency very close to the one you metioned.

I've heard it a few times, no announcements or for that matter announcers, actually sounds just like someone playing throught their CD collection.

I could be wrong, but I would imagine that any new radio station would not be shy to announce its presence, just like Hott 1075 did for a fews days before their launch. Or maybe they are, as you say, just testing...who knows.

[big bad wolf on 09.05.05 at 21:29]

The ^..^ has the best EARS in Bermuda can confirm it is the testing for a new FM STATION--Phil the Pill is RIGHT.... Now join the Pack and dance to another FM station Funky ^..^

[Tiger Bay on 10.05.05 at 08:31]

Please give us a rock n roll station!

[ruby tuesday on 10.05.05 at 09:06]

Tiger - you can never have a enough bland, manufactered soul-less RnB. Or at least Bermuda can't.

[big bad wolf on 10.05.05 at 09:25]

Ruby ..I thought you were running away from home...and not posting anymore The ^..^ is glad to see ya changed your mind...now lets dance!

[Two Cents on 10.05.05 at 09:50]

A Rock n Roll Station would be a wonderful idea, although I don't think the advertisers would support it, that is I don't think that demographically the target audience would "tune in" in numbers large enough to make it worthwhile. I have been trying for years to get support for a a R&R based station with little sucesss (all the existing station owners blew smoke up my *&%, and then claimed that there wasn't enough of a "rock audience" in Bermuda) However if there's anyone reading with $65,000 - $85,000 for a tower & start up costs I AM ALL EARS !!

[ruby tuesday on 10.05.05 at 10:10]

Let us hope that any new radio station ( or the existing shambles) follow the leads of corporate sponsors in Jamaica and boycott the vile and ignorant Beenie Man & Bounty Killer.

[bdaradiosucks on 10.05.05 at 11:01]

I for one will be glad to have another station to choose from. Although we often use the Itrip for weekend drives...we do listen to the radio on our way to work in the morning. A few suggestions:

1. please hire DJ's who understand basic grammer.
for example... do not hire a DJ that says things like, "ya this is more better" or "ya this is more good".

2. Please hire DJ's who can read effectively and with confidence. The only things Nefitari reads with confidence are the time and temperature.

3. Ordinary People is not a cool song.

4. "Drop it like its hot" is NOT a cool saying.

5. If you get a caller who is clearly cracked out or not making sense please allow your DJ's to say "what the hell are you talking about crack head?"

[big bad wolf on 10.05.05 at 11:18]

Two Cents maybe if a Bermuda college station was funded it could support all sorts of alternative formats and artists...I'm talking about a college station that is supported outside just a campus feed,one that broadcasts to the Bermuda listening public.College stations in the US and UK sometimes are light years ahead of commercial stations. Radio ^..^

[ace on 10.05.05 at 12:20]

Now THAT'S a good idea wolf. It would bring a diverse range of music to the airways and would teach the participants about the business.

[Somers on 10.05.05 at 13:38]

And mandate that they play a certain % of Bermudian music...

[ruby tuesday on 10.05.05 at 13:45]

What a cracking idea. How about a maximum of 0.0005% of the musical output per week must be Bermudian.

[Somers on 10.05.05 at 14:08]

that sounds just about right...