A BORDERS internet radio station will hit the airwaves later this year after being awarded a full FM licence by regulator Ofcom.
Last week TD1 Radio was awarded a community radio licence which will enable it to broadcast alongside BBC and commercial stations on an FM frequency.
An on-air date has yet to be set, but founder and station manager David Henderson said that the station plans to start transmitting before the end of the year.
Mr Henderson said: “It’s something that we have been working towards ever since the idea was first thought about back in the summer of 2008, with our first programmes being broadcast on the internet on December 1 the same year.
“This award marks the start of a new era of broadcasting, not only for TD1 Radio, but also for broadcasting in the Borders. We will be licensed for a period of up to five years and will operate on a not-for-profit basis, the norm for community radio.
“As part of our key commitments, we have stated that we will provide at least 10 hours a day of live local radio, produced and broadcast from our studios in Galashiels.”
Michael Moore MP welcomed the award of the licence.
He said: “I want to congratulate David Henderson and his team for securing this licence which will enable them to deliver a community radio service here in the Borders.
“This is good news for the local community and, once the station goes live, I want to encourage Borderers to tune into TD1 Radio so they can benefit from the localised service which the station will provide.”
Currently 25 volunteers work to produce around 45 hours worth of broadcasting a week.
Mr Henderson said: “TD1 Radio was established because we felt existing radio and TV services had suffered badly in recent years, with cutbacks and mergers taking place.
“This resulted in a lot of programming being ‘networked’ across several stations, not being locally produced or particularly reflective of the area.
“TD1 Radio aims to redress that balance and ensure that we put broadcasting in the Borders back on the map, while at the same time giving community groups and organisations the voice that they really need.
“We will also allow members of the community the chance to become involved and make their own radio programmes.”
Appealing for anyone interested in volunteering to get in touch, Mr Henderson said: “Exciting times lie ahead for the team and so does a lot of hard work.”
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