Nation Radio Public File Updated March 2016
Each local commercial station in the UK has obligations with regard to its programmes, including its music and local content. These obligations are set out in the station Format which forms part of this station's Public File.
The Public File is also available in hard copy by post upon request by any member of the public, and serves as one indicator of each station's output. Comment on the contents of the Public File should be made to the station or to the industry regulator, Ofcom.
Although Nation Radio is regional and not a local commercial station given that the station shares content and broadcast facilities with other local stations within the Nation Broadcasting (NB) group we have produced a full public file for the station.
News Bulletin schedule
What our format says
At least hourly news during peaktime – weekday breakfast and drive time and weekend late breakfast
What we deliver .
Nation Radio broadcasts bulletins compiled locally which include national (i.e. news relating specifically to Wales), regional and local news at the following times:
Weekdays Headlines – 0630, 0730, 0830, 1630, 1730 Bulletins – 0600 0900 and 1600 1800 inclusive
Weekends Bulletins – 0800 1200 inclusive
Recent news stories covered on air
Examples of news stories covered on air at the time of writing this document include:
• Nurses charged with record falsification at Princess of Wales Hospital • Siege at Meridian Tower, Swansea • Flash Flooding causes chaos in Cardiff
The news team
Alice Bell – News Editor Jeff Collins Mike Hughes Danny Hayes
We regularly offer work experience placements including extended GoWales! placements within the news team.
The news team is based within the station’s licensed area.
There are regional offices based at Tondu Road, Bridgend and Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli which are also within the station’s licensed area.
The programme schedule
The regular programme schedule is as follows:
Weekdays 01 06 Non stop Nation 06 11 Breakfast with Niall and Danny 11 15 Neil Greenslade 15 19 Mark Franklin 19 22 Sam Vaughan 22 01 Love Nation
19 20 Wednesday – Rugby Nation 19 20 Thursday – Football Nation 19 24 Friday – Nation Anthems
Saturday 01 06 Non stop Nation 06 10 Niall and Danny 10 14 Sam Vaughan 14 18 Sport Nation / Chris Blumer 18 24 Nation Anthems
80s Sunday 00 08 Non stop Nation 08 12 Neil Greenslade 12 16 Mark Franklin with Ragsy 16 19 80s Sunday 19 20 Airplay with Shay 20 01 Love Nation The average number of hours of automated programming within weekday daytimes and within daytimes on Saturdays and Sundays
At Nation Radio we make full use of broadcast playout technology in order to deliver our programmes and free up presentation staff to produce content.
All programming is automated overnight (7pm – 6am)
Whilst the majority of our daytime programming might be considered automated under the definition published by Ofcom; relevant programme links (especially at breakfast) are normally delivered live or pre recorded on the day of transmission.
The amount of local programming per day produced by the station
All programming on Nation Radio is delivered locally from one of Nation Broadcasting’s (NB) two broadcast centres.
The broadcast centres are located within the licensed area of Pembrokeshire and Bridgend and Nation Radio is permitted to locate in either of these areas (and some others).
However, Ofcom has recently (August 2014), clarified the use of shared content and we therefore consider it prudent to nominate the hours which we are required to present local hours during which we are unable to share these programme links.
What our format says
Nation Radio must broadcast 10 hours of local programming on weekdays between 06 19 including breakfast. At weekends it must broadcast 4 hours a day between 06 19.
How we deliver this .
Our nominated weekday local hours are from 0600 1559. Our nominated weekend local hours are Saturday and Sunday from 0800 1159.
During the nominated local hours above we are unable to share ‘programme links’ between our stations.
Shared programming and content
The following programmes (or significant content from these programmes) and features are shared with other stations in the NB group.
• Rugby Nation (Wednesday 1900 2000) • International news bulletins from Sky News* • Feature content including sport, weather, entertainment and financial news* • Star guest interviews and relevant regional news interviews* * We do not consider this material to be ‘programme links’ when such material is independently introduced on each station by the presenter or appropriate station specific branding.
Ofcom localness guidelines
Ofcom has published guidelines for localness on stations such as Nation Radio. You can view these at the Ofcom website www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/localness
Station contact details
Contact details for Nation Radio are available on our website http://www.nationradio.wales
Events, charity support and coverage
Nation Radio is currently working in partnership with Cardiff Council to deliver the European Capital of Sport Awards 2014. Nation Radio regularly works in partnership to support major music performances (including Paul Weller, Kings of Leon and Paulo Nutini.
Nation Radio has partnered (sometimes on a commercial basis) to support events in the area operated by Ty Hafen.
Recent programme or news highlights
Details of recent programme highlights can be viewed from the homepage of the Nation Radio website http://www.nationradio.com/
Any other issues or areas of interest likely to impact on localness
Our Sunday evening Airplay show is a showcase for unsigned talent where music from local artists is featured.
The station playlist
Nation Radio’s music is rock oriented.
A typical hour of music (from 0800 on 15 August 2014) is shown below:
Don’t you forget about me – Simple Minds Love Runs out – One Republic Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode Chocolate – The 1975 Big in Japan – Alphaville Budapest – George Ezra Mercy – Duffy New Sensation – INXS Two Fingers – Jake Bugg A place with no name – Michael Jackson
The station format
Nation Radio’ format can be viewed at Ofcom’s website http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio stations/analogue/al000327ba2nationradio.htm
How to complain to the station or Ofcom
If you need to complain to the station you should write to
Martin Mumford, Managing Director, Nation Radio, St Hilary Transmitter, nr St Hilary, COWBRIDGE. CF71 7DP.
You can also telephone 02921 414100 and ask for the Managing Director or email [email protected]
If you wish to take your complaint further or if you wish to complain to the regulator you can visit the Ofcom website
http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/complain/
Martin Mumford, August 2016. 1.1