On Demand, On the Internet

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• On Demand, On the Internet
• 24 Hours a Day

Presented by Ed. Risby Bill. Everatt
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Introduction

• No doubt it will come as a surprise to some that
  Bridgend has two Commercial Radio Stations.
• Celtica Radio is an independently owned and
  operated radio station that broadcasts from
  privately funded studios to an international
  audience, using the internet, as opposed to
  traditional radio frequencies.

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History

• Our story goes back to 1997, when a group of
  people from South Wales wanted to set up their
  own radio station to cover the Bridgend area.
• The group conducted two very successful 28 day
  trial broadcasts, as Bridge 87.7, also known as
  the original Bridge FM. And proved that there
  was a need for further local radio expansion in
  the South Wales Area.

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Opinions

• During 1998, differences of opinion in the
  direction that the original group should take,
  resulted in it splitting into two organisations
  with two very different approaches to
  broadcasting and ownership of local media.

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Our Own Station

• Some 90 of the broadcast team including most of
  the senior management left to submit our own
  application.
• Just over a year later, on November the 4th 1999,
  the Radio Authority, awarded the licence, and our
  group now called Celtica Radio, lost out.

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Freedom of Speech

• The United Kingdom is a free and democratic
  country, and our group feel that the Radio
  Authority made a mistake, so we opted not to
  co-operate or broadcast for Bridge FM as a matter
  of principle.

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Human Rights

• However, Bridgend is OUR home, and it is
  unreasonable to expect us to be excluded from
  broadcasting to our own region because we wish to
  retain our dignity, creative beliefs and business
  ethos without compromise.
• To prevent us from freedom of expression in any
  way would be an abuse of power.
• So we resolved to uphold our human rights, and to
  continue.

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The Law

• Radio Broadcasting in the United Kingdom is
  strictly regulated, and only one frequency has
  been licensed by the government for Commercial
  Radio to use in the Bridgend area.
• If Celtica Radio attempted unlicensed
  transmissions we would be in breach of the law.

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Staying Legal

• However, we realised that even though the
  Internet was still in its infancy, it was able
  to carry radio programmes.
• More importantly, we would NOT be in breach of
  the law if we transmitted Celtica Radios shows
  on the internet.
• Our broadcasts can be received locally, as well
  as having the advantage of world wide coverage
  too.

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The First Shows

• And so, after a great deal of work, much of which
  had of necessity been in secret, Celtica Radio
  commenced broadcasting a new kind of radio
  station on June 21st 2000.

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How Many Listen?

• Since that time, Celtica Radio now has an
  audience of nearly 50,000 identified listeners a
  month. (Can only identify PCs not behind
  firewalls)
• We provide an alternative radio service that is
  based on giving new and unsigned artists a real
  platform to have their work broadcast by
  experienced radio professionals.

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Who Listens?

• Celtica Radio has identified listeners from
  Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Europe and the
  United States as well as numerous other countries
  including the United Kingdom who account for 60
  of our total listeners.

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Who Broadcasts?

• The talent base of the station is impressive, and
  includes award winning and highly respected
  broadcasters who have successfully worked in
  radio in other countries as well as UK Local
  Radio.
• Outputs from the server logs indicate that many
  companies like Metals USA for example, have
  picked up on the transmissions and in some cases
  relay the output from Celtica Radio to their
  factories and offices.

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Types of Shows

• The station caters to a wide range of musical
  tastes. Because of this, it is attracting
  listeners in a wide age range.
• The programs consist of interviews, music and
  discussions.
• Publicity is given to new music by singer
  songwriters, and the database has a significant
  number of original recordings which are given
  airplay across the programme schedule .

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The Future

• Now Celtica Radio is looking for investment to
  enable the station to expand to broadcasting
  across Europe on satellite from its own purpose
  built studios in Bridgend.
• We have also not forgotten our roots, and one of
  the main reasons for the creation of Celtica
  Radio.
• Once we are fully funded, we will provide real,
  paid, work experience, to as many local
  youngsters as we can accommodate.

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What can we do for YOU!

• Celtica Radio can give your band, artist,
  musician air play.
• Our remit is to provide a platform for unsigned
  artists.
• We can provide unbiased feedback for you.

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How to help yourselves.

• Contemplate your public image.
• Provide radio edits of songs.
• Radio edits best time is from 320 340 mins.
  in length.
• Radio edits work better if definite end point,
  not fade out over expanded time scales.

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Radio Airplay Survival guide.

• Provide Quality recordings.
• Identify your target audience.
• Selective promotion.
• Dont Give up!
• Identify stations that promote your genre.
  (www.offcom.org.uk)

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Radio Airplay Survival guide.

• Check programme schedules of stations.
• Post your material to selected locations.
• Short synopsis of band.
• BBC has a public service remit.
• This one again, DONT GIVE UP!

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Now for a laugh with uson Celtica Radio

• Video

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Any Questions?

• Celtica Radio Ltd would like to thank you for
  your attention and ask that if you have any
  questions please fell free to ask next.
• Presented by Mr. E. M. Risby, and Mr. W. Everatt.