Toby Whitehouse
Gaydio, a community FM station based in central Manchester, which is dedicated to a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender audience, has expanded into London and Brighton after taking on two digital licences operated by Gaydar Radio.
Gaydar Radio was closed last week by its owner QSoft Consulting which cited the cost of investment required in digital audio broadcasting (DAB) as the key reason reason for the stations’ closure.
Gaydio claims that the enlarged broadcast area and inherited audience will make the three combined stations’ audience the largest gay radio station in the world.
The former Gaydar Radio licences reached 750,000 listeners a month according to data supplied by RAJAR/IPSOS MORI through its DAB licences, mobile apps and online sites. Gaydio estimates its audience in Manchester reaches around 100,000 listeners a month.
The two new digital licences will share most of the programming broadcast by the Manchester station, but Gaydio stressed that some separate specialist music and magazine programmes will continue to be broadcast to Manchester only, to ensure it fulfills its requirement under the terms of Gaydio’s community licence. At these times, the DAB service will have its own shows.
Chris Holliday and Emma Goswell – ‘Chris and Emma at Breakfast’ – were the first voices on the newly expanded service, which now styles itself as ‘Gaydio, the Beat of Gay UK’.
Programme director of Gaydio, Toby Whitehouse said: “Taking over these licences is a terrific opportunity for us. Gaydar had a large and loyal audience and we’re working hard to deliver a service that people will love.”
Gaydio began broadcasting in 2006 on a restricted service licence before switching to full time output in 2010.
The station can also be heard online at gaydio.co.uk and through apps on the Android and iOS platforms and through through the Gaydar and Gaydargirls websites.
