Ashford Local Radio - Ofcom Licensing

ALR Finding
Local news and information about Ashford and the surrounding area was seen as a vital element of a local radio service
and ALR was praised spontaneously for its local focus. Respondents indicated that there is a high level of demand for
local information and they compared ALR’s news and information very favourably against that of other local radio
services. It was viewed as a major strength of the ALR offer:
“I have only listened to the radio station (ALR) twice……we learned that there was a skate park in Ashford. My son lives and
dies for his skateboard, he is 12…….and we didn’t know that until we listened to that new radio station.”
“I don’t think Radio Invicta is very good for local stuff anyway because it services such a huge area………..whereas Ashford
Local Radio, obviously they have to go out of their way to find stuff that is local to here.”
“I think they (ALR) was covering everything.They were even covering when there was a fire round the corner from me.Within
five minutes of the fire being there, it was on the programme.”
“Comparing Ashford with a lot of the other local radio stations, they don’t have it (local information) any more….they have
expanded to the extent that they reflect KM, that there is nothing really local about them any more.”
“It was nice to hear local news.”
ALR Conclusion
ALR will broadcast a minimum of 192 local news bulletins, 149 local traffic and travel bulletins, 188 local weather updates,
168 local community diaries, and 42 local entertainment guides per week.
ALR Finding
ALR’s coverage of the local music scene and local traffic news were highlighted as being particular examples of
information that was not available elsewhere:
“I used to listen to the showcase.They work in music and they support local bands and tell you where you can go to see
where they are going to play.They even play their music and I think they interview a few of them as well.”
“For gig guides and seeing local bands, it would be Ashford Local Radio.”
“I have a lot of hospital journeys and they can be quite terrible sometimes traffic-wise, and they was really good on the
traffic news.”
ALR Conclusion
ALR is committed to local information
ALR Finding
Respondents also appreciated ALR’s flexibility, citing it as an advantage the service had over others:
“……if a bit of local news came up, the morning presenter would try to get an interview with that person during his show,
whereas you wouldn’t get that - including BBC Radio 2 you wouldn’t get that, because they have a very set format, whereas
this format tended to be a little bit more flexible.”
ALR Conclusion
ALR will make it a policy to always incorporate local information into its daily schedule.
www.ashfordlocalradio.com
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