Fix Radio
  • United Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
FrequencyDAB: 11A Sound Digital
BrandingThe Builders Station
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatVocational radio
History
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
First air date
26 April 2017 (2017-04-26)
Links
Webcast[1]
Websitewww.fixradio.com

Fix Radio is a national digital radio station in the United Kingdom with associated websites, Facebook, YouTube and podcast channels. It has previously been the silver award winner of the 2023 UK Audio and Radio Industry Awards for best station sound. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio across the UK as well as online and mobile.

Background

Fix Radio was founded by its current (as of 2023) CEO, Louis Timpany, to provide music, news and entertainment aimed at UK tradespeople.[1] It went on-air at 7am on 26 April 2017 with the tagline "We're Nailing It!" and special guest Charlie Mullins. The first song played was Starship's "We Built This City".[2][3][4][5] It specialises in trade focused content with dedicated painting and decorating, heating and plumbing, carpentry, plastering, and electrical shows.

Although it broadcasts 24 hours a day, only the hours of 7am to 4pm are produced "as live".[6]

It was initially launched on DAB digital radio in London operating out of the Spectrum Radio building in Battersea.[1]

2018 saw its first major expansion and the creation of Fix Media after a takeover of the Facebook group "Tradesman Banter," accompanied by a move to new studios in Angel, Islington.[7]

Broadcasts expanded to cover Manchester on 14 January 2019 at 7am on the SSDAB minimux.[8]

Fix Radio claims the most detailed weather forecasts specifically aimed at tradespeople working outdoors,[1] and no repeat of music within a 48-hour period.[7]

Broadcasting Nationwide

In March 2022 it was announced that the station would start broadcasting nationwide by joining Sound Digital's national DAB digital radio multiplex after securing a national broadcasting licence and £950,000 of crowdfunding. It launched nationally on 3 May 2022 and moved to new headquarters at the Vox studios in Vauxhall.[9][10][11][12]

On 19 May 2023, Fix Radio confirmed it had signed a deal with TradePoint to sponsor the station's breakfast show, The Bald Builders Breakfast Show.[13]

In November 2023, Louis Timpany, the founder and CEO of Fix Radio, won Creative Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in London.[14]

On 7 December 2023, Fix Radio launched a poll to ask listeners if they wanted the station to play Christmas hits after its breakfast presenters had an on air discussion about whether it was too early for Christmas songs. The poll will run until 15 December, with the playlist from 18 December determined by its outcome.[15]

Notable Presenters

Notable Former Presenters

Awards

Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2023 Ultimate Builders Portaloo Loo of the Year of Award Building and Construction Won [16]
2023 The Bald Builders Breakfast Audio and Radio Industry Awards Best New Radio Show Nominated [17]
2023 The Heating and Plumbing Show Audio and Radio Industry Awards Best New Radio Show Nominated [17]
2023 Devaweb & Fix Radio Audio and Radio Industry Awards Best Station Sound silver [18]

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c Moore, Barry (26 April 2017). "A radio station for tradespeople launches – Digital Radio UK". Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Charlie Mullins helps launch Fix Radio". www.hvpmag.co.uk. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. ^ Hepworth, David (13 May 2017). "This week's best radio: Britain's builders get a new station". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  4. ^ Sherwin, Adam (1 May 2017). "It's a Fix: New radio station for builders and plumbers launches". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. ^ "How Fix Radio hopes to build an audience of tradespeople". NBS. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Public File". Fix Radio. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Fix Radio expands and launches Fix Media". RadioToday. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. ^ "London's Fix Radio extends service to Manchester". RadioToday. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Fix Radio is going national on DAB digital radio via SDL". RadioToday. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  10. ^ Frost, Maisha (17 August 2022). "Fix Radio goes national as construction workers voice approval". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Fix Radio turns on national coverage on DAB digital radio". RadioToday. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  12. ^ Correspondent, Jake Kanter, Media. "Graduate's radio station fixes it for bored builders". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 May 2023.((cite news)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Martin, Roy (19 May 2023). "The Bald Builders Breakfast Show gets new sponsor on Fix Radio". Radio Today. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Fix Radio founder and CEO Louis Timpany wins Creative Entrepreneur of the Year award". Radio Today. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ^ Collins, Steve (7 December 2023). "Fix Radio asks builders to vote if Christmas songs should be cancelled". Radio Today. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Bald Builders Breakfast wins award for pimped portaloo". Fix Radio. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Nominees and new location announced for ARIAS 2023". RadioToday. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  18. ^ "ARIAS 2023 Winners". Radio Academy. Retrieved 7 May 2023.

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