Coming to DAB on April 18th

Newport based Vectis Radio is thrilled to announce the launch of its new DAB service on 18 April, bringing even more local music, entertainment and community programming to listeners across the Isle of Wight.

Director Kelvin Currie said, “This brings Vectis Radio up to date and guarantees its technical future. DAB is the way forward and our close involvement with Wight Digital Radio, who will run the DAB multiplex, has enabled this technology to be brought to the Island. DAB will give Vectis Radio potentially even greater coverage than now and, as the system expands, we can bring even more listeners on board. This will add to our already successful FM and online methods of listening.”

Vectis Radio was launched in 2010 as an internet only station and made such progress that in 2017 it launched on FM 104.6. The station was also awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service and achieved Gold as ARIAS Community Radio Station of the Year, finally launching on DAB this year.

To mark the occasion, the station is introducing a refreshed schedule of live shows and familiar voices. Steve Cownley will take over the weekday breakfast show from 30 March, broadcasting live from Vectis Radio’s Riverside Centre Studios in Newport, Monday to Thursday.

Steve said, “I’m absolutely buzzing to be joining the breakfast line up at Vectis Radio. Mornings are such a special time. It’s when the Island wakes up, gets moving and sets the tone for the day. I can’t wait to bring plenty of energy, great music and a few surprises along the way. Most of all, I’m looking forward to connecting with our brilliant local community and starting every morning together with a smile.”

Dominic Cole, who has presented weekday breakfast for more than 13 years, will move to the weekend breakfast slot, continuing to bring his warmth and energy to early weekend mornings.

Kieren Thomson will present a new Friday teatime show from four to six, offering a fresh take on the weekend kick off, while Maggie Currie will host a brand new Friday breakfast show from seven to ten, as well as a new in depth interview programme.

Vectis Radio’s DAB launch represents an exciting step forward, allowing listeners across the Island to enjoy clearer sound, more shows and more ways to connect with their local community.

Station Manager Ian Mac said, “This is another important milestone on the Vectis Radio journey. On 18 April at 10 am it will be a real pinch me moment and, if I’m honest, we have had plenty of those since 2010. It’s another fantastic achievement for the whole Vectis Radio crew, past and present.”

At the DAB launch there will also be a couple of surprises, including the first play of an Isle of Wight song, My Diamond Home, written and recorded by Island musician Martin Clark, and a special guest who will push the button to start the DAB service.

For more information visit vectisradio.com or tune in to discover the new line up.

A new collaborative community interest company, Wight Digital Radio CIC, has successfully bid for the new DAB radio multiplex licence covering the Isle of Wight.

The licence is expected to launch early 2026. If you are interested, please get in touch click the button below.                                               

Wight Digital Radio is made up of the Island’s long-established commercial station, Isle of Wight Radio and local community radio station Vectis Radio. Isle of Wight Radio is part of the Total Sense Media Group and enjoys a monthly audience of 60,000 listeners* and has been broadcasting to the Island for nearly 34 years. Vectis Radio, an Ofcom licenced community radio station launched as an online-only station on 23rd January 2010 and began broadcasting on FM on 4th November 2017. Vectis Radio is home to the 4P’s project, an award-winning initiative to help young people develop their confidence, communication skills and self esteem. The team at Wight Digital Radio says, “We have the perfect ingredients to run a successful radio multiplex for the Isle of Wight: the local knowledge, deep rooted community connections, a strong commercial track record and considerable knowledge and experience of digital radio technology. “Our proposed service will have the capacity to bring more than twenty new and existing radio stations to DAB delivering a choice of creative content to vibrant and loyal radio audience on the Island.” If you have, or are thinking of launching, a commercial or community radio service on the Isle of Wight then register your interest now, we’d be happy to talk you through the process. Just fill in the form below!

Wight Digital Radio is made up of the Island’s long-established commercial station, Isle of Wight Radio and local community radio station Vectis Radio.

Isle of Wight Radio is part of the Total Sense Media Group and enjoys a monthly audience of 60,000 listeners* and has been broadcasting to the Island for nearly 34 years. Vectis Radio, an Ofcom licenced community radio station launched as an online-only station on 23rd January 2010 and began broadcasting on FM on 4th November 2017. Vectis Radio is home to the 4P’s project, an award-winning initiative to help young people develop their confidence, communication skills and self esteem.

The team at Wight Digital Radio says, “We have the perfect ingredients to run a successful radio multiplex for the Isle of Wight: the local knowledge, deep rooted community connections, a strong commercial track record and considerable knowledge and experience of digital radio technology.

“Our proposed service will have the capacity to bring more than twenty new and existing radio stations to DAB delivering a choice of creative content to vibrant and loyal radio audience on the Island.”

If you have, or are thinking of launching, a commercial or community radio service on the Isle of Wight then register your interest now, we’d be happy to talk you through the process. Just fill in the form below!