radio-now.co.uk: Reading gets a new MW station in the form of Blast 1386

Saturday, 27th April 2002
New station for students Blasts into Reading.

A brand new radio station launches in Reading on Monday 29th April at 7am as Blast 1386 takes to the airwaves.

The new stations for students at Reading College and School of Arts and Design will be heard on 1386 MW across the campus and within the town. However, in a contrast to many other student stations, Blast 1386 will source music from different genres - not just indie and rock. A brand new studio has been installed at the college, which will be used by student presenters and media students to gain experience of the pressures and pleasure of live programming, music selection and production and presentation techniques.

Blasting into Reading: a brand new station on mediumwave.

Morning Mayhem will kick off the line-up at 7am, with a lunchtime Request Fest and drivetime shows adding to the schedule. In a UK first, from 7pm the station will link up with Washington-based soul and r&b music station Potion.

Station manager Bob Goertz said:
'This is an exclusive in the UK. We chose Potion as the service people will hear when Blast 1386's own live programming finishes for the day. Potion is a true alternative choice, specialising in soul, urban and black music, which majors on the music content with very little DJ interruption. Potion can be heard around the globe via digital radio satellites and now exclusively in the UK via BLAST 1386 in Reading.'

Principal and Chief Executive of Reading College, Fred McCrindle said:
'We are extremely pleased to develop our brand new student radio station BLAST 1386. This new station provides the College with another wonderful facility to enhance the training and education of students in our media, music and music production areas. The station, which will be for most of the time operated by students, will provide an ideal forum for student voice, music and news items to be conveyed across the College locations and campuses.'

Requests and dedications can be sent to the Blast e-mail address.

Reading College is also busy putting together a new radio station for the Berkshire Golden Youth event at Bisham Abbey. GoldenAir radio will broadcast from 8th to 10th May on 87.7FM, featuring interviews with exhibitors and individuals as they prepare to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee and her visit to Bisham Abbey on the 10th May. On the day of the visit, the station will feature interviews with some of the 2000 youngsters participating in this unique event. They will be demonstrating their skills and achievements in sport, arts, culture, leisure and community service activities.