Radio Teesdale new Schedule for autumn 2008

As we approach the start of a new schedule season it’s always a busy time. The new Autumn season starts on Monday. We have six brand new programmes as well as retaining all the favourites from the Summer season. New programmes include top Country singer Dixon J Scott producing Teesdale Country (7pm on Mondays, repeated 5pm Sundays), Paperclips with Anthony da Costa looking at some of the week’s quirky news stories (4pm Wednesday, repeated 10pm Sunday). Listener of late night music will love Richie’s new two hour programme, Drive by DJ, starting at 10pm on a Thursday evening. Saturday evening at 8pm (repeated 9pm on Wednesday) sees Katey Wallace taking a feature from her popular lunchtime show and expanding it into a weekly special. The music in the hour is based on a particular theme. Malcolm Proud and Kate Ruddick have revamped their Thursday afternoon programme “2 on Thursday” but it will include the ever popular drama, “Bridgegate.” Although Malcolm Proud has only been involved in Radio Teesdale for the last three months he is also going to be moving into the Drivetime seat on Mondays as well as hosting some of the Saturday Breakfast shows.

We decided to operate a system of quarterly schedules before we began our full time broadcasting. It has been a great success. I’m certain that it, as presenters know they are only committing themselves for a three month period, it has encourage many of our members to, “Have a go.” Several of our presenters have peaks in their other activities on a seasonal basis so we need to be able to rest programmes and return them later on in the year. Our philosophy has always been that, “Radio Teesdale is for the people and by the people of Teesdale.” We always need to be open to new members coming along and provide them with the opportunity to make programmes. This could not happen if we rigidly stuck to the concept that we always run programmes on certain times and certain days. By changing the timing of some of the programmes or their repeats we also hope that it allows new listeners to hear other shows across the wide range that we produce.

We have recently completed our first year report to Ofcom. More about that will follow, but it’s great to report that Radio Teesdale broadcasts around the clock and producing on average over twelve hours of presenter led programming each day. At the end of only the first year of a five years license, this is in excess of the original license commitment to Ofcom.

The Autumn Season is almost here!

It’s been a very busy summer at Radio Teesdale. The Autumn Schedule will commence on Monday the 20th October. We will be having several new programmes including ones featuring country music, the history of folk music, dance music and quirky news stories. It is not too late to submit a programme proposal, but you will need to be quick. We are always looking for regular/stand-in presenter for our regular magazine programmes (Breakfast Show, Saturday Breakfast, Drive Time, etc). If you would like to become involved in presenting or co-hosting these programmes then please let me know.

The sound recording and editing training courses held at Enterprise House have been a great success. Well done all those who have attended for your hard work and commitment to the work.

The next members meetings have been scheduled for Wednesday 22 October at 10.00am and Thursday 20 November at 6.00pm.