Public File - Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Carmarthenshire, Swansea Bay Radio and Bridge FM Radio

Each local commercial radio station in the UK has obligations with regard to its programmes, including its music and local content.

These obligations are set out in the station Format which forms part of this station’s public file.

The Public File is also available in hard copy by post upon request by any member of the public and serves as one indicator of each station’s output. 

Comment on the contents of the Public File should be made to the station or to the industry regulator Ofcom

Stations covered in this Public File

Bridge FM Radio operated by Bridge FM Radio Limited

Swansea Bay Radio operated by Swansea Bay Radio Limited

Radio Carmarthenshire operated by Radio Carmarthenshire Limited

Radio Pembrokeshire operated by Haven FM (Pembrokeshire) Limited

These radio stations are part of the Nation Broadcasting Group.

For the majority of the time, these three local licences operate a single programming service, although extensive use is made of ‘split link’ technology such that relevant content including presenter links and travel are localised. 

Commercials and branding are also separate for each service. 

At certain times, predominantly overnight or for specialist shows individual stations or combinations of stations will ‘opt out’ of the single programme service to become a single station or smaller combination of stations.

All stations operate on FM, DAB and online.

Like each local commercial station in the UK has obligations with regard to its programmes, including its music and local content. These obligations are set out in the station Format which forms part of our Public File.

The Public File is just one indicator of our output. Just ask us if you’d like a hard copy. If you have any comments on it, let us know or, if necessary, contact our regulator, Ofcom.

News bulletins and the News team

Except in special or exceptional circumstances (which may include some bank holiday periods and between Christmas and the New Year) the station broadcasts news bulletins hourly from 0600 until 1900. Bulletins contain a mix of local/regional, national and world stories, along with sport, weather and entertainment news.

At the weekend, bulletins containing local/regional, national and world news, along with sport, weather and entertainment news, are broadcast between 0700 and 1200.

Our news is supplied by Nation Network News.

Additionally, at other times, bulletins containing national and world news, prepared by Sky, is broadcast.

The news team is managed by Nation Network News Managing Editor John Ryan john.ryan@nationbroadcasting.com

You can contact the news team at news@bridgefmradio.wales, news@swanseabayradio.wales; news@radiopembrokeshire.wales, news@radiocarmarthenshire.wales or by calling 02921 414100 and selecting the option for news.

Nation Network news is compiled by a team of journalists based at various locations around the UK - we also maintain a journalistic presence in each area of the UK where this is a format requirement.

Programme Schedule

The station broadcasts twenty four hours a day, our programme schedule is available at the station website.

Programme Production

Under Ofcom’s definition of automation, all our programming including weekday daytimes and weekend daytimes is automated. 

However, the majority of content including presentation links from presenters located at private home studios are supplied to the station very shortly before broadcast.

Local Programming during daytime

The station broadcasts local programming from private studios located within the transmission area (or wider approved area where applicable).

Typically, our programming is provided locally, however on occasion we may use presenters based outside the area.

We always ensure we meet our minimum requirement to provide three hours of local programming on weekdays which for the purposes of this public file is 0600-0900 weekdays.

The majority of our programming is produced at private studios and  the company has available a number of radio studios available at Nation Broadcasting's headquarters at St Hilary Transmitter, Vale of Glamorgan.

Guidelines

Guidelines on localness have been published by our regulator OFCOM, and are available here: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/radio/localness/localness-guidelines

Contact

To contact the radio station generally, use our ‘contact us’ page and we’ll make every effort to reply to any emails which raise substantive issues. should you prefer to speak to programme management, please contact

Neil Greenslade, Nation Broadcasting’s Group Programme Director. neil.greenslade@nationbroadcasting.com

You can also contact the station during office hours on 02921-414100

Events/Charities support or coverage

We regularly run or support Xmas Toy Appeals and Easter Egg Appeals.

Our presentation team continue to promote local events on-air and our websites contain a function to list a local event in your area.

Recent Programme and/or News Highlights

Our website is regularly updated with current programming, competitions and initiatives we’re proud of and, where appropriate, local news.

Localness

We aim that our radio stations belong to the areas they serve through the information services it provides. Any suggestions or thoughts on our output are always much valued.

For Radio Pembrokeshire and Radio Carmarthenshire which have a format requirement to provide regular Welsh Language programming this is aired on Sunday from 9-10pm.

Music

Our stations are licensed to play a broad mix of popular music.  If you would like a copy of our current playlist you can request this from Neil Greenslade, Nation Broadcasting’s Group Programme Director. neil.greenslade@nationbroadcasting.com

Format

As outlined at the head of this document, the station is governed by a Format, which forms part of our licence. Our Format is available on the Ofcom website by selecting the relevant station here

http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/analogue-main.htm

How to complain

Producing entertaining radio always carries some risk. We try to get things right, and not all programmes will be to everyone’s taste. Where we do make mistakes, we’ll try to take appropriate action as quickly as we can. Please do get in touch with any comments – praise or complaints and we’ll consider them carefully.

You can make a complaint using the contact us form on our website.

To speak to us directly, our weekday office hours phone numbers are above. Should you have any difficulties, please speak to Nation Broadcasting’s Managing Director, Martin Mumford – martin.mumford@nationbroadcasting.com

If you feel we have not taken the right action regarding a broadcast after contacting us, you may refer the matter to our regulator, Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/complaints

March 2024