 | |
| Broadcast area | EasternGreater Manchester, north-westDerbyshire and northCheshire |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.9 FM |
| Branding | 104.9 Imagine FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bauer Media Group |
| History | |
First air date | 1990 |
Last air date | 1 September2021 |
| Links | |
| Website | imagineradiouk.co |
Imagine FM was anIndependent Local Radio station based inStockport broadcasting to SouthManchester andCheshire in the North West of England.
The station began its life asKFM, initially as a pirate localradio station based inStockport and broadcasting to the SouthManchester/NorthCheshire area on 94.2 MHz and then on 1017 kHz.
KFM ran during the 1980s and then relaunched legitimately as one of the first 'incremental' local commercial stations in 1990, set up to provide more localised and specialised programming.
Stoke-on-Trent basedSignal Radio assumed control of the station, following difficulties in its latter incarnation, and KFM became memorable almost solely for its 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.Night-time KFM output. This combined local and global new indie music with innovative DJing.
Presenters on air at this time includeCraig Cash,Caroline Aherne,Jon Ronson,Terry Christian andNeil Cossar,[1] all of which have gone on to forge successful careers in the media and performing arts.
KFM was succeeded by Signal Cheshire.
Imagine FM is now trading as an independent radio station since it was bought fromUTV Radio in January 2009.
In 1990 a new service was launched, in Cheshire, on 96.4 FM calledEcho 96. In 1991, this was renamedSignal Cheshire upon the acquisition of theKFM 104.9 transmitter. Based in Stockport,Signal Cheshire targeted the surrounding area of South Manchester and much of Cheshire, opting into networked programming from the Stoke-on-Trent site by night. There was a further change of identity in 1997 toSignal FM.
In 2000,Imagine FM became the new rebranded service on 104.9 and 96.4, and when the 104.9 frequency was readvertised, the then-owners of both stations,The Wireless Group, decided that the 96.4 transmitter should return toSignal One.
The station uses the tag lineCheshire's No.1 More Music Station and prides itself on updating the area with local news and information.
The transmitter is based close to Stockport town centre.
On Wednesday 21 May 2008,Ofcom rejected a request by UTV to co-locate the station toWarrington alongside three of its stations.[2] As a result of Ofcom's decision, UTV placed Imagine FM up for sale in June 2008, stating that if a buyer cannot be found by 30 June 2008 then the station's licence would be handed back to Ofcom.[3][4] The station was sold by former Imagine ownersUTV Radio in January 2009 and now trades as Imagine FM Limited.After 20 years of the 104.9 wavelength being based at Regent House, Stockport, Imagine FM moved to Waterloo Place, Stockport in November 2010 and now broadcasts from the legendaryStrawberry Studios.
The transmitter was also relocated from Romiley to Stockport centre at the same time.
Under the ownership of the Helius Media Group, Imagine came under common ownership, and began to share programming withHigh Peak Radio in the Derbyshire dales.
On 17 June 2021, it was announced thatBauer Radio would acquire the Imagine Radio services and add these to theGreatest Hits Radio network,[5] further expanding GHR's coverage of both the Greater Manchester environs (following the earlier addition of Tower FM, Wish FM, Wire FM and most recently96.2 The Revolution to the group) and Derbyshire (where GHR already occupies the formerPeak FM).
53°24′26″N2°09′15″W / 53.4071°N 2.1541°W /53.4071; -2.1541