107.8 Academy FM

Kent Coast DAB Limited, a joint venture between Academy FM Thanet, Kent Coast Community Broadcasters Ltd and Kent Capacity Co Ltd, has announced its plan to apply for the small-scale DAB licence for the Kent coast covering towns in Thanet and along the coast to Dover & Folkestone.

Debbie Day, Station Manager of Academy FM Thanet, said: “Academy FM has been broadcasting since the 5th April 2010. We are an integral part of the community in Thanet, reaching people in their homes, cars, workplaces, on the go and out in the community. We work with local charities and organisations by supporting them with free advertising and interviews. We train people of all ages and abilities, it’s a big part of what we do, giving people life skills in communication and building confidence. We currently have 35 volunteers who have come through our training projects.

“We are really excited by the opportunity to develop our service on small-scale DAB and look forward to working with our partners. In the future, we along with others we will be able to offer more choice of services, support more charities and organisations and reach the wider community”.

Matt Curtis of Kent Coast Community Broadcasters said “We are delighted to be part of this bid for affordable DAB capacity to reach the East Kent coastline. There are community radio stations and local groups that i’m sure will benefit from reaching listeners in their local communities through this new and affordable capacity”.

Peter Lautner, Director of Kent Capacity Co, said: “Community radio has always been a strong part of life in East Kent and we welcome the opportunity to bring the opportunity of DAB to the Kent coastline. Working with the existing community radio operators and other interested local groups from Thanet to Folkestone, we hope to bring our experience of DAB and local knowledge together so that operators can bring DAB radio to the people living in the area and travelling through this busy part of Kent”.