About Phonic FM
Phonic FM is the on-air name of Exeter Community Radio, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales, number 05979408. Our registered address is Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter, EX4 3LS.
Exeter Community Radio’s directors are currently:
Edgar Coate
Patrick Cunningham
Paul Giblin
Katie Jones
Nick Hopkinson
David Treharne
Ofcom, the communications regulator granted us a community radio license to broadcast in the Exeter area on 106.8FM and on DAB+ Our license number is CR000118BA/2. You can download Phonic FM’s key commitments and coverage area from the Ofcom website.
Phonic FM evolved from a radio station set up in 2003 to support Exeter’s annual Vibraphonic Festival, the brainchild of David Whitlock who developed the festival as part of his cultural portfolio with Exeter City Council. Vibraphonic FM ran for one month each year, previewing festival for two weeks then covering the festival events for a second two weeks. In 2007, using the experience gained from our festival broadcast success, Exeter Community Radio Ltd (which trades as Phonic FM) was set up to bid for a full-time licence from Ofcom which was then granted in late Autumn of that year.
The leap from Vibraphonic to Phonic was made in early 2008 when the annual Vibraphonic Festival radio station broadcast under the new name. Phonic FM went on air on 15 February 2008 and covered the Vibraphonic Festival until 15 March but, instead of waking up to the lonely hiss of static at the end of that period, listeners were able to stay tuned to Phonic FM – and have been able to do so ever since.
Our output is largely music, both live and recorded, focusing on those tunes and genres you won’t often hear on mainstream radio and covering local events and issues in a way that other stations are simply unable to do.
We are committed to encouraging participation and are always seeking new approaches to both content and output. If you’d like to get involved, please contact membership@phonic.fm detailing your ideas, experience and skills.
Find out how you can support Phonic FM here.
Phonic FM is a member of the Community Media Association.
Header photo by Venetia Norrington.