Ipswich_102
Nation Radio Suffolk
Radio station in Ipswich
Nation Radio Suffolk is an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Nation Broadcasting. It broadcasts from Ipswich in Suffolk.
| Broadcast area | Suffolk |
|---|---|
| Frequency | FM: 102.0 MHz DAB: 10C |
| RDS | Nation |
| Branding | Nation Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Pop Music |
| Network | Nation Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Nation Broadcasting |
| Operator | Nation Broadcasting |
| History | |
First air date | 1 August 2018 (as Ipswich 102) |
Former names | Ipswich 102 (2018–2020) Greatest Hits Radio (2020-2022) |
| Links | |
| Website | Nation Radio Suffolk |
As of December 2023, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 23,000, according to RAJAR.[1]
The licence for the area had previously been held by Town 102 but Ofcom awarded the licence to Ipswich 102.[2] This had been the first time in its history that Ofcom had not awarded a re-advertised licence to the incumbent broadcaster. Ofcom said that it regarded the station's multiplex holdings as reason why the new operator would be able to support the station: "Ipswich FM’s commitment to broadcasting on the Suffolk DAB multiplex means it would have access to a greater number of potential listeners than the incumbent licensee, which does not, and did not indicate any plans to, broadcast on DAB."[3] The launch of the station was led by Paul Morris, formerly a presenter on SGR-FM and until 2017 the programme director for Town 102, the station Ipswich 102 replaced.
On 15 October 2020, joint shareholders Nation Broadcasting and Bauer announced that the station had agreed a brand licence to rebrand Ipswich 102 to Greatest Hits Radio East from November 2020. The station will take the local drivetime programme that is currently broadcast on the existing neighbouring network stations, with all other programming being networked from Liverpool & Manchester.
Town 102 became Hits Radio Suffolk on 3 November 2020.
On 1 October 2022, Nation Broadcasting has taken back the frequency and simulcast Nation Radio UK, except on weekday afternoons between 3pm and 7pm, where the station opts out of network programming, for a localised show, presented by Rob Chandler.[4]