Cool FM
Cool FM is an Independent Local Radio station based in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. The station is owned and operated by Bauer and forms part of Bauer's Hits Radio Network.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Frequency |
|
| RDS | COOL FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | CHR/Pop |
| Network | Hits Radio (for sales purposes) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bauer Media Audio UK |
| |
| History | |
First air date | 7 February 1990 |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Planet Radio |
| Website | www |
The station began broadcasting in 1990 when its parent station Downtown Radio ceased simulcasting and split its AM and FM frequencies into two separate services. Downtown Radio continued on 1026 kHz AM and FM frequencies outside Belfast–and Cool FM was created to broadcast on 97.4 MHz. Initially broadcasting to the Greater Belfast area only, Cool FM can now be received across Northern Ireland on DAB.
As of June 2023, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 490,000, according to RAJAR.[1]
Programming
Cool FM plays a broad mix of popular, youth-orientated Pop and Dance music. Some of the stations most popular shows are Pete Snodden in the Morning with Pete, Paulo and Rebeeca and the Cool Saturday Show with Stuart Robinson and Deputy Dave. Cool FM features some specialised music such as Cool of Rock on weekday mornings, classic hits in The Cool Years on Sunday afternoons and Cool Goes Quiet, love songs on Sunday–Thursday nights.
Although station owner, Bauer Radio, packages Cool FM as part of the Hits Radio Network for selling advertising, Cool FM does not broadcast any Hits Radio networked programmes. All of Cool FM shows are locally-presented and produced from its Newtownards studios.
Local news bulletins air on the hour between 6am and 10pm every day. On weekdays, there are extended bulletins at 1pm and 5pm and headlines on the half hour during breakfast and drivetime.
Presenters
- Paul Kennedy 1995 - today
- Pete Snodden 2000 - today
- DJ Hix 2007 - today
- Stuart Robinson 2010 - today
- Paulo Ross 2014 - today
- John Kearns 1990-1995 / 2014 - today
- Owen Beers 2014 - today
- Rebecca McKinney 2015 - today
- Deputy Dave 2015 - today
- Melissa Riddell 2016 - today
- Curtis McCosh 2016 - today
- Connor Coates 2017 - today
- Katharine Walker 2019 - today
- Evanna Maxted 2021 - today
- Ciara Ewing 2021 - today
- Ryan A 2010-2014 / 2022 - today
