Chester radio station Dee 106.3 takes over Silk FM

Jun 11 2009 Chester Chronicle

CHESTER radio station Dee 106.3 has acquired award-winning East Cheshire station Silk FM.

Silk FM, which broadcasts to Macclesfield, Congleton, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Sandbach and rural East Cheshire, has been on air for 11 years and has recently extended its licence with Ofcom for a further four year period.

The station is currently North West Radio Station of the Year, following on from its success as being named Sony Radio Station of The Year in 2008.

Chris Hurst, executive chairman of the two stations, was born and lives in Knutsford and went to Kings School, Macclesfield.

Having previously managed a group of over 20 commercial stations across the UK Chris is now committed to serving the people of Cheshire.

He said: “As one of the few counties in England without its own BBC local radio station, local commercial radio has a vital role to play in Cheshire keeping listeners in touch with local news and information.

“I hope the local community will continue to support us as we bring these two Cheshire local radio businesses together under common local ownership.”

Silk FM was acquired from TLRC plc who are based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The combined coverage area of Dee 106.3 and Silk 106.9 will serve a total audience of nearly half a million people across the county.

Dee 106.3 launched in 2001.