Launched as 'Kick FM' in 2000 and broadcasting to 86,000 people across Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford, the station has been owned and operated by Tindle Radio since 2006.
West Berkshire Radio Limited has been purchased by Andover Sound Limited, a company controlled by Ian Axton (http://www.ianaxton.com/)and in which Tindle Radio has a 20% holding.
Ian Axton, 39, is a former Managing Director of the Sony awarding winning Spire FM in Salisbury. He then went on to lead the radio group 'TLRC' which operated several stations in the South of England until 2001. Ian then joined ITV as a producer, reporter and presenter and has also anchored national news bulletins for ITN. Last year he decided to get back to his roots in radio and launched Andover Sound, the independent station for North West Hampshire. Last month Andover Sound won a 'New York Radio Festival Award' for its local news coverage.
Ian said "West Berkshire is a special place and it deserves a special radio station. I'm looking forward to building on what's already been achieved and taking the station to an exciting new level. "
Brian Doel, Chairman of the Tindle Radio Group, said "I'm delighted that West Berkshire Radio Limited is now part of Andover Sound. I know that listeners and advertisers will benefit hugely from the expertise that Ian Axton and his team will bring to the airwaves of West Berkshire."
If West Berkshire has so much to offer, why's the station not named after it?
With an existing Radio Berkshire, naming it after West Berkshire wouldn't be a good idea. If it was called West Berkshire Sound you would ask why it wasn't named after Newbury. I like Newbury Sound and, if Ian Axton's track record is anything to go by, it has every chance of being a huge success.
Probably because it's also controlled by Ian Axton. Andover Sound is broadcast in Andover. If you looked at their website you would have seen how much they relate well to the local community of North West Hampshire . Newbury Sound will be broadcast from Newbury and will relate to the local community of West Berkshire.
With an existing Radio Berkshire, naming it after West Berkshire wouldn't be a good idea. If it was called West Berkshire Sound you would ask why it wasn't named after Newbury. I like Newbury Sound and, if Ian Axton's track record is anything to go by, it has every chance of being a huge success.
Calling it Newbury Sound doesn't make any sense given they've got a separate transmitter for Hungerford too.
Leicester used to have both Radio Leicester and Leicester Sound, many other areas and towns have had two stations with the same name in the title. The name Newbury Sound is two fingers two the rural communities of West Berkshire and also to Thatcham and given the station's licence isn't just to serve Newbury you couldn't blame them for being angry at the re-branding.
The name Newbury Sound is two fingers two the rural communities of West Berkshire and also to Thatcham and given the station's licence isn't just to serve Newbury you couldn't blame them for being angry at the re-branding.
Cheers, User. A very fair comment for which I thank you.
After all, most of West Berkshire have been fuming ever since it was 'branded' the Parliamentary Constituency of Newbury.
I suspect it wasn't called West Berkshire when some of it was allocated to the Parliamentary Constituency of Newbury. Those parts not in Newbury Constituency are probably feeling a bit peeved at your comment.
I suspect it wasn't called West Berkshire when some of it was allocated to the Parliamentary Constituency of Newbury. Those parts not in Newbury Constituency are probably feeling a bit peeved at your comment.
West Berkshire has always been west Berkshire, it is the west of Berkshire, but why would people feel peeved about not being in the Newbury constituency? I'm, lost on that.
West Berkshire in title has no real history and therefore possibly less marketable, where as Newbury is historic and more recognisable than West Berkshire, from a marketing point of view. I 'feel' more Newbury, than I do West Berkshire.
West Berkshire has always been west Berkshire, it is the west of Berkshire, but why would people feel peeved about not being in the Newbury constituency? I'm, lost on that.
Geographically I would suggest that Tilehurst and a number of other West Berkshire parishes are in central Berkshire. However, re-reading I see I missed the 'most' in your comment and read it as all of West Berkshire being upset at being branded as Newbury Constituency - which I felt would peeve those in West Reading or Wokingham constituencies.
West Berkshire in title has no real history and therefore possibly less marketable, where as Newbury is historic and more recognisable than West Berkshire, from a marketing point of view. I 'feel' more Newbury, than I do West Berkshire.
I agree totally, but I suspect those in the east of West Berkshire probably feel more Reading than West Berkshire and might resent being branded as part of Newbury. After all we had the choice in the 1990s and opted for West Berkshire.
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