CWR (1990) - Launch package

The launch of CWR for the first time in 1990. The station was later sucked into BBC WM, before reversing out again. On this audio, hear the launch story which onlookers saw as a battle of the BBC challenging what was a successful ILR station (Mercia Sound), which had occupied broad territory in the absence of a BBC local competitor.

Hear the voices of CWR launch managemment alongside Stuart Linnell, then managing Mercia; and Ron Coles, who ran Mercia's parent company, Midlands Radio.

The other talking point was the station launching on FM only, which seemed brave in its time. Contrary to coverage, it was not the 'first' time a BBC station had been on FM-only; the original BBC local stations in the 60s had also been FM-only. Delicious, though, to hear the 'FM-only' status dealt with here as if a potential liability. #radio