Gaydio announces June 18 launch
The UK's first dedicated FM radio station for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans audiences will launch on Friday June 18.
Gaydio will be broadcast online and through 88.4FM in Greater Manchester, it was confirmed today. It will broadcast a mixture of "upbeat music and targeted speech programming" 24 hours a day.
The station was originally conceived in 2006 by Ian Wallace and Toby Whitehouse as a short-term accompaniment to the popular Manchester Pride festival. It broadcast four pilots before successfully applying for a licence to run all-year round.
Full schedule details are yet to be revealed but Terry Longden from Channel 4 series The Salon and former Happy Mondays vocalist Rowetta will broadcast in the evenings.
Former Galaxy breakfast host Nicksy will front the station's afternoon output. He said: "Having been on the air in this great city for 10 years, I am looking forward to being part of a truly unique radio station. Manchester is without doubt the Gay Capital of the UK, and it will be a refreshing change being able to talk about things from the gay perspective.”
Gaydio's business director Ian Wallace said there has been "huge interest" in the station in Manchester.