Non Commercial Radio Stations.

[Barsel]

I'm trying to find a non commercial radio station here in the North West of England as I'm fed up of adverts every 2 minutes! I like to listen to the sort of music they play on Smooth FM but I don't want to wake up to hear how much rump steak is at Sainsbury's. Also, I don't like a lot of talking on the radio so no interviews or 2 people presenting. I know I sound very fussy, but I just want to listen to music while I go about my day. Any suggestions please? x

[Buenchico]

Radio stations have to get their money from somewhere. (Radio 2, for example, has to pay around £100 in broadcasting rights for every track played on air). So the only non-commercial stations will be either those owned by the BBC or small community radio stations.

The output of community radio stations varies widely, to reflect the needs of their local communities and, as they only each serve one town (or similar small area), it's impossible to point you towards one for your part of the country without knowing which town (or local area) you live in.

BBC local radio stations tend to broadcast a lot of speech content, even within their music-based programmes, simply because they can't afford to fill all of their broadcasting time with music. I've worked as a relief presenter for BBC local radio and you have to learn how to waffle if you're only allowed to play ten (or sometimes as few as 6) three-minute tracks in an hour-long programme!

So you're not going to find exactly what you want via any stations broadcast over the airwaves. However you might well find something to your tastes on the internet. I suggest taking a look to see what's available online via your computer and then, if you realise that you can get what you want online, buying a proper internet radio (which takes its signal from your router).

This is a good place to start looking for internet radio stations:
http://tunein.com/radio/Music-g1/
(Click on your preferred genre).
Some stations will have loads of advertising but others will have hardly any (or be totally advert-free).

This is another useful index of online stations:
http://www.ipodder.org/radio

[sinderella]

buy an mp3 player!

[Barsel]

Thanks for your answers.
/// it's impossible to point you towards one for your part of the country without knowing which town (or local area) you live in.///
I live in Manchester Chris, but all the local stations have loads of adverts or speech content. I can listen to those internet stations when I'm on the computer but I was really hoping to find a station on my clock/radio that I listen to when I wake up.

[PankySmooch]

I agree with you Barsel, I listen to Smooth FM and Talksport and the adverts are annoying, Talksport even drop them in during live football matches as if it's part of the commentary.

Also during the drive time show with Darren Gough you'll hear him slip in as if it's part of the show..."This is drive time sponsored by Wickes where your an buy a bag of cement

[PankySmooch]

Oops hit the submit button by mistake!

You get my drift though

[SirOracle]

BBC radio 3 or Classic fm but the music may not be to your taste. Minimum ads.on Classic fm and non on BBC 3.

[Buenchico]

Anything here you've not checked?
http://www.northwestradio.info/fm/

Otherwise you might need to invest in somethinglike this to wake you up:
http://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Auna-Quarz-150-WiFi-Internet-Radio-Speaker-System-AUX-Alarm-Clock_i12166.htm

[Barsel]

I get your drift PankySmooch and I do sometimes listen to Classic FM SirOracle but I have to be in the mood for classical. Thanks for the links again Chris, I must admit I didn't realise there were so many radio stations in the North West so will see which I can find.Tried Radio 2 this morning and it was Brian Mathews. He must be getting on a bit, I used to listen to him when I was a teenager in the 60's. x

[Hopkirk]

Absolute Radio claim that if you listen via their mobile app, you get less adverts.

I don't know how that works and as I haven't got a smartphone or tablet, I haven't tried it out.

[Barsel]

I don't have anything that's smarty pants Hopkirk. :-) x