Each Local commercial station in the UK has obligations with regard to its programmes, including its music and local content. These obligations are set out in the station Format which forms part of this station’s Public File.
The Public File is also available on hard copy by post on request by any member of the public, and serves as one indicator of each station’s output. Comments on the contents of the Public File should be made to us, in the first instances and, if necessary to the industry regulator, Ofcom.
News
Except in special or exceptional circumstances (which may include some bank holidays) the station broadcasts news bulletins hourly from 0600 until 1900; and on the half-hour between 0600 and 0900, 1600 and 1900 on weekdays. These bulletins contain a mix of local, national and world stories, along with sport, weather and entertainment news.
At the weekend, bulletins including local, national and world news are broadcast between 0700 and 1300 on Saturdays and between 0700 and 1300 on Sunday.
Additionally, at other times, bulletins containing national and World news, prepared by Sky, are broadcast.
Recent stories can be seen on this website here
The newsteam is managed by the Group News Editor, Vicky Breakwell – vicky.breakwell@orionmedia.com. You may also contact the newsteam on news@mercia.co.uk or on 02476 868 230
The local news operation is based at the station itself generally at weekday peak times, with some content prepared from another Midlands location at other times.
Programmes
The station broadcasts twenty four hours a day, with programmes as listed here.
Programme Production
No programming within daytimes is fully automated.
Local Programming
Except in special or exceptional circumstances (e.g. specials, outside broadcasts or football coverage and the like), Mercia programmes are generally broadcast from the station’s premises at Nine Brindleyplace, 4 Oozells Square, Birmingham, B1 2DJ. Some daytime programming is also broadcast on brmb and other stations owned by Orion Media.
There may also be ‘destination programming’ which may be broadcast from other Orion Media studios, or elsewhere around the UK (e.g. The Big Top 40 and weekend 11am programmes).
Guidelines
Guidelines on localness have been published by our regulator OFCOM, and are available here
Contact
To contact the radio station generally, you may use our ‘contact us’ page and we seek to reply to any emails which raise substantive issues. The station may also be contacted during office hours by phone on 024 7686 8200.
Events/Charities support or coverage
The station stages several events and charity initiatives through the year. We recently revived the Snowball appeal fundraising efforts this year too, thanks to the new Walk of Warwickshire, which is planned again for 2012. A cheque for around £55,000 will shortly be handed over. Mercia has also brought Coventry City live commentaries back to the station.
Recent programme and or/news highlights
Our website covers much of the programming (general and, where appropriate, news) which we are proud of.
Localness
We aim that our radio stations belong to the areas they serve. Any suggestions or thoughts on our output are always much valued.
Music
Our output is Contemporary and Chart-oriented. Examples of some of the songs we play are on our playlist.
Format
As outlined at the head of this document, the station is governed by a Format, which forms part of our licence. Our Format is available here
How to complain
Live, entertaining radio always carries some risk. We try to get things right, and not all programmes will be to everyone’s taste. Where we do make mistakes, we do try to take appropriate action as quickly as we can. Please do get in touch with any comments – praise or complaints and we’ll consider them carefully as promptly as we are able. Contact us here.
If you need to speak to us directly, our weekday office hours phone number is above. Should you have any concerns which remain unresolved, please speak to the Managing Director.
If you feel we have not taken the right action regarding a broadcast after contacting us, you may refer the matter to our regulator Ofcom.
