Media UK

Wester Ross Radio station scores another first

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Photo credit: Two Lochs Radio

Two Lochs Radio in Wester Ross has become the first local radio station in the UK to offer its advertising spots for sale through the online auction site eBay. Station Manager, Alex Gray, says that Two Lochs Radio in the nort-west Highlands has always been ready to experiment with news ideas in programmes and is just as ready to consider new ways of doing business. Two Lochs Radio has been on the air seven days a week since 2003 serving listeners in Wester Ross and further afield. The station is a fully licensed commercial radio station, but is operated by a not-for-profit company for community benefit. Survey results show around 70% of the local popualtion listens to the station every week. The station's existing advertisers range from the very large, such as UK and Scottish government departments, through to small local operations such as playgroups and village halls. It is also thought to have been the first local radio station in the UK to carry commercials routinely in Gaelic. Alex says he hopes this new venture will bring contact with those who may have assumed radio advertising was too expensive or difficult to arrange. Most radio advertising is sold through large agencies working to commission placing campaigns on groups of stations across the country. These can be difficult for small advertisers to deal with, but in this latest scheme airtime can be bought directly from the station from less than £10, or contact can be made through eBay for a specific quotation. As well as individual advertising campaigns, Two Lochs Radio says it accepts sponsorship of whole programmes or programme items, and manager Alex says the station would not have been able to survive until now without the loyal support of local businesses from day one, but there is plenty of airspace for new advertisers, and the station offers particularly generous terms for very long adverts (60s or more). Picture attached is Two Lochs Radio airsales logo as used on eBay.