96.9 Viking FM is 25
A big thank you to our loyal listeners and our commercial partners who have made this such a great local radio station.
Our History
Our licence was awarded in the Autumn of 1982 and Viking was originally called Humber Bridge Radio but when the station eventually built studios and offices on Commercial Road, Hull and launched on the 17th April 1984 - it did so as Viking Radio on 102.7 FM and 1161 medium wave.
Before the station went to air Ian Rufus was the pre-MD, then Roger Brooks took the helm with John Hodgson as the Sales Director. Other names from that time - Jeff Taylor, Malcolm Woodcock, Phil Davies, Jean Sleight, Pat Carter and Steve Mawson.
The station started 24 hour broadcasting in 1985 and two years after launch the IBA moved frequency to 96.9 FM - Viking was dominant force across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from day one and hasn't let go of that market leader status since! Dave Fewster, Steve King, Tim Jibson, Tim Finlay, Andy Hollins and Diana Luke were some of the big names on air at the time.
In 1985, Julie Harbottle (nee Dimaline) started at Viking and this Summer (2009) she will be our longest serving member of staff, having been here 24 years!
During the 90's Viking was still the dominant local radio player when the Metro Radio Group bought Viking in 1990 before selling it to EMAP six years later.
In the early 90's Steve King and Iain Clasper were responsible for sales, programming and the station itself! Jane Nalton (Accounts) and the high flying sales guys were Sue Room, Roger Cutsforth, Vicki Kress (Keane), Pete Walters, Geoff Skipsey and Di Kirkwood. Towards the end of the decade Viking had seen Mel Booth as MD, Paul Saunders and Mark Matthews as PD's. Lynn Bell, Bev Holmes, Gaynor Preston-Routledge, Jo Keary, Linda Poole, Emma Booth, Graham Elliot, Shirley Renwick in news, Lesley Galbraith, Dave Straw, Liz Price, John Jenkinson, Russ Litten, Gayle Lofthouse, Steph Ferguson and Vicki Charles were all stars in sales, S&P, creative and reception!
From 2000, Viking was positioned as the young feel good station for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire - JK & Joel continued on breakfast before moving to EMAP station Key 103 in Manchester in 2000 - that's when Hirsty's Morning Glory took to the air! He left in 2002 and the early morning responsibility was handed to Foxy & Tom. There was Party on the Pier in Cleethorpes which became the Big Bash in 2003, with Westlife headlining in front of 25,000 at the KC Stadium in Hull. Ronan Keating, the Sugababes and Blue all played live to 20,000 in East Park, Hull for the Big Bash 2!
In 2005 Viking launched on the digital network with other EMAP brands (Kiss, Kerrang, Heat and Smash Hits). The line up then was Foxy & Tom, Griffo, Sam Heywood, Mark Somers, Paul Foster, Jim Coulson and Dan O'Connell who were very active throughout the area doing school events, party nights, pub crawls, charity nights and outside broadcasts.
Viking FM became part of Bauer Media which joined the Bauer Publishing Group in January 2008 following acquisition of Emap plc’s consumer and specialist magazines, radio, TV, online and digital businesses.
It is Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group. The Bauer Publishing Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 230 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations.
After 25 years broadcasting we’ve embraced technology and interactivity. The internet, SMS and digital radio with Viking and Magic sharing the digital platform on DAB radio alongside other Bauer brands such as Kiss, Kerrang, Heat and Smash Hits.
Our charity Cash for Kids goes from strength to strength – having raised hundreds of thousands of pounds over 25 years and we continue to help sick and under privileged children across our broadcast area more than ever. There are the numerous awards collected over the years too – the Sony’s NTL’s, IRN, Mobius, London Internationals – all recognising brilliant on – air programming, excellent school and community initiatives, production, S & P and brilliant crafted creative advertising solutions for our clients.
Our current line up is Paul Foster and Rosie Madison, James Piekos, Sam Heywood, Alex and Luce on In Demand, Ian Skye, Patrick Billington, Dave Henning and Chris Johnson.