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Public File

Each local commercial radio station in the UK has requirements in respect of its music and local content, such as news, speech levels etc. These requirements are set out in the station "Format", a document issued by Ofcom, the UK’s radio regulator.

This Public File contains details of the elements that Ofcom regulate, such as music tracks, local news etc. It is intended to give you a better understanding of our output and what we are doing for our local community.

1. News
Northants 96 broadcasts news bulletins on the half-hour between 0600 and 0900 and hourly from 0900 to 1800 on weekdays. These bulletins contain a mix of local, national and world stories, along with sport, weather and entertainment news.

At the weekend, bulletins containing local, national and world news are broadcast on Northants 96 between 0700 and 1300 on Saturday and 0800 to 1300 on Sunday. Additionally, national bulletins are broadcast from 2200 through until 0500 seven days a week.

2. Recent News Stories
Click here to see news currently featured on Northants96

3. Contact details for the News team
News Editor: Richard Purvis
Broadcast Journalists: Michele Cross and Rebecca Hall
With regular contributions from GCAP Media reporters

You can call the News team on 01604 795691
You can contact the News team here.

4. The programme schedule
Northants96 programme schedule can be found by clicking here.

5. The average number of hours of automated programming within weekday daytimes and within daytimes on Saturdays and Sundays
Northants96 output is pre-recorded between 12pm and 4pm on Sundays.

6. The amount of local programming per day produced by the station
All of Northants 96 weekday daytime output (0600-1900) and peak time weekend (0500-1000 and 12:00 - 19:00 Saturday, 0600-1000 and 12:00-16:00 Sunday) output is produced and presented from our local studios.

Off peak programming (Music Control, Late Night Love, Music on Demand, Hairbrush Divas, Skool Daze, The Jeremy Kyle Show, The Entertainment Edge, hit40uk and the Myleen Klass show) is produced at various studios, owned and operated by Northants 96 parent company GCap Media plc.

7. Ofcom Localness Guidelines
Ofcom, the government regulator with responsibilities for local radio, has produced localness guidelines that this station adheres to. These guidelines can be read here: www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/localness

In addition all local radio stations have written ‘formats’ that they must follow at all times. You can read ours here: www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/amfm/analogue-main.htm

If you have a complaint to make about this station, in the first instance you should contact the programme controller at the address below. 

If you are unhappy with the response you receive, you can complain directly to the regulator, Ofcom. Their website has full details about how to do this: www.ofcom.org.uk/complain

8. Station Contact details
Northants96 Programme Controller is Mr James Horspool, our address is:
Northants96
19-21 St Edmunds Road
Northampton
NN1 5DY

Contact Numbers
Switchboard 01604 79 56 00
Studio Phone-in 01604 79 56 56
News Team 01604 79 56 91
Traffic & Travel 01604 79 56 78
Studio Text 82122 start your message with the word radio
Advertising Enquiries 01604 79 56 60

9. Events/charities support or coverage

In August, Northants 96 supported the 'Celerbrate Northamptonshire' dinner.  The station supported the event by on air and online promotion.  The event raised money for the Crimestoppers charity.

In August, September and October, Northants 96 has supported a number of charity quiz night, including events for Age concern and the Northampton Hope Centre.

Northants 96 supports Northamptonshire Race For Life which takes place annually at Silverstone Circuit. 5000 women take part in the race raising funds for Cancer research UK. This year it takes place on the 13th of June. 

Northants 96, and its sisters station Gold,  can advertise your event for free if it's for a Charity or non-profit making event. To add your charity event to our events calendar click here.

10. Recent programme and/or news highlights
Northants 96 is the official radio station for the Northampton Saints rugby club and Northampton Town football club.  The new relationship with both clubs will mean additional on air and online coverage for rugby and football fans in Northamptonshire.

In November, Northants 96 broadcast a series of special news reports on identity theft.  The reports followed several calls from listeners who has experienced issues with their banking. 

At Northants 96 we recently signed up to the 'Child Rescue Alert' (CRA) initiative. This is an arrangement between media and the police when it's believed a child and has been abducted and s/he will be seriously hurt.

11. Any other issues or areas of interest likely to impact on localness
There are no current issues that impact on the localness of the station.

12. The station's playlist
Northants 96 playlist is available by clicking here.