Fun Kids
Fun Kids is a national children's and pop radio station digital radio station in the United Kingdom with associated websites, YouTube and podcast channels. It has previously been the winner of the Sony and Arqiva Digital Radio Stations of the year. It is operated by Children's Radio UK Ltd which is owned by Folder Media. It broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio across the UK as well as online and mobile.
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Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
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Frequency | DAB: 11A Sound Digital |
Programming | |
Format | Children's Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | Folder Media |
History | |
First air date | May 2005 |
Links | |
Webcast | Radioplayer |
Website | www![]() |
Background
Fun Kids (formerly Fun Radio) was created by GCap Media, Hit Entertainment and the children's radio campaigner Susan Stranks.[1] It went on-air in May 2005 and then was acquired in September 2008 by Folder Media.[2]
Changes to platforms
Fun Radio was initially launched on DAB digital radio in London and some areas of the South East alongside being broadcast on digital television. In January 2008, the line ups of a number of local digital multiplexes changed, with Fun Radio being removed as a service from those outside London. In summer 2009, Fun Kids launched temporarily on the national Digital One multiplex from 27 June until 3 October.[3] Fun Kids was removed from Virgin Media channel 926 on 1 December 2009 and also from Sky channel 0171 on 16 December 2009.
In February 2016 it was announced that the station would start broadcasting nationwide by joining Sound Digital's national DAB digital radio multiplex.[4] It launched, alongside the multiplex's other radio stations on 29 February.[5]
Presenters
Fun Kids has been a training ground for many young radio presenters including James Barr, Tim Dixon, James Beckingham, Frankie Vu, Matt Kot and Luke Franks.
Its current presenter line-up includes: Sean Thorne, Josh Divney, Bex Lindsay, Dan Simpson, Anna-Louise Walter, George Butler and Conor Knight.
Alexis Weller, 10 year old winner of the 2019 BBC Rising Talent Young Audio Award presents a short segment called "Lexi's Music News" on George Butler's Sunday afternoon show.
External links
References
- Carter, Meg (8 June 2005). "New station bids for a chance to switch children on to radio". The Guardian. London.
- Plunkett, John (23 September 2008). "Folder Media buys GCap's Fun Radio". The Guardian. London.
- "Fun Kids goes nationwide on DAB". Radio Today. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- "Fun Kids to go national as DAB+ radio service – RadioToday".
- "A national radio station for children is launching – with DJs from The Beano". 3 February 2016.