About

Programming

Programmes are broadcast on a 7 day per week, 24 hour per day basis. News is broadcast frequently, national news being broadcast as Sky News.

RNA FM offers a diverse range of programming and presenters with the invitation to the listener to “Enjoy the mix on 966”. In this respect, a system of one presenter, and occasionally two presenters for each of the 55 programmes per week has been adopted, with programmes being of 1½, 2 and 2½hours duration, the exceptions being the Church Service of 1 hour duration, and the Music and Sport programme lasting 3 hours, which includes football commentaries.

Presenters are trained to develop a natural, person-to-person style, and to identify closely with the local population, in order to accord with the statement “RNA – radio at its natural best”.

Personnel

The membership is in the order of 50 to 70, as a significant number of volunteers are required to maintain the policy of one presenter for each of the 55 weekly programmes. A number of the volunteers have been involved in broadcasting for substantial periods.

Certain past presenters have successfully pursued careers in professional broadcasting. Prospective presenters are given a thorough training, and potential members are invited to contact the Managing Director, Malcolm J. B. Finlayson.

Finance

Operational costs are extremely low, owing to the voluntary nature of the organisation, and accommodation being provided in hospitals. The NHS supplies a recurring Grant, which equates to 25% of the revenue costs, and a further 25% is derived from fund-raising activities such as collections, and the supply of music/commentary at events. The balance is met from low cost advertising, (£100-£150 per year), which is specifically designed to avoid displacement to the livelihood of individuals employed in the professional media.

Since inception, RNA has enjoyed substantial financial support from the NHS, Grant Issuing bodies, and organisations and individuals in the local area, which is appreciated.

Technical

The Arbroath and Stracathro stations each have two studios, whilst the Montrose station has one studio. 14 channel Alice Air 2000 consoles are in situ in the Arbroath studios, a 12 channel Alice Air 2000 console and a 8 channel Korg console are in Studios 1 and 2 Stracathro respectively, and a 8 channel Sonifex S2 console is in the Montrose station.

Ancillary studio equipment is mainly Sony and Technics. The transmissions systems consist of SBS transmitters and amplifiers etc. which were installed by Andy Bantock, Station 2, Chas Mackinnon, CMAC Electronics and Martin Noar, Libra Solutions, whom RNA would highly recommend.

Future Developments

Health Care in Britain is evolving into a Community, rather than a Hospital based Service, with the concept being that patients should only be admitted when absolutely necessary. Fewer inpatents, selective admission policies, early discharge schemes, coupled with increasing numbers of individuals being catered for by the NHS, Local Authorities, and the Private Health Care Sector, in Community and Domiciliary settings, has depleted audiences being served by the traditional method of closed circuit hospital broadcasting in Angus.

Devised and pioneered by Radio North Angus, the Health Care Radio model, which transformed the Arbroath Infirmary Hospital Radio, with a potential audience of 100, into an Independent Local Radio with a reach in excess of 50,000, offers organisations a template to serve patients within and outwith hospitals, whilst broadening the field of activity to be beneficial to an Area at large, as per the remit of RNA FM, previously described.

Advances in broadcasting technology will allow RNA the opportunity to develop the service further in terms of content, output, and coverage, in order to meet the increasing demands of the audiences.

Acknowledgements

To acknowledge the numerous organisations and individuals who have lent assistance would be exhaustive, but Radio North Angus appreciates, in particular, the input of the following:-

• National Health Service
• Ofcom
• Offshore Radio
• National Lottery Charities Board
• Lloyds TSB Foundations
• Grampian Television Telethon Fund
• Angus Council
• Messrs. Andrew Bantock, Chas MacKinnon and Martin Noar (Broadcast Advisers/Engineers)