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2-Ten FM
Broadcast area	Reading and Basingstoke
Frequency	97.0 MHz, 102.9 MHz and 103.4 MHz
First air date	8 March 1976
Format	Contemporary
Audience share	11.3% (September 2007, [1])
Owner	GCap Media
Website	www.2tenfm.co.uk

2-Ten FM is an Independent Local Radio station serving Berkshire and North Hampshire with studios in Reading. Originally called Radio 210 (Two-One-Oh) it commenced broadcasting in March 1976 on its medium-wave frequency of 210 metres (1431 kHz). It is now part of The One Network of stations run by GCap Media.

Contents 1 History 2 1987 schedule 3 Split frequencies 4 Slogans 5 See also 6 External links

The original parent company, Radio Kennet had won the licence to broadcast as far back as 1974, but plans for the station to float on the London Stock Exchange as soon as it commenced broadcasting failed as it didn't raise enough cash. Radio Kennet returned in 1976 as Thames Valley Broadcasting.

Radio 210 first broadcast on March 8, 1976 at 6am. Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Paul Hollingdale played the Carpenters record "We've Only Just Begun". Amongst the early presenters were Steve Wright, Mike Read, Tony Fox (deceased) David Addis, Steve Crozier, Mike Matthews, Tony Holden and Steve Wood. Some of these early presenters went on to gain national recognition.

Radio 210 initially only served Reading with a transmitter on 97.0 MHz FM on top of The Butts Shopping Centre; however that changed when it began broadcasting from the Hannington transmitter on a second frequency of 102.9 at midday 1 January 1987 to serve a wider area of Berkshire and North Hampshire, with a Henley-on-Thames relay added in 1997.

Radio 210 first became popular with listeners in the mid to late 70s with its dual DJ format - a partnership under the title of Read and Wright (Mike Read and Steve Wright). Working in a friendly partnership they had great banter and a good repartee together. They later became famous in separate careers on national radio.

In 1987, you could hear Graham Ledger with the breakfast show between 5:30 and 8:00, before David Hamilton came on at 8:00 with the morning show (he had just left BBC Radio 2 because he thought it was too middle-of-the-road, he is now on Big L 1395). Radio 210 Sport was 'first with the action' with a regular sports bulletin 7 days a week: 8:30, 13:30 and 18:30 Monday to Friday and SportScene on Saturday afternoon with local and national fixtures. Results and reports at 16:40 and a sport check at 16:55. Keith Butler presented the weekend Tea-Time slot from 17:15 on Saturday and from 17:30 on Sunday.

In the early 1993 Radio 210 split frequencies (as required then to do so by Government due to a radio act recently passed to end simulcasting) to provide two services - Radio 210 FM and 210 Classic Gold Radio, today known as 2-Ten FM and Gold (Thames Valley).

Radio 210 claimed to be the only comprehensive travel service in the Thames Valley and North Hampshire. It had news bulletins on the hour every hour and also regional news during certain points throughout the day. 2-Ten FM is now owned by GCap Media.

Some of the more well-known slogans used on air were/are:

• Tune to 210!
• Closer to you, Radio 210! - Jingles for this era were produced by Alfasound.
• Sounds of your life.
• Hits and Memories.
• The Fresh Mix/More Hit Radio.
• A Better Music Mix
• Today's Best Mix

• Kick FM
• BBC Radio Berkshire

• 2-Ten FM's website
• Ofcom details of transmission
• Memories publicity and jingles of 70s and 80s ILR in the south east

v • d • e GCap Media

Corporate Directors: Ralph Bernard (Chairman) · Steve Orchard (Group Operations Director) · Wendy Pallot (Group Finance Director) National FM radio station: Classic FM The One Network: 2CR FM · 2-Ten FM · Trent FM · 96.9 Chiltern FM  · 97.6 Chiltern FM  · BRMB · Beacon Radio  · Buzz 97.1  · Champion 103 · Coast 96.3  · Essex FM  · Horizon Radio · Fox FM · GWR FM Bath · GWR FM Bristol · GWR FM Wiltshire · Gemini FM · Hereward FM · Invicta FM  · Lantern FM  · Leicester Sound · Marcher Sound · Mercia FM · Mercury FM · Northants 96 · Orchard FM · Plymouth Sound FM · Power FM · Q103 · Radio Broadland · RAM FM  · Red Dragon FM · SGR Colchester · SGR-FM · Severn Sound · Southern FM · Ten 17 · Wyvern FM Other Local FM Stations: Capital 95.8 · South Hams Radio1 · Ocean FM Local AM Stations: Gold Network Choice FM: Choice FM London · Choice 107.1 FM · Choice Digital Xfm Network: Xfm London · Xfm Manchester · Xfm Scotland · Xfm South Wales Digital-only stations: Capital Life · Chill · Core · Fun Radio2 · Planet Rock · theJazz TV Station: Classic FM TV 80%, with UKRD Group 50%, with HIT Entertainment Website: www.gcapmedia.com

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