Your Harrogate acquires neighbouring radio station
Chamber member Your Harrogate is expanding after agreeing a takeover of Rombalds Radio, which covers Skipton, Ilkley and Keighley.
Rombalds Radio has been on air since August 2020 and in that time the station has built up a loyal and growing audience who tune in for local news and information.
Group Commercial Director Adam Daniel can’t wait to get started.
He said:
“We’re really excited about getting out and about around Skipton, Ilkley and Keighley and telling listeners and advertisers about this brilliant local station.
“We have been so impressed with Rombalds Radio – it offers a fantastic service at the heart of its community with a very loyal audience.”
Rombalds Radio, founded by Ilkley resident Nick Babb and Silsden’s Stuart Clarkson in 2020, will continue to deliver local news and information across its website and radio station, with the team from Your Harrogate providing business development and advertising sales expertise.
Nick Babb said:
“Over the past three years we’ve seen our ‘lockdown project’ grow into a well-respected local commercial radio station.
“Our listener base is growing and we’ve been getting out and about at events such as the Christmas Light Switch-Ons, Ilkley Carnival, Skipton Sheep Day and more.
“That will continue and we look forward to being a bigger part of the local community for many years to come.”
Listeners across Keighley, Ilkley and Skipton will soon be able to tune in to local services via digital radio, after the media regulator Ofcom announced last week that a new ‘small-scale’ DAB multiplex licence will finally be available to apply for in early 2024.
Stuart Clarkson from Rombalds Radio said:
“Our plan from the start has been to be available on DAB. The business is ready to grow to the next level – but we felt we needed to bring in some expertise that we just don’t have.
“Nick, Adam and the team at Your Harrogate have a brilliant radio and online product – and do many things that we’ve just not been able to offer to businesses in our area because of limited resources.
“This deal will ensure the continuation of local programmes and content while preparing the station we created from scratch to be an even bigger success in the future.”
Tune into Rombalds Radio at rombaldsradio.com, via the free Rombalds Radio smartphone app or ask your smartspeaker to “Play Rombalds Radio.”
