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UK Broadcast Transmission |
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THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY
| Photos by Dan Glover | Page last updated: 2016-10-23 |
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| Radio Sunlight launched early in 2012 - Ofcom shows the transmitter site as in use from 13 March but other sources suggest broadcasts commenced on 27 March 2012. The station's name comes from the Sunlight Development Trust, a community group which took over the redundant Sunlight laundry building in Gillingham. A reorganisation of Ofcom's web site makes historical documentation difficult to find however the response to a Freedom of Information request (see link below) confirms Radio Sunlight was restricted to raising 10% of its income through advertising or sponsorship - this was apparently "not [to] prejudice unduly the economic viability of any other local service." The station surrendered its licence in February 2016, continuing as an Internet-only service, reportedly due at least in part to financial difficulties. The site is within 1/4 mile of the both the old Gillingham MF site and the Gillingham KMFM transmitter. |
| Opened in 1936 as the Palace Cinema, the site is technically in Chatham (see below) as the boundary runs along Watling Street. The cinema closed in 1961 and is now home to a camping shop which refers to the building as "Clock Tower House". The main public benefit from the tower would now seem to be as a mobile phone base station. Times change, but sadly this is no longer marked by the movement of the clock. |
| The Radio Sunlight antenna was the dipole, mounted on the eastern side... |
| ...the spacing from the mounting pole would have given not-quite omnidirectional coverage. Ofcom data showed maximum ERP to the east with a reduction of up to 4 dB towards the west. |
| From another direction it seems the dipole was mounted just clear of the roof. The tapered object just in front of the support for the dipole is possibly an old flag pole. |
Palace Cinema (Chatham Historical Society)
Ofcom FoI: CR stations with restrictions on advertising revenue
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