Radio Skye

Radio Skye
Portree, Isle of Skye;
Broadcast area	Isle of Skye and Lochalsh
Frequency	FM:; 102.7 MHz (Skye & Lochalsh); 106.2 MHz (Portree & Sleat); 107.2 MHz (Staffin)
Branding	Radio Skye
Programming
Format	Community based speech, local news and events, music, sport.
Ownership
Owner	Community owned
Links
Website	radioskye.com

Radio Skye is a local radio station which broadcasts from Portree to the Isle of Skye, as well as the region of Lochalsh, Wester Ross on the Scottish mainland.

History

The station first started under its original name of Cuillin FM, in the mid-1990s, operating a number of temporary Restricted Service Licence broadcasts from a location at the former Aros Centre.^[1] It launched as a full-time FM radio service in 2004,^[2] with its coverage initially restricted to the Portree area only.

On Sunday 19th July 2020, Cuillin FM officially became Radio Skye following a rebrand and relaunch.

Radio Skye has subsequently expanded its transmission to the rest of the Isle of Skye via the high-power Skriaig transmitter site, and in 2022 extended its signal coverage to previously unserved areas of Sleat and Trotternish, including Staffin.

About

The station took its original name (Cuillin FM) from a mountain range on Skye, which also made up the background of the station's logo.

Programming

The station broadcasts live from their studio in Portree with daily breakfast and drivetime programmes along with regular news bulletins. The daily schedule is also filled with live and pre-recorded shows. The station has a duty to provide at least three hours of Gaelic programming per week.

Radio Skye also has outside broadcasting facilities for outdoor and on-location events such as shinty matches, The Highland Games, Piping and Music Festivals, agricultural shows and Youth Speaks.^[3]

The morning service from Portree Free Church is aired on Radio Skye between 2 pm and 3 pm each Sunday.^[4]

The station works with local young people to train new radio presenters and produce youth-led programming.^[5]

Breakfast Show

Radio Skye broadcasts a daily Breakfast Show (Monday to Friday) between 0730 and 0930. This is presented by station manager Suzy Lee 4 days a week, with Robert John MacInnes covering the show on Wednesdays.

Drivetime Show

The ‘Dol Dhachaigh’ drivetime show is broadcast live Monday to Friday from 1630 to 1800.

Local News

The station employs a Cultural Journalist, Adam Gordon, alongside the station manager to develop local news stories that form part of regular bulletins during the daily schedule. These bulletins are broadcast at 8am, 8.30am, then on the hour through the day until 5pm and 5.30pm.

YouthSPACE

In 2023, Radio Skye launched its YouthSPACE training programme. This is dedicated to helping young people aged between 12 and 24 to get an insight into a career in media. The scheme is also designed to help young people improve their confidence and learn essential workplace skills. The station works with a freelance Youth Mentor, Robert John MacInnes, to deliver this training scheme.

Awards

The station and presenters have been nominated for and received numerous awards at events such as the Community Radio Awards. In 2023, Sam Hinks won the Sage Person (over 60) category, with traditional music programme Friday Night Trad being awarded second place in the Specialist Music Show of the Year category. In the special Coronation of King Charles II category, Radio Skye won second place with The Coronation Ceilidh Special Broadcast. At the 2022 awards, Jim Campbell won the Sage Person (over 60) first place award, the Radio Skye Hustings (local government elections) won bronze in the Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year category, and Skye Spors came second in the Sports Show of the Year category. Youth presenter Luke Eveling was the winner of the Best Speech Show in the 2022 Young Audio Awards.