Broadcast news as station gets new HQ
New address in Pitlochry for popular Heartland Radio
Heartland Radio is broadcasting from a new base in Pitlochry, and on Friday guests gathered for the official opening ceremony attended by MSP John Swinney.
The deputy first minister for Scotland and MSP for Perthshire North, Mr Swinney has been a regular guest on the station during its long history operating out of Pitlochry, opening the previous two locations of Heartland FM.
The community-owned, volunteer-run radio station started in 1992 and moved first from a base at Pitlochry’s curling rink to an office behind the Old Mill Inn.
When that hospitality business needed to expand and take back the lease, Heartland’s volunteers had to look for a new space for their studio.
Conveniently the Highland Perthshire Communities Project (HPCP) and The Highland Perthshire Broadband Project had room at their base on Atholl Road, so radio operations shifted to the new address in June.
Funding from SSE Griffin and Calliacher Wind Fund allowed Heartland FM to design and build new facilities fit for broadcasting in the 21st century.
Heartland now has two broadcast studios with a fully automated playout system.
Station manager Alistair Smith had been involved in commercial radio for 20 years before lending his expertise to Heartland last September.
Heartland FM chairman Graham Huggins said: “Our vision is to create a media hub closely aligned with a robust, open training programme teaching new skills and improving employability which will see greater community cohesion across Highland Perthshire.” John Swinney with Alistair Smith as Heartland FM opens new studio premises in Pitlochry