Mercia FM

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**Mercia FM**
Broadcast area	Coventry
First air date	May 23, 1980
Frequency	97.0 MHz, 102.9 MHz
Format	Contemporary
Owner	GCap Media

Mercia FM is an Independent Local Radio broadcasting from Coventry. The Breakfast Show is hosted by Ant McGinley and Helen Knott, and produced by Mike Newman. Late Night Love (see Trent FM) from 10pm - 1am is hosted by Graham Torrington. The 97FM signal is by far the strongest, from the transmitter at Shilton, near the M6/M69 junction, and is for Coventry, and the much weaker signal 102.9FM for Leamington Spa.

It began as Mercia Sound on 23rd May 1980. The station launched at 0700 BST by Gordon Astley and a news bulletin read by Mike Henfield.

The station broadcast on 95.9 FM and 1359 KHz (220 m MW)from studios in Hertford Place, just outside Coventry City Centre.

In 1987, the station moved FM frequencies, along with most ILR stations at the time to 97.0 FM. Shortly after this a new transmitter on 102.9 FM was created to serve South Warwickshire.

In 1989, along with BRMB in Birmingham, the AM frquency was split from the FM transmissions to create a new radio station called Xtra AM which played music from the 60's and 70's.

In 1993, the station's owners, Midlands Radio plc, sold out to GWR Group, who homogenised the output to fit its playlist and ubiquitous style.

Notable DJs on Mercia have included Perry Spiller, Ant McGinley, Chris Marsden, Mark Keen, Marc Silk, Simon Moss, Craig Beck, Rachel Hopper, Kam and Sally (Kam was later replaced by Kevin), Jim Hawkins, Ru and James and Graham Torrington and his Late Night Love (10pm - 1am weekdays).