Latest news with #Unity101
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Community radio station goes digital with DAB launch and studio upgrade
A community radio station is expanding its reach and upgrading its broadcast facilities. Unity 101 in Southampton is now broadcasting on DAB digital radio across Hampshire and parts of Dorset following a ten-year extension to its broadcasting licence from Ofcom. The station, which first went on air in 2005, is run entirely by volunteers and serves as a voice for Asian and ethnic communities in the region. Programming is offered in multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish, Mandarin, Tamil, and English. Ram Kalyan "Kelly," station manager and founder, said: "It's an exciting time for Unity 101. "The new studio brings us into the next phase of community broadcasting – and with DAB, we can now reach audiences across a wider regional area. "We're still the same trusted voice, just on a bigger stage." READ MORE: Popular local radio station to make comeback Listeners in Portsmouth, Winchester, Basingstoke, and Poole can now tune in more easily, broadening the station's reach. The recent studio upgrade includes modern broadcast desks and production equipment designed to support higher-quality live radio, podcasts, and remote interviews. Chayya Thanki, a drive time presenter who has volunteered with Unity 101 for a decade, said: "It feels lovely to be presenting to a wider audience. "People used to come up to me and say they couldn't get Unity 101 in their area. "Now I guess they'll be happy to know they can tune in on DAB." Unity 101 offers in-house radio training for its volunteers and provides hands-on broadcasting experience to schools, colleges, and public sector organisations. Its programming features a mix of afrobeats, Bollywood, bhangra, soul, and world music, as well as cultural shows, celebrity interviews, community news, and discussions on topical issues. Regular contributors include the NHS, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, Hampshire Constabulary, and local arts organisations. Ram said: "The future is full of potential. "I'm grateful to every person who has supported us. "Unity 101 has always belonged to the community. "We invite everyone in Hampshire and Dorset to tune in and discover what community radio really sounds like."
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Every day is a milestone': Unity 101 Community Radio celebrates 20th anniversary
A community radio station in Southampton is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year by holding a ten-month series of cultural events to bring communities together through music and culture. Unity 101 Community Radio was created two decades ago by Ram 'Kelly' Kalyan, who wanted to create a radio station 'for the community, by the community.' In that time, 178 people have volunteered at the radio studio on St Mary's Road. Over 20 years the radio station has broadcast both live and pre-recorded shows in English, Bangla, Mandarin and Cantonese, Gujarati, Hindi, Dari, Polish, Punjabi, Urdu, and African/Caribbean Creole. Since its inception, Kelly has been station manager at the radio station and can often be found sitting outside the main studio creating audio packages, writing scripts, and helping the next generation of budding DJ's. 'It's a passion of love,' Kelly told the Echo, as he reflected on the 20th anniversary of Unity 101. READ MORE: 'I'm over the moon of the work we've done in the last 20 years. I think our volunteers are second to none, their commitment is unbelievable, it's like a family. 'We're passionate about serving the community, we don't often say it, but we do it. 'Every day is a milestone, when someone achieves their outcomes, it's satisfying. When a presenter goes on air, it's satisfying. 'When you talk to people, they speak highly about us and we're a respected station. We've got a clear vision, and we've never deviated from that.' To celebrate the landmark anniversary the community radio station will celebrate with 'A World of Cultures.' The celebration will see community events in five different locations – including the The Design Chapel, Polish Club, and De Ja Vu – beginning on Sunday, March 30, and will take place on the last Sunday of each month. Kelly said: 'We've been serving the community on air and now we want to serve them face-to-face. 'We've always broadcasted in 10 languages, we want to celebrate the different cultures, food, and storytelling of each language. 'Each language is represented by a volunteer that speaks that language, so we're taking that into five different venues for the whole family to come along have some snacks, say hello, take part in some entertainment workshops, and we can all have a better understanding of each other.'
