Imagine FM

Imagine FM
	Adult contemporary
Ownership
Owner	Bauer Media Group
History
First air date	1990
Last air date	1 September 2021
Links
Website	imagineradiouk.co

Imagine FM was an Independent Local Radio station based in Stockport broadcasting to South Manchester and Cheshire in the North West of England.

History

The station began its life as

radio station based in Stockport and broadcasting to the South Manchester/North Cheshire

area on 94.2 MHz and then on 1017 kHz.

KFM ran during the 1980s and then relaunched legitimately as one of the first 'incremental' local commercial stations in 1990, set up to provide more localised and specialised programming.

Signal Radio

assumed control of the station, following difficulties in its latter incarnation, and KFM became memorable almost solely for its 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Night-time KFM output. This combined local and global new indie music with innovative DJing.

Presenters on air at this time include Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Jon Ronson, Terry Christian and Neil Cossar,^[1] all of which have gone on to forge successful careers in the media and performing arts.

KFM was succeeded by Signal Cheshire.

Imagine FM is now trading as an independent radio station since it was bought from

UTV Radio

in January 2009.

Signal Cheshire

In 1990 a new service was launched, in Cheshire, on 96.4 FM called Echo 96. In 1991, this was renamed Signal Cheshire upon the acquisition of the KFM 104.9 transmitter. Based in Stockport, Signal Cheshire targeted the surrounding area of South Manchester and much of Cheshire, opting into networked programming from the Stoke-on-Trent site by night. There was a further change of identity in 1997 to Signal FM.

In 2000, Imagine FM became the new rebranded service on 104.9 and 96.4, and when the 104.9 frequency was readvertised, the then-owners of both stations,

The Wireless Group

, decided that the 96.4 transmitter should return to Signal One.

The station uses the tag line Cheshire's No.1 More Music Station and prides itself on updating the area on local news and information.

The transmitter is based close to Stockport town centre.

2009 sale

On Wednesday 21 May 2008,

UTV Radio

in January 2009 and now trades as Imagine FM Limited. After 20 years of the 104.9 wavelength being based at Regent House, Stockport, Imagine FM moved to Waterloo Place, Stockport in November 2010 and now broadcasts from the legendary Strawberry Studios.

The transmitter was also relocated from Romiley to Stockport centre at the same time.

Under the ownership of the Helius Media Group, Imagine came under common ownership, and began to share programming with, High Peak Radio in the Derbyshire dales.