GET YOUR MESSAGE ON THE AIR

Rocket FM is eight years old this year and we are planning a return to the airwaves from 18th October to 6th November inclusive (plus web-only transmission from 11th to 17th October), with our distinctive mix of local news views and music ... genuinely local radio, helping to promote the Town of Lewes and the wealth of products and services available from local suppliers.

We are a small not-for-profit society entirely dependent on local sponsorship. As you may have seen in the Sussex Express, our fundraising effort this year has got off to an excellent start with an equipment grant from Lewes Town Council.

However, we need upwards of £4,000 each year to cover government licensing and other operational expenses, even though all time and expertise is given free of charge by our volunteers. Below are some of the ways you can help Rocket FM, at the same time creating goodwill and giving your business worthwhile exposure to our local audience:

SPONSOR ROCKET FM

Perhaps the morning show, or the time spot, or a specialist music programme. Opportunities start at £250 and represent excellent value. Your business and message get multiple mentions daily.

ADVERTISE ON ROCKET FM

For only £150, including production, we will make you a custom advertisment and play it out at least three times a day throughout the twenty-day run. That's 60 advertising spots in all, at £2.50 a time - excellent value compared against even small press advertising.  A discount is available for previous advertisers..please ask.

DONATE

We are always glad of prizes to give away on air.  Competitions on Rocket attracted a lot of interest last year and you can generate useful publicity and goodwill for your business by donating small daily prizes, or a larger prize for a longer-running competition.  Competitions, and their sponsors, are also publicised on this web site at the appropriate time.

All sponsors are credited on this web site as well as on-air.

Please do contact us to discuss these opportunities.

To book your ad or sponsorship, or to find out more, call Andy Thomas on 478576, or e-mail us at sponsorship@rocketfm.org.uk

TRANSMISSION DATES

Rocket FM will broadcast this year between Saturday 18th October and Thursday 6th November inclusive. In addition, there will be web-only broadcast days, from Saturday 11th to Friday 17th October inclusive.

MORE BACKGROUND?  READ ON . . .

With the new "third-tier" Community Radio Licences available to apply for later this year, regular local broadcasting can become a reality in the Lewes area if the residents of Lewes want and support it.  Rocket FM has responded to the Ofcom Consultation and is already studying the feasibilty of applying for a licence.  It is clear, however, that a major effort by the local community will be needed.  Other comparable towns will undoubtedly apply for a licence, and Lewes will benefit in many ways by being part of the first wave.

LOCAL RADIO . . . REALLY LOCAL

We believe strongly in accessible, effective local radio for Lewes and our aim is to establish a regular station.  We have broadcast at Bonfire and other times over the last five years, whenever licensing laws and funding allowed.  Last November we transmitted close to 270 hours of programmes, and gave extensive airtime to over a hundred local individuals, groups and businesses.  We further improved and extended our coverage across the area.  Feedback again told us that we took significant steps in quality, reach and many other aspects of our service.

During this autumn's run, we will again broadcast the town's famous Bonfire celebrations, and feature as much local news and information as we can fit in.  We've been planning since January to ensure that this will be our most effective run yet.

Thanks for taking the time to read this;  we hope you will join our growing group of advertisers and look forward to hearing from you.