Sunrise Radio
 | |
| |
Broadcast area | Greater London on AM; United Kingdom on DAB |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | MW: 963 kHz and 972 kHz DAB: 11A (Sound Digital) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Asian Music, Entertainment & News |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Sunrise Radio London Limited |
| Sunrise Hits & Sunrise Retro | |
| History | |
First air date | 5 November 1989 (34 years ago) |
Former frequencies | 1413 kHz 1458 kHz |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Sunrise Radio is a British Asian commercial radio station based in Hounslow, London. It broadcasts Asian music, entertainment and news from the Indian subcontinent to Greater London on 963 and 972 AM, nationally on DAB+, and online.
According to RAJAR, Sunrise Radio National and Sunrise Radio London broadcast to a combined weekly audience of 425,000 listeners as of December 2023.[1]
History
[edit]Sunrise Radio started life as the pirate radio station Sina Radio, originally founded by Manjit Singh Gehdu and based in Southall, Middlesex from 1984 until 1988.[2][3][4]
In 1989, owned by Avtar Lit, it was awarded a license and officially launched on 5 November 1989, becoming the first 24-hour radio station in the UK specifically for the Asian demographic.[5] It initially broadcast to West London on 1413 AM.[6] In 1994, it took over the BBC's former 1458 kHz frequency which had been used for GLR.
In 1992, the station acquired Sunrise House in Southall which was officially opened on 21 January 1993, by Peter Baldwin Chief Executive of the Radio Authority. In 2016, Sunrise Radio Moved to a new purpose built studio and office in Hounslow, which also serves as the company's Headquarters.[7]
The station expanded by also broadcasting on satellite television, first on the Astra analogue satellite, and later on Sky Digital.
From 1991 through until August 2004, the Sunrise Radio satellite feed was the source of the live hourly IRN news bulletins for numerous UK commercial, community and hospital radio stations.[citation needed]
In July 2013, Lit was one of forty radio professionals honoured by the Radio Centre for their significant contribution to the growth and success of the industry.[8]
On 13 January 2014, the station would go into administration.[9] The station was bought by the mobile operator Lyca, and was able to retain its license, with a move to 963/972 AM.[10] Tony Lit was appointed managing director, with Gurdev Jassi as chairman.[11]
In November 2014, the Sunrise Radio Training Academy was launched - a free training scheme for those wanting to pursue a career in radio.[12] The scheme allows those wishing to pursue a career in radio to train alongside professionals and learn every aspect of the business, from producing to presenting and radio journalism.
Sunrise Radio went Nationwide on DAB in early 2016.[citation needed]
Events
[edit]Sunrise Radio has organised and sponsored many events and melas, including a collaboration with the Mayor of London's office to put together the London Mela,[13] launched in August 2003 in Gunnersbury Park, West London. The event attracted an audience of over 60,000.
In 2004 Sunrise Radio launched the Asian Lifestyle Show at London's Olympia attracting over 40,000 people.[14] The event was widely recognised as the largest celebration of Asian culture in Europe. The show was shortlisted for the 'Best New Consumer Show 2004' by the Association of Event Organisers.[15] The Asian Lifestyle Show 2004-2007 was consistently sold out.
Sunrise Radio has collaborated with University College London (UCL) and Imperial College[16] to support their West End production, Rangeela.
Subsidiary stations
[edit]On 8 May 2023, Sunrise Radio launched Sunrise Smooth, a station playing easy listening Asian music. Sunrise Smooth was launched on DAB in London, but Sunrise Radio confirmed it had plans to launch the station on other DAB platforms in the UK.[17]
On 5 November 2025, Sunrise Smooth was replaced by two new stations:[18] Sunrise Hits, playing melodic contemporary Asian music, launched nationally on Sound Digital in space freed up by the conversion of the principal Sunrise Radio service to DAB+; and Sunrise Retro, playing older-leaning Asian pop, which took the place of Sunrise Smooth in London.
Recognition
[edit]Sunrise Radio has won the 'Radio Station of the Year' award at the Asian Media Awards in 2016, 2017[19] 2019,[20] 2021,[21] 2023,[22] and 2025.[23] It has won 'Asian Radio Station of the Year' at the British Asian Media Awards in 2020,[24] and 2025.[25] In 2024, it won the 'Media of the Year' award at Economic Policy Group's 16th Annual Political & Public Life Awards at the House of Commons.[26][27][28] It won the NTL Commercial Radio Award for Marketing Excellence in 2004.[29]
Farah Ahmed (Bollywood Top 20) was named the 'Best Media Personality' by the Pakistani Achievement Awards 2014.[30]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "RAJAR". www.rajar.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ↑ Stephen Hebditch (17 August 2014). "Sina Radio - London pirate radio history - AM/FM". Amfm.org.uk.
- ↑ "Sunrise pays tribute to UK pioneer of Asian radio". My London. 30 November 2011.
- ↑ Ammar Kalia (23 January 2019). "From blaring bhangra to the new grime: 30 years of brilliant British Asian broadcasting". The Guardian.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio Celebrates 25th Birthday". Asiana. No. 20 November 2014.
- ↑ The Radio Authority Pocket Book June 1992
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio". South Asian Britain: Connecting Histories. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "RadioCentre's Roll of Honour revealed". Radio Today. 3 July 2013.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio in Administration". BizAsia. 21 January 2014.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio retains London AM licence - Radio Today". Radio Today. 23 April 2015.
- ↑ Pidgeon, David. "Sunrise Radio appoints new managing director". Media Tel. No. 8 September 2014.
- ↑ Baddhan, Lakh. "Sunrise Radio announces Radio Presenters Academy". Biz Asia. No. 3 October 2014.
- ↑ "Mayor launches plans for the London Mela 2005". Greater Authority London. No. 16 May 2005. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014.
- ↑ "Asian Lifestyle Show HIGHLIGHTS".
- ↑ "Asian Lifestyle Show 2005 - This summer's biggest lifestyle exhibition". Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2005.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio to sponsor Just Bollywood event". Radio Today. No. 29 October 2014.
- ↑ Martin, Roy (9 May 2023). "Sunrise Smooth launches playing easy-listening Asian music". Radio Today. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ↑ RadioToday, Oct 2025
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio Is 2016 Radio Station of the Year". Asian Media Awards. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ↑ "RAJAR". rajar.co.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ↑ "Radio Station of the Year award for Sunrise Radio". RadioToday. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio wins Radio Station of the Year at the 2023 Asian Media Awards for the fifth time". Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ↑ "Sunrise named 2025 Radio Station of the Year". Asian Media Awards. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio picks up BAM's Station of the Year award". BizAsia. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio wins Radio Station of the Year award". 3 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ↑ EPG (8 March 2024). "Sadiq Khan, Oliver Dowden, Angela Rayner top the poll at Awards". EPG Economic and Strategy Consulting. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio awarded Media of the Year at prestigious award ceremony". Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ↑ "Sunrise Radio picks up 'Media of the Year' award". www.bizasialive.com. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ↑ "DJ Fox picks up NTL radio award". Broadcast Now. No. 28 June 2004.
- ↑ Farooq, Usman. "The Pakistan Achievement Awards, UK & Europe". ebuzz today. No. 16 October 2014.