County Sound Radio (1566 AM)

County Sound Radio was a commercial radio station covering Surrey and north-east Hampshire. It is now broadcast as 'Eagle Extra' on 1566 MW and 91.5 FM (on cable) and on the internet via the website.

History

County Sound Radio was launched on 4 April 1983 by Frank Muir on 203 MW and 96.6 FM, broadcasting from "The Friary" shopping centre in Guildford. In 1986 the FM frequency was changed to 96.4 FM.

The FM transmitter is on the Hog's Back, while the AM transmitter, shared with Absolute Radio, is next to the railway line in Farncombe, opposite Broadwater School.

County Sound was originally only on air (weekdays) 6am until 9pm, then midnight, with future extensions to 5am and 1am, before going 24 hours.

The original line-up included Phil Miles at Breakfast, Paul Owens, Sarah Lucas "after lunch" and Simon Cummings during the afternoon. Nigel Williams presented the evening show called '96.6'. Norman Cunningham was the company Chairman, David Lucas was the launch Managing Director and Mike Powell was the first Head of News. The following year Powell became Programme Director. When Lucas left in 1986 to become Managing Director of Ocean Sound, Powell became Managing Director.