Switch Radio

Name

Switch Radio

Legal name

Switch Radio

Website

https://switchradio.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Local Radio Stations (MPABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio) (MPAIAEAD)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Local news coverage
• Music programming
• Media training services
• Digital radio streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Castle Bromwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Radio advertising at competitive rates, including scripting and voicing support for advertisements.
2. Web Advertising: Advertising on website and radio players, including visual advertising design services.
3. Show Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities allowing brands to leverage audience trust and become part of the station.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Switch Radio is a non-profit community radio station based in Birmingham, UK that broadcasts music programming, local news, sports coverage, and charity-related content. It distributes its output across FM, DAB digital radio, online streaming, and mobile applications to serve the Birmingham community. The station also runs a media training programme to develop local broadcasting talent.

Product overview

Switch Radio is a community radio station architecture consisting of multiple programme offerings: live broadcast radio available via FM (North-East Birmingham), DAB digital (Birmingham), online streaming, and mobile apps (Radioplayer, TuneIn). The core product lineup includes music programming (Switch Mix overnight block, breakfast shows, specialist music shows), local news and community content (Midlands Magazine), sports coverage (Switch Sport, 107.Drive), and community engagement features (competitions, reviews, volunteer opportunities). Commercial services include advertising (on-air, web, sponsorship, outside broadcasts), while the unsigned artist platform (Switch Radio Uploader) enables independent musicians to submit tracks for airplay. The station also operates a media training academy offering courses in broadcasting, production, and digital content creation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Switch Radio broadcast service Community radio broadcast service delivering music programming, local news, sports coverage, and charity-related content to listeners in the Birmingham area via FM, DAB, online streaming, and mobile applications.
• Media training programme Training programme offering practical broadcasting and media production skills to aspiring broadcasters and community members in the Birmingham area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free community promotion for charities and community groups through Midlands Magazine
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Radio X: Global Radio's alternative rock station available across the UK including the West Midlands. Competes for music listeners in the same region with a national-brand footprint and digital-first offering.
• Heart West Midlands: Global Radio's adult contemporary station serving the West Midlands. Competes for the same Birmingham listenership and local advertiser base with a much larger commercial footprint.
• Smooth Radio West Midlands: Global Radio's smooth/adult contemporary station covering the West Midlands. Comparable regional radio offering targeting a similar local audience with significantly greater resources.
• BBC Radio WM: BBC's local radio station for the West Midlands, broadcasting news, talk, and music across the same geographic market as Switch Radio. Directly comparable in format and target audience but operates at much larger scale with public funding.

Direct peers

• New Style Radio 98.7: Community radio station broadcasting in Birmingham on 98.7 FM. Closely comparable as another local, volunteer-driven community broadcaster serving the same West Midlands audience.
• Unity FM: Community radio station broadcasting to Birmingham and the surrounding areas on a similar non-profit, volunteer-led basis. Direct peer as a community station serving overlapping geographic and demographic audiences.
• Capital Birmingham: Hit Music / contemporary hits radio station serving Birmingham and the West Midlands as part of Global's national Capital network. Competes for the same young adult listenership and local advertiser spend in Birmingham.
• Greatest Hits Radio Birmingham: Bauer's classic hits station serving the West Midlands including Birmingham. Comparable in format (music-led local radio) and competes in the same regional advertising market.
• Free Radio: Commercial radio station broadcasting across the West Midlands, including Birmingham and the Black Country. Most directly comparable competitor as a regional music-and-talk station serving the same local advertising market.
• Hits Radio Birmingham: Bauer-owned contemporary hits station broadcasting into Birmingham. Operates with similar pop-focused format and competes directly for the same advertiser and listener pool in the West Midlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/switch_radio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Switch Radio