View source for Cool FM

{{Short description|Radio station in Belfast, Northern Ireland}}
{{for multi|the Winnipeg radio station|CJZZ-FM|the Nigerian station|Cool FM Nigeria}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = Cool FM
| logo = Cool FM Logo 2013.png
| logo_size = 200px
| city = [[Newtownards]]
| area = [[Northern Ireland]]
| airdate = {{start date and age|1990|02|07|df=y}}
| frequency = {{ubl|[[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: 12D [[Bauer Radio|Bauer]] Northern Ireland|[[FM broadcasting|FM]]: {{frequency|97.4|MHz}} [[Black Mountain transmitting station|Greater Belfast]]}}
| rds = COOL FM
| format = [[Contemporary hit radio|CHR/pop]]
| network = [[Hits Radio]] (for sales purposes)
| owner = [[Bauer Media Audio UK]]
| sister_stations = {{hlist|[[Downtown Radio]]|Downtown Country}}
| webcast = [https://hellorayo.co.uk/cool-fm/play/ Rayo]
| website = [https://hellorayo.co.uk/cool-fm/ Cool FM]
}}

'''Cool FM''' is an [[Independent Local Radio]] station based in [[Newtownards]], Northern Ireland. The station is owned and operated by [[Bauer Media Audio UK|Bauer]] and forms part of Bauer's [[Hits Radio Network]].

The station began broadcasting in 1990 when its parent station [[Downtown Radio]] ceased [[simulcasting]] and split its [[AM broadcasting|AM]] and [[FM broadcasting|FM]] frequencies into two separate services. [[Downtown Radio]] continued on {{frequency|1026|kHz}} AM and FM frequencies outside Belfast{{endash}}and Cool FM was created to broadcast on {{frequency|97.4|MHz}}. Initially broadcasting to the [[Greater Belfast]] area only, Cool FM can now be received across Northern Ireland on [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]].

As of December 2024, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 471,000, according to [[RAJAR]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php | title=RAJAR }}</ref>

==Programming==
Cool FM plays a broad mix of popular, youth-orientated pop and dance music. Some of the stations most popular shows are ''[[Pete Snodden]] in the Morning'' with Pete, Paulo and Rebeeca and the ''Cool Saturday Show'' with [[Stuart Robinson (broadcaster)|Stuart Robinson]] and Deputy Dave. Cool FM features some specialised music such as ''Cool of Rock'' on weekday mornings, classic hits in ''The Cool Years'' on Sunday afternoons and ''Cool Goes Quiet'', love songs on Sunday{{endash}}Thursday nights.

Although station owner, [[Bauer Radio]], packages Cool FM as part of the [[Hits Radio Network]] for selling advertising, Cool FM does not broadcast any Hits Radio networked programmes. All of Cool FM shows are locally presented and produced from its Newtownards studios.

Local news bulletins air on the hour between 06:00 and 22:00 every day. On weekdays, there are extended bulletins at 13:00 and 17:00 and headlines on the half hour during breakfast and drivetime.

==Presenters==

*Paul Kennedy (1995–present)
*[[Pete Snodden]] (2000–present)
*[[DJ Hix]] (2007–present)
*[[Stuart Robinson (broadcaster)|Stuart Robinson]] (2010–present)
*Paulo Ross (2014–present)
*John Kearns (1990–1995, 2014-present)
*Owen Beers (2014–present)
*Rebecca McKinney (2015–present)
*Deputy Dave (2015–present)
*Melissa Riddell (2016–present)
*Curtis McCosh (2016–present)
*Katharine Walker (2019–present)
*Evanna Maxted (2021–present)
*Ryan A (2010–2014, 2022-present)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Bauer}}
{{Northern Ireland radio|97.4}}
{{Radio in Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord missing|County Down}}

[[Category:Bauer Radio]]
[[Category:Mass media in County Down]]
[[Category:Newtownards]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1990]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom]]