AN AWARD-winning radio presenter has set up his own community station based in his home town of Rhyl.

Craig Kennealey launched “Rhyl Radio” in August, with roughly 15 years of experience in the industry under his belt.

Though Rhyl Radio has been set up initially as a live online music stream, Craig plans to tap in to the “smartphone generation”, and aims to create something more akin to an audio version of a newspaper.

Now a voice-over artist and DJ, Craig has previously worked at Rhyl-based Point FM, and won gold for entertainment show of the year and silver for best male presenter while there at the 2016 Community Radio Awards.

After Point FM closed, Craig later worked as a presenter on Sound Radio, based in Kinmel Bay.

He said: “Radio is something I’ve done for the last 15 years. This is just a little side project that I’ve started in the last few months. I thought it would be something good to do, with the skills I’ve got.

“At the moment, I’m mostly on my own. A few people are involved and are interested in being involved, and there are a few organisations that I possibly plan to work with, maybe from next year onwards.

“It’s boomed a bit quicker than I thought it would, to be honest. It’s still in the planning, but we’re running a music stream online.

READ MORE:

Councillor involved in Kinmel Bay crash urges more action to deter speeding

Tributes to ‘irreplaceable’, ‘amazing’ Prestatyn Athletic club secretary

Rhyl bistro and bar launches affordable new ‘cost of living menu’

“We plan to have interviews and stories with local people and organisations – similar to a newspaper, but an audio version, I guess, where people can interact.

“My thinking is: ‘How many times have you picked up your phone today, and how many times have you turned on a FM radio today?’

“In the ‘smartphone generation’ now, people look more at their phones than actual radio sets. I’m intrigued by the likes of TikTok, YouTube, smart speakers – I think that’s the future, more so than FM Radios.”

Rhyl Radio can currently be picked up on smart speakers, or be listened to at: www.rhylradio.co.uk.

For more about Craig, visit his website at: www.craigk.co.uk.