GTFM is a 'not for profit' local radio station based at Pontypridd in Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough. It began broadcasting full-time in 2002 as part of the 'Access Radio' pilot study, going on to become the proud holder of the first Ofcom Community Radio Licence to be issued in Wales.To contact us by email use: 'mail@gtfm.co.uk' for general enquiries, dedications and whats on information (charitable/non-profit events only) and 'news@gtfm.co.uk' with your community news stories. Our main phone switchboard phone number is 01443 406111.

Appeal:

THE WELSH BLOOD SERVICE asks you to "Donate a New Year gift of life" The urgent need for blood didn't go away over the holiday period and stocks are now very low. So the Welsh Blood Service is encouraging both regular and new donors to come forward and give the incredibly valuable gift of life to patients in hospitals throughout Wales. Local blood donor sessions have now resumed and GTFM broadcasts details every day. You can also check them out right now on this website in 'Local Events' accessible via the 'Whats On' tab above. Alternatively you can follow this link directly to Welsh Blood's own website:http://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/English/index.asp

News:

COOL RUNNING!

Superstar runner Linford Christie was the mystery guest at the 50th ANNUAL NOS GALAN RUN held in Mountain Ash on a very chilly New Year's Eve. According to the organisers around 10,000 people braved the sub-zero temperatures to line the streets to watch as Britain's greatest 100 metre sprinter laid a wreath at Guto Nyth Bran's grave in Llanwonno before running the route to the town centre. GTFM's Ian Edwards managed to catch a quick word with him. Hear an mp3 version by clicking here.

Leah Dixon and Jorge Thomas of Cardiff Athletics Club, first female and male across the line in the elite race.

We are grateful to RCT County Borough Council for supplying these photos

HOWARD's SNIP RAISES 505.00!

During much of 2008 GTFM Presenter Howard Griffiths grew a sponsored pony-tail and wore a fetching pink tee-shirt in aid of local cancer support charity 'Rhondda Breast Friends'. The photo above captures the moment it was snipped off at a ceremony held during GTFM Volunteer's Christmas Party at Pontypridd Rugby Club. RBF founder, Diane Raybould says 'Thanks to All, especially Howard, for a brilliant night'. Well done indeed.

Programme Highlights:

THE CARDIFF CITY PHONE-IN - Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7-8pm: This exclusive show is dedicated entirely to Cardiff City FC. The Bluebirds are certainly flying high at present and are due to meet Arsenal at home in the next round of the FA Cup, following their 2-0 victory against Reading at the weekend. Also, at fourth place in the Championship they are firm play-off contenders. But with the Premiership in sight will they also be able to put the same energy into the FA Cup race as they did last season when they went all the way to the final at Wembley? Have your say by calling 01443 654654 (after 6.30pm on the night) or by sending an email to mail@gtfm.co.uk. The Cardiff City Phone-In on GTFM is sponsored by Call4Staff. Link to official club website: www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

BOB AND NORM'S BLUES SHOW - Every Monday from 10pm to Midnight: Find out more about the Blues Show here

Y CLWB CYMRAEG is a magazine programme broadcast in the medium of Welsh every Tuesday from 7-10pm, presented by Ioan Dyer and Gary Ellis. In their first show of 2009 (Blwyddyn newydd dda!) the boys look forward to what`s ahead in 2009 including films due for release and Menter Iaith events for January. They'll also look at other things to do, where and when. Plus a review of sporting action over Christmas and New Year and a look forward to 2009 with Guto from Ponty RFC and Anwen James. They'll find out how 11 year old Ieuan Bennett from Ponty got on in the Mastermind Cymru competition on Sunday, check-in with Cath out in France to see what she got up to over Christmas and, if that wasn`t enough, feature tracks from two brand new cd`s, one from 'Mim Twm Llai' and the other from a new band called 'Creision Hud'. All on Tuesday 6th January from 7-10pm.

HIGHLY STRUNG WITH HOWARD REES - Every Tuesday from 10pm to Midnight: Listen every week for the best in folk and world music plus local gig news.

THE GTFM ROCKSHOW WITH ANDY FOX - Wednesdays 10pm to Midnight: This week's show will feature our Review of 2008 Part One with interview segments from Stone Gods, Asia, Airbourne, Alterbridge, Fish and David Coverdale from Whitesnake, plus tracks from the albums that rocked your world in 2008! What were your favourites of last year? E-mail the programme at rockshow@gtfm.co.uk. Hear interviews again at http://rockofages.wordpress.com

THE PONTY RUGBY SHOW - normally every Friday (during the season) from 6.30 to 7pm returns from its Christmas and New Year break this Friday (9th Jan).

THE CLASSICAL SHOW - Every Sunday 5-6pm: Nick Jones is your host each week for an hour of popular classical tunes and news of local music events. The show follows on from the 'Spotlight' Arts, Entertainment and Shows programme presented by Ally and Russ from 3 to 5pm.

AWR FAWR - Sundays 7-8pm. An hour packed with top Welsh language songs, as well as information about up and coming local Menter Iaith events, presented by Ioan Dyer.

New Year Programme Changes:

Although there was a 'DRIVERS SEAT' Special on New Years Day, because January has five Thursdays, Ian Edwards will also be presenting his usual monthly programme at 7pm this Thursday (8th). The February programme will therefore be four weeks later, February 5th (and so on). To contact Ian/the show email 'mail@gtfm.co.uk', remembering to put 'Drivers Seat' or 'Ian Edwards' in the subject line.

SOUL TRAIN. Sean Chapman normally presents Soul Train on GTFM between 8 and 10pm on the first Thursday of every month, often joined in the studio by other enthusiasts. This month he's already presented a special three hour programme on New Years Day but, unlike Ian Edwards, he can't be with us this week as well, so the next edition of Soul Train will be at 8pm on Thursday 5th February 2009 (and monthly thereafter).

'Play it Again Sam':

STEREOPHONICS Bassist Richard Jones chatted to Becci on her breakfast show recently. To 'listen again' check-out 'Becci's Corner' under 'Info / News' above. You can also listen again to interviews with Cardiff Choir 'ONLY MEN ALOUD' and Welsh 2007 X-Factor finalist RHYDIAN via the 'GTFM Gallery' link via the 'Info / News' tab above.

More Information:

Rickards

GTFM BROADCASTS DETAILED LOCAL WEATHER FORECASTS - provided by Jonathan Powell of Positive Weather Solutions return on Tuesday 6th Jan. From then onwards you'll be able to listen on weekdays @ 10.30am; 11.30am; 12.30pm (today's forecast) and 1.30pm; 5.30pm & 6.30pm (3 day forecast). Jonathan's 3 day weekend forecast on Fridays is also broadcast at 10.03pm, plus 6.03am on Saturday morning. In addition to Jonathan's forecasts we also broadcast regular weather summaries following most on-the-hour news bulletins, plus Met Office Severe Weather and Advisory Warnings as soon as they become available. During severe weather GTFM also broadcasts the latest FLOODWATCH information for local rivers from The Environment Agency. The FLOODLINE Information number is 0845 988 1188

RADIO RECEPTION - Find us on 107.9 FM with improved coverage in Pontypridd and the southern part of RCT. More details here. GTFM also streams its sound 'live' on the internet via this website, courtesy of the University of Glamorgan. Via the links above you can choose to listen either to an mp3 stream (which is now in STEREO) or to a QuickTime stream (high quality mono at present). We apologise for a break in transmission in the early hours of Monday 5th January, which was caused by a power supply problem at our transmitter site. Broadcasts resumed at around 06.38.

"CARBON SOLDIER" a modern rap-style song from the Welsh Assembly's young CLIMATE CHANGE CHAMPIONS who regularly appear on GTFM, made its debut on Becci's breakfast show on 1st December. It raises awareness of climate change issues in a fun way and is available now as a download only (to keep the carbon footprint to a minimum and avoid the possibility of waste there won't be a CD release). The cost is 79p which will go to Environment Wales. The song, or the WELSH LANGUAGE version "MILWR CARBON", can be downloaded from www.walescarbonfootprint.gov.uk  or from or i-tunes. Or you can text 'soldier' to 78789. Read more about the Climate Change Champions in 'Becci's Corner', accessible via the menu under the 'Info / News' tab above.

We recently featured information about the CHILD TRUST FUND scheme - click here to find out more

CONGO APPEAL CLOSED AT MIDNIGHT ON WED 3rd DEC:The Disaster's Emergency Committee appeal was on behalf of around 250,000 displaced people in the Demomocratic Republic of Congo, many of whom are without access to shelter, water, food or medicines. The appeal was broadcast by radio stations all over the UK and so far around 5 million pounds has been raised, for which the organisers say a big 'thank you'.

AVOID NOROVIRUS OR IT'LL MAKE YOU SICK! - See and hear more by clicking 'Newsroom' on the drop-down menu under the 'Info / News' tab above.

The Current GTFM playlist