GTFM Win’s at Community Radio Awards

GTFM, Wales’s oldest community radio station, has been honoured with a prestigious national award for its immersive, week-long broadcast of the National Eisteddfod, which was held in Pontypridd last summer.
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The station was awarded Bronze in the highly competitive Best Live Event or Outside Broadcast category at the UK Community Radio Network Awards, a competition open to over 300 community radio stations nationwide.

The accolade, recognising GTFM’s deep commitment to local culture, was presented at a ceremony in Bradford, the UK Capital of Culture.

​The winning coverage was deemed the biggest outside broadcast ever undertaken by GTFM, coinciding with the Eisteddfod’s historic return to Pontypridd—the birthplace of the Welsh national anthem, Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau—after more than a century.

​GTFM successfully ran a temporary, fully operational studio inside the town’s Ynysangharad Park, utilising satellite technology to broadcast live throughout the week.

​Station Manager Terry Mann praised the extensive local participation that made the project a success:

​”This was the culmination of incredible volunteer effort. Almost our entire presentation team and dozens of volunteers ensured we provided comprehensive, bilingual coverage all week,” he said.

“No area was left uncovered. We spoke to everyone from successful and unsuccessful contestants, to the backstage teams, visitors, local traders, and sponsors, as well as organisers, so ensuring we captured the full community and economic impact of the Eisteddfod’s historic return.”

​The station’s coverage went beyond competition results, providing in-depth features on transport arrangements and analyzing the reaction among local shops and businesses during the week-long cultural event.

Rebecca Steers, awards chair, said:

“The recognition for Best Live Event or Outside Broadcast is well deserved, and we hope it recognises their success, and encourages others to engage, represent and support their communities.”

“We’ve had a surge in entries this year, so for a station to be recognised is a real achievement. Organisations like GTFM have proven their value at the heart of their local areas.”

This is the second time in recent years GTFM has been honoured at the UK Community Radio Network Awards. In 2023 it reached the top five of over 300 community radio stations in the UK.