Frisk Radio Defies Power Cut With Battery-Powered Breakfast Show

The New Year has brought freezing weather and widespread power cuts to the North East of England, but Frisk Radio’s breakfast duo, Andy & Steph, proved that even in challenging circumstances, “the show must go on.”

Keeping the Show Alive with Battery Power and Quick Thinking

On Tuesday morning, just as the team were preparing to go on air from their home studio in Houghton-Le-Spring, a sudden power cut disrupted their plans.

Undeterred, they switched to their smartphones and continued the broadcast on battery power alone, relying on Vudio, the station’s innovative cloud-based automation system.

Using Andy’s iPhone, the presenters voice-tracked their segments while fielding messages from listeners through the station's app.

With studio computers offline, pen and paper replaced digital notes, and LED lights illuminated the workspace.

Rescued by Teamwork and Cutting-Edge Technology

Station Director Stuart Landreth praised the team’s resilience and the system that made it all possible:

"Vudio performed exactly as we intended, with the ability to work seamlessly with any recording device and internet connection, no matter how primitive.

By using sophisticated server-side audio processing, we were able to achieve a great quality sound from the built-in microphone of Andy's personal iPhone."

Vudio: Shaping the Future of Cloud-Based Radio Broadcasting

Developed by Frisk Radio’s in-house technical team, Vudio offers unparalleled playout, voice-tracking and station management for broadcasters in a fully modular package.

It is set to enter beta testing with other stations and operators in April 2025, offering a new standard in cloud-based radio automation.

Frisk Radio’s ability to adapt in real-time during difficult conditions highlights both the station’s commitment to its audience and the strength of its cutting-edge technology.